Isuzu debuts all-new D-Max pickup in Cagayan de Oro

After unveiling the all-new Isuzu D-Max pickup at the World Trade Center in Pasay City on Sept. 18, Isuzu Philippines Corp. (IPC) debuted the new pickup in Mindanao through an official launch at the Atrium of Limketkai Mall in Cagayan de Oro City.

The new D-Max was unveiled by IPC president Nobuo Izumina and Isuzu Cagayan de Oro president and general manager Frank Rolida.

“You have always been one of our most important markets. In fact, in our latest sales report, more than half of our sales in Mindanao were from Cagayan de Oro City,” Izumina said in his speech.

The all-new D-Max is seen to address the region’s need for a vehicle that can serve various business functions and agriculture-related requirements, as well as attend to a set of consumers in the region who indulge in weekend recreational pursuits like mountain trekking or trips to the farm.

The new D-Max comes in seven variants: the double cab LS 4×4 A/T, the LS 4×4 M/T, LS 4×2 A/T, LS 4×2 M/T, LT 4×4 M/T, LT 4×2 M/T and single cab 4×2 M/T.

Challenging the terrain

Longer, wider and taller, the new D-Max is also built around three design philosophies: perfect proportion, aggressive form and innovative structure. It is designed with a fluid appearance to ensure visual harmony without losing the D-Max’s trademark sporty, powerful style.

The new D-Max is aerodynamic, too, being tested in wind tunnels at the Japan Railway Research Institute—the same facility used to test the famous bullet trains. The new D-Max results in one of the lowest coefficients of drag among pickups, which adds to its exceptional fuel efficiency.

The new D-Max body structure, constructed from high-tensile-strength steel, is more rigid than the previous model’s. Combined with a new suspension system of independent double wishbone with coil springs in front and semielliptical overslung leaf springs in the rear (for LS variants), the new D-Max is capable of carrying a heavy payload while improving its driving performance and vehicle stability.

Under the hood of the D-Max LS and LT 4×4 variants is Isuzu’s tried-and-tested 4JJ1-TC 3-liter CRDI with Turbocharger and Intercooler Diesel engine that makes 144 horsepower at 3,800 revolutions per minute and 294 Newton-meters at 1,400 rpm to 3,400 rpm. The base variant LT 4×2 and single cab are strengthened by Isuzu’s new 4JK1-TC 2.5-liter CRDI with Turbocharger and Intercooler Diesel engine that produces  107.51 HP at 3,400 rpm and 280 Nm from 1,800 to 2,200 rpm.

Matching the power plant is a new 5-speed AT (available for the LS 4×2 and 4×4 variants) that is thoroughly modernized with a sequential shift function that makes manual gear-shifting possible in an automatic transmission.

The new D-Max boasts of one of the highest ground clearances among pickups with 235 millimeters for the LS 4×4 and 225 mm for the LT 4×4 and LS 4×2. This makes the truck suitable over unpaved roads and flooded situations. Supplementing its suspension system are new, bigger wheels that do not compromise the truck’s riding comfort and still gives a stylish appearance. The LS 4×4 is equipped with 225/65 R17 tires, while the LS 4×2 and LT have 245/70 R16 tires.

Boosting the off-road capability of the pickup is Isuzu’s new 4WD Terrain Command Select Dial that allows the driver to switch from two-wheel drive to four-wheel drive high even while traveling at speeds of up to 100 kilometers per hour, by just turning a knob on the console. The new D-Max also has an approach angle of 30 degrees and a departure angle of 22.7 degrees, and can be tilted sideways on a 49-degree slope. All 4WD variants are equipped with a Limited Slip Differential, allowing the pickup to take on any obstacle and challenge the terrain.

Advanced safety

The new D-Max LS comes equipped with a host of safety features. The cabin’s safety shell is made from high-tensile-strength steel, further bolstered by side-impact beams, dual front airbags and Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) seatbelts with pretensioner and load limiter. An antilock braking system (ABS) supplemented by Electronic Brake-Force Distribution (EBD) and the new Brake Assist (BA) feature guarantee secure stopping power even in adverse conditions.

The new D-Max, especially the LS variants, takes comfort to a whole new level. The spacious cabin offers improved head-, shoulder- and legroom. The pickup’s leather seats are finished in elegant mahogany shade,  the driver’s seat is power-adjustable by six different ways, while the rear seat has three adjustable headrests and a center armrest. Adding convenience are 15 storage compartments and 10 cupholders placed within easy reach of all occupants.

On the new D-Max dashboard are Electroluminescent Meters with a new Multi-Information Display that attractively provide data on essential driving conditions. A new premium audio system, composed of a 2-DIN CD/MP3/Micro USB/Aux Input Jack/Tuner with Bluetooth connectivity and a six-way speaker system that includes first-in-class ceiling-mounted exciter speakers, complements the new meters. The audio unit can also be accessed via control buttons on the three-spoke, leather-wrapped steering wheel.

D-Max’s 10-year history

Izumina recalled that in 2003, Isuzu unveiled the first D-Max. “We again obtained the top spot in pickup sales for three consecutive years,” he said. “At present, we have more than 20,000 D-Max owners in the Philippines.”

Like the best-selling model it replaced, the new D-Max will be built at IPC’s world-class manufacturing plant at the Laguna Technopark in Biñan, ensuring continued job security for the Filipino workforce. At present, 90 percent of Isuzu models, including the Crosswind AUV and truck and bus models, are assembled locally.

The new D-Max is available in cosmic black, garnet red, ash beige, titanium silver and splash white. Prices (excluding freight costs) start at P697,000 for the single cab and chassis 4×2 variant; P857,000 for the LT 4×2 M/T; P1,144,000 for the LS 4×2 M/T; P1,153,000 for the LT 4×4 M/T; P1,196,000 for the LS 4×2 A/T; P1,398,000 for the LS 4×4 M/T; and P1,457,000 for the LS 4×4 A/T.

For more information, log on to www.isuzuphil.com.