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By Ruben D. Manahan 4th, Reporter
Sibling rivalries usually stem from a child’s
search for individuality, where one of the kids in a household
always tries to be different from the others. The same holds true
for the 2008 Isuzu Crosswind Sportivo, which, on its christening on
May 28 and 29 at the Isuzu Sun and Sand Drive in Boracay, begs to
differ from her siblings.
Isuzu said the latest Crosswind Sportivo’s
“understated elegance” had adopted last year’s features but
gets a little twist that makes it more distinctive.
The chrome side billet grille of the 2007 model,
for instance, is retained in the new Sportivo but now it gets an
additional center billet. Isuzu also removed the vehicle’s bumper
over-rider, which results in a more elegant SUV-looking face.
The previous Sportivo also sported roof rails,
but in the 2008 Sportivo’s case, these are made more aerodynamic,
lessening wind drag and noise. In the rear, the new Sportivo has
combination lamps that have a darker shade of red, complementing and
highlighting the vehicle’s curves. The three-piece spare tire
cover’s “spear-like design” harmonizes the overall look.
Inside, Isuzu gave the new Sportivo a
black-and-beige color scheme, replacing last year’s black-and-gray
interior. But where the new vehicle differs the most is in its
steering wheel, which now flaunts audio controls. A totally upscale
feature, the audio controls enable the driver to keep his eyes on
the road while fiddling with the JVC in-dash single CD player and
tuner. Speaking of which, this head unit also boasts of a DVD player
that now has a larger 3.5-inch monitor and an iPod interface.
Headrest-mounted LCD screens provide rear passengers viewing
pleasure.
To further enhance the interior’s premium feel
are two-tone combinations of perforated leather and vinyl.
The latest Sportivo’s features may not be as
new, but as sibling rivalries go, the youngest would be the best
pick.
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