Isuzu Motors have given their D-Max pick-up truck a cosmetic makeover for the Thailand market. Apart from the cosmetic changes, there are some mechanical changes to the vehicle as well. We can expect this version to be launched in India sometime next year.
The exterior changes on the new D-Max include a revised front grille embellished in chrome, new headlamps with DRLs, new bumpers and restyled tail lamps. The silhouette remains more or less the same but gets a slightly different pattern for the 18-inch alloy wheels. Despite the fact that the D-Max is a pick-up truck, the manufacturer has upped the style quotient with these new updates.
There are changes in the cabin of the car as well, with a new 8-inch IsuzuConnect touchscreen infotainment system and roof-mounted speakers. There is a revised instrument console with a TFT MID and the car comes equipped with dual front airbags.
Mechanically, the biggest change is seen under the hood of the car with the new 1.9-litre Ddi Blue Power diesel motor that replaces the current 2.5-litre powerplant. The new engine produces 147bhp of power and 350Nm of torque and comes matched to a six-speed manual or automatic gearbox. Isuzu says that the new mill is 10 per cent more powerful, produces 9 per cent more torque and is 20 per cent lighter than the earlier engine.
Isuzu Motors only sells the D-Max as a commercial vehicle in single-cab and space-cab versions in the Indian market. The D-Max pickup, along with the MU-7 SUV, is presently assembled at Hindustan Motor’s plant in Chennai. Hopefully, the latest model of the D-Max will also be introduced in India as soon as the company starts operations at its manufacturing plant in Sri City, Andhra Pradesh.