Isuzu updates product range for 2020
There’s no doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on the automotive industry. But this hasn’t seemed to stop Isuzu, in fact, they have been more than busy as of late. During a virtual briefing, Dominic Rimmer, Senior Vice President Technical Operations announced that Isuzu has been working on making some changes to the existing Isuzu vehicles, by introducing some key updates. Along with this, there has been some work done on the upcoming next-generation D-MAX bakkie.
Overview of Isuzu Products introduced in 2020:
3.0 litre Double Cab X-Rider Automatic
Isuzu recently made the X-Rider nameplate available in a 3.0 litre engine and with an automatic transmission. The decision to make the 3.0 X-Rider only available in a 6-speed automatic transmission came as a response to the popularity of automatic transmissions in the light commercial vehicle segment.
On the exterior of the 3.0 X-Rider is a mean-looking black grill, with a red Isuzu badge and a black bumper guard. The 3.0 X-Rider will have two 18-inch wheel choices, either being black or diamond cut. The X-Rider 3.0 TD logo can be seen on the front doors along with clear side indicators.
The 3.0 X-Riders comes standard with black side steps, matt black roof rails, a black X-Rider Sports bar, a lockable tailgate with a rearview camera, a black Isuzu logo, and a standard 3.5-ton towbar.
Some exclusive X-Rider interior features will include black leather seats with red stitching, leather-wrapped steering with a red Isuzu logo. While the door panels will have a piano black finish with the X-Rider logo, the same piano black finish can also be seen on the centre console. It will also feature an 8 inch AX2 TFT touch screen system with steering wheel controls and will be used in conjunction with the rear-view camera
Pricing for the 3.0 litre Double Cab X-Rider Automatic is R551 100.
Repositioned LX and LE models
There have been some luxury upgrades on the rest of the D-MAX model range, as they will all now have an all-black interior which will include a black roof liner as well as black cladding on the pillars. To top this off, the 4x4 models will get a black 4x4 sticker.
The 4x2 models will also now come standard with a Tow bar and Sports bar. The LE models have been repositioned to be more appealing to buyers and to keep up against main rivals.
The 3.0 litre LX and LE Plus models will now come with a Brake Override System which is activated when both brake and accelerator pedals are pressed together.
Isuzu 3.0 mu-X 4x4 and 4x2
This massive 7-seater SUV has also gotten some upgrades, to make for a more modern-day look.
Some exterior upgrades will include piano black inserts on the front grill and a lower bumper valence which includes piano black front fog light bezels.
The mu-X now will also be riding some new stylish 18-inch wheels, which has black running boards with piano black inserts on the edges. The same piano black can also be seen at the rear of the vehicle.
The interior also receives some luxury changes, as it will now come with soft leather trim and piano black finish on the door panels as well as LED ambient lighting strips.
The mu-X comes with an 8-speaker audio system that features iPod and Bluetooth phone connectivity and will include two roof-mounted speakers. It will come with an 8-inch TFT touch screen display, while a larger 9-inch will be offered as an optional extra. Both will have steering wheel mounted audio controls.
Other exciting features include roof-mounted aircon vents with controls for passengers in both the second and third rows, as well as seven charging points for their devices, and twelve cup and bottle holders.
The Isuzu mu-X is all about safety as it is a 5-Star ANCAP (Australian New Car Assessment Program) rated SUV and this is thanks to the passive and active safety features such as side-intrusion bars and a complete suite of electronic crash avoidance systems.
Pricing for the mu-X 3.0 4x2 6-speed Automatic is R643 100, and the mu-X 3.0 4x4 6-speed Automatic at R712 200.
Next Generation D-MAX Bakkie
Isuzu has further announced that work is underway on the 7th generation D-MAX bakkie which will be manufactured at Isuzu’s assembly plant in Port Elizabeth. The D-MAX has become extremely popular in South Africa, so a significant amount of work and time has gone in to enhance the driving experience, efficiency, and safety.
Some other key projects on the way will include testing on the load box which in the current bakkie had much thicker steel in areas such as the load box inner panels, load box front panel, and tailgate. Isuzu has taken pride in D-MAX’s rich heritage and is aiming to take this local favorite to new heights.
