Could a hardcore Isuzu D-Max take on the Ford Ranger Raptor? Brand officially monitoring market after Mazda confirmed "special" BT-50 is coming soon

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Isuzu monitoring the market for hardcore D-Max variant
Andrew Chesterton
Contributing Journalist
28 Jan 2021
2 min read

Isuzu is yet to rule out launching a flagshipĀ D-Max variant to take on vehicles like the Ford Ranger Raptor and upcoming Toyota GR HiLux, with the brand telling CarsGuide it's "monitoring the market".

Isuzu will soon be among the few mainstream ute brands without a special-edition flagship in Australia - whether one developed locally or overseas - with the Volkswagen Amarok, Nissan Navara, Toyota HiLux, Ford Ranger and - coming soon - the Mazda BT-50, all offering flagship models.

The news comes just days after Mazda confirmed it was working on "something special" for its own BT-50 - for which the D-Max is the donor vehicle.

And Isuzu isn't ruling out something similar for the D-Max, telling CarsGuide: "We are unable to comment on future model plans, but we will continue to monitor the market and consumer habits to best meet the needs of our customers.

As is stands, the D-Max X-Terrain 4X4 is the flagship in Isuzu's range, with the $62,900 ute packing the brand's 3.0-litre turbo-diesel good for 140kW and 450Nm.

And, initially at least, it seemed like Isuzu wouldn't walk the more hardcore Raptor path, telling CarsGuide ahead of the vehicle's launch that "This new D-Max (will be) close to Raptor in terms of toughness or off-road capability."

We do know that the D-Max's Mazda twin will offer a flagship variant in the near future, with development thought to be led in Australia.

While we don't expect an engine output increase - it is, after all, Isuzu's engine - we are expecting a visually more striking ute, and one that could include locally tuned suspension and off-road rubber.

"We’re also working on something special for BT-50 in the near future, but today is not the day to discuss those details, so please stayed tuned,ā€ Mazda Australia managing director, Vinesh Bhindi, told CarsGuide this week.

Andrew Chesterton
Contributing Journalist
Andrew Chesterton should probably hate cars. From his hail-damaged Camira that looked like it had spent a hard life parked at the end of Tiger Woods' personal driving range, to the Nissan Pulsar Reebok that shook like it was possessed by a particularly mean-spirited demon every time he dared push past 40km/h, his personal car history isn't exactly littered with gold. But that seemingly endless procession of rust-savaged hate machines taught him something even more important; that cars are more than a collection of nuts, bolts and petrol. They're your ticket to freedom, a way to unlock incredible experiences, rolling invitations to incredible adventures. They have soul. And so, somehow, the car bug still bit. And it bit hard. When "Chesto" started his journalism career with News Ltd's Sunday and Daily Telegraph newspapers, he covered just about everything, from business to real estate, courts to crime, before settling into state political reporting at NSW Parliament House. But the automotive world's siren song soon sounded again, and he begged anyone who would listen for the opportunity to write about cars. Eventually they listened, and his career since has seen him filing car news, reviews and features for TopGear, Wheels, Motor and, of course, CarsGuide, as well as many, many others. More than a decade later, and the car bug is yet to relinquish its toothy grip. And if you ask Chesto, he thinks it never will.
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