The first Piazza rolled off the production line in September 1980 in Fujisawa, Japan, available with either , 2.0 L SOHC inline-four MPFI engine, a carryover from the Isuzu 117 Coupé, or a , 2.0 L DOHC MPFI I4 engine. Five-speed manual and 4-speed automatic transmissions were available, and all models were rear-wheel drive. In April 1984, a , turbocharged SOHC I4 engine was introduced, and the DOHC naturally aspirated engine was phased out in years that followed. Piazzas were available in a multitude of trim levels including Bella, XN, XJ, XE, XG, Nero, and others. There were three different suspension tuning levels, standard, Irmscher, and Lotus. Production continued through 1990.