Isuzu D-Max 2014 News

Bruce Garland and Harry Suzuki to lead three-car Isuzu Motorsports Australasian Safari assault.Off-road racing legends Bruce Garland and Harry Suzuki will return to Western Australia to attempt a sixth victory in the Australasian Safari desert rally later this month. The 2014 Safari will be the pairing’s 18th entry in the gruelling endurance event, piloting their race-prepped Isuzu D-Max ute and spearheading a three-car Isuzu Motorsports assault. The Sydney-based Garland/Suzuki pairing will compete in the Extreme 4WD (T1) class, and will be joined by a lesser-modified MU-X SUV driven by West Australian Adrian Di Lallo in the production car (T2) class and a production class D-Max ute driven by Thai driver OLan Sornsirirat.The Isuzu-supported outfit will cover more than 2500km over seven days of endurance racing throughout the Western Australia outback between Perth and Kalbarri.  Garland is aiming to be the first diesel-powered outright winner in the event’s history – a credible ambition given his first diesel and 11th outright result in the 2009 Dakar rally. “I still reckon a diesel can win the Safari even though history has so far proved otherwise,” five-time winner Garland says.“You need the right car, the right crew and the right tyres and a bit of luck, so if we have all that lined up – and we believe we do – then we shall see what happens. It’s certainly a trophy I would love to add to my collection.”The Australasian Safari has been traditionally dominated by petrol-powered vehicles, but Garland’s aim is backed by the circa-200kW/700Nm tune of the 3.0-litre turbodiesel in his D-Max racer. The production-based version of the same engine in Di Lallo’s MU-X isn’t far behind, producing around around 180kW/600Nm – up from the 130kW/380Nm in factory-trim. The 56-year-old Garland’s confidence is also unaffected by age and a range of health issues he’s faced in recent years. “The Safari is as much about driving smart as driving hard and that something you only learn from experience. Harry and I have the experience, the car is great and a proven performer”, he said.Carsguide will bring you all the news from the Isuzu Motorsports entries during the Australasian Safari from September 20-27. 

Isuzu Ute has announced a limited edition version of its D-Max to be sold exclusively in Australia. Dubbed ‘X-Runner’, the new model is intended to bring more ‘street-cred’ to the existing range. Just 660 units of the new variant will be available, priced from $46,990 drive-away.Isuzu Ute Australia’s Dave Harding told Carsguide “the Isuzu D-Max X-Runner is exclusive to the Australian market. That said, it is loosely based on the Thai market’s special edition, the X-Series D-MAX.” The X-Runner can be had in either pearlescent white or black mica metallic paint, with contrasting decals. Further exterior accessories including gun-metal grey alloy wheels and sidesteps, black sports bar, body-coloured tonneau cover, plus a subtle body kit, come as standard.The interior has also been dressed up with seats trimmed in two-tone red and black fabric, a steering wheel with contrasting red stitching and high-gloss piano black dashboard inlays. “The 2014 X-Runner is geared more towards the urban market than hardcore off-roaders. Aesthetically the X-Runner will appeal to the younger end of the one-tonne ute market and those who want something a little bit different,” says Harding.The new special edition retains the standard D-Max’s 3.0-litre turbo diesel engine, which produces 130kW and 380Nm of torque. Fuel economy is listed as 8.3L/100km for the manual-equipped car, and 8.1L/100km for its automatic equivalent. Maximum towing capacity is rated at an impressive 3500kg, while the D-Max has also been awarded a five-star ANCAP safety rating.The X-Runner goes on sale on the 17th of March (next Monday) and is covered by Isuzu Ute’s five-year warranty and roadside assistance program. Harding expects all of the special edition vehicles to be sold before the middle of this year. “Last year’s X-Runner sold out in about three months – we expect this one to do the same”.Priced competitively at around $10,000 less than the similarly equipped Ford Ranger Wildtrak, the X-Runner could be seen as a value alternative. Harding says, “at less than $47k drive-away you could get an X-Runner D-MAX and that new dirt bike or jet ski you’ve always wanted for the price of a Wildtrak.”Given the success of the D-Max range, Isuzu Ute Australia could introduce more variants in the future. Harding said, “we are always looking at new model variants that will help us attract new members to the D-MAX family.” However, a more stylish limited edition version of Isuzu Ute’s other model, the MU-X SUV, isn’t currently on the cards. “At this stage there are no plans for a similar treatment to the MU-X,” says Harding.