ISUZU Ute Australia (IUA) has uncovered the brand new D-Max Blade dual-cab ute – a extra off-road-focused tackle the favored pick-up truck that has grow to be a actuality due to a deep partnership with native specialists Walkinshaw Automotive.
The brand new Blade variant sits atop the D-Max vary, with introductory pricing of $76,990 drive-away – placing it near the likes of Nissan Navara Professional-4X Warrior ($71,265 earlier than on-road prices) Toyota HiLux GR Sport ($74,310 + ORC), Ford Ranger V6 Tremor ($76,590 + ORC), VW Amarok V6 Panamericana ($78,990 + ORC) and the mechanically associated Mazda BT-50 Thunder ($74,095 + ORC).
In accordance with IUA, the model didn’t wish to undermine a few of the key traits of its double-cab D-Max, which means it carries over an equivalent 3.0-litre turbo-diesel engine with 140kW/450Nm, continues with the utmost 3.5-tonne braked towing capability and manages to higher many rivals by way of payload, with 896kg out there.
IUA managing director Junta Matsui stated the model admits its high-spec providing has been “a very long time coming”, with greater than a dozen prototypes examined over a three-year interval and greater than 100,000km of sturdiness rough-housing to make sure the Walkinshaw-fettled mannequin met the expectations of the Japanese model.
“Earlier than we even kicked this venture off, we spent months talking with native engineering outfits to find out find out how to greatest convey the Blade to life,” Mr Matsui stated.
“In the long run, we selected to accomplice with Walkinshaw as a result of their unrivalled native LCV expertise and native engineering and design expertise pool – with the completed product talking for itself.
“Timing was every little thing – it definitely was a problem to navigate the midlife facelift of the 24MY D-Max, launched in Could 2024,” Mr Matsui stated, basically admitting the model was a bit late to the get together with this mannequin.
“However on condition that the 24MY D-Max instilled a set of updates that immediately addressed client suggestions, it was important that Walkinshaw primarily based the Blade on that car – enhancing on that specification and the general package deal,” he stated.
Walkinshaw has labored on domestically ‘remanufactured’ fashions up to now such because the previous-gen Volkswagen Amarok W580 fashions, and likewise a not too long ago launched restricted version Ford Ranger WAU, of which solely 25 shall be provided.
For this venture, Isuzu Ute Australia claims it needed to attract on the expertise of Walkinshaw Automotive and “additional Australianise” the D-Max to fulfill targets – the model says it needs the brand new Blade variant to attraction to “adventurers who tow, fashionable households, and off-road lovers”.
The adjustments embody a 29mm raise equipment with new 35mm Monroe MTV twin-tube shocks which were tuned for native situations, plus a brand new 17-inch wheel with 275/65/R17 Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac RT all-terrain tyres. Tyre stress monitoring is retained.
A 3.0mm underbody safety plate, twice the thickness of the donor car’s, and a cross-braced strengthened load-rated restoration level system with a most 8.0-tonne load as much as 35 levels in angle.
IU says all of the {hardware} adjustments have been completely checked off towards the model’s personal necessities, together with the retention of class-standard towing capability, to not point out the combination of the adjustments to make sure the model’s camera-based ahead security system nonetheless operates as designed.
There are a selection of visible changes, in addition to the extra rough-and-tumble high-riding look, together with a brand new lightbar with as much as 325m of throw size, wheelarch flares, blacked-out tubular aspect steps, sports activities bar, mirror caps, grille end and door handles, and there’s an array of Blade emblems on the physique of the ute.
Inside, there are new embroidered Blade head restraints and flooring mats, with the donor D-Max’s customary leather-accented inside trim retained.
As with the prevailing D-Max fashions, the Blade – and all of the add-on {hardware}, excluding tyres – comes with a six-year/150,000km guarantee, with as much as seven years of roadside help for patrons who keep their ute with Isuzu’s community of workshops.
There’s additionally a five-year ‘Flat Value’ service plan, with upkeep visits costing $449 for the primary 5 years/75,000km (which means 12-month/15,000km intervals).
Isuzu Ute Australia has delivered 23,349 D-Max fashions by way of the primary three quarters of 2024, positioning it because the third-most-popular utility car on our roads behind the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux.
