The design, however, has been retained for the export market version rebranted as and built by Ibishu of Japan. This model has been sold in variety of RHD markets, including JDM. AUDM and selected eastern Asian countries. The most significant differences from the USDM version were the design, the engine options, and most significantly the fact that they were RHD. The Dove, as a bigger Pigeon (;see Ibishu Pigeon), is a utility vehicle powered by a variety of engines ranging from a Ibishu 2.0l turbodiesel I4 into a Gavril developed 4.1l petrol I6.
Because this is a Japanese truck, do you think that you could do a front live axle for the 4WD versions? In the early 90s, Toyota and Suzuki used live axle front suspensions for their really off-roady SUVs and trucks.
Think more ford ranger/mazda B series shared development. Its pretty much a D15 with a different cab, no ABS (at the time, ABS controllers were expensive), plastic bumpers, alternate wheels and different engine range (with the big expensive v8 thrown out of the window, the gavril i6 retained as a high level option, and 2 more economical and cheaper engine options below that). While true JDM trucks of the era commonly used a live axle front, that would cost more than simply reusing the existing IFS tooling already available from gavril. Hell chances are the chassis would be assembled from parts manufactured on a gavril plant. This is intended to fulfill a budget vehicle role. Hence lack of big v8's, "upgrading" of the i6 to being the top trim level and cutting a few other corners (like the plastic bumpers, no airbag, no ABS). Don't be dismayed by the i4 engine options (there will be 2), I've extensively playtested the first, while you wont be shredding tyres like you will with the v8, it is more than adequate for exceeding bringing the D15 above highway speeds, quite economical for a truck of this size at those speeds and can still lug a good ton up the hillclimb of JRI (try that in your little pigeon). Heck after playing with Japanese vehicles on JRI so much, I've come to the conclusion its somewhere in the pacific and was occupied by japanese forces at some point, its now my little japanese island.