The Nissan GT-R (R35 generation) made its global debut in 2007 and is described as a supercar “for anyone, anywhere, at any time.”
However, did you know that Nissan was not alone in the development of this successor to the R34 Skyline GT-R?
According to an internal source, Nissan relied on individuals with expertise in truck engineering to develop the R35!
As quoted from microblogging user @trucknakanohito, 80 percent of the Nissan GT-R development team consisted of Isuzu engineers.
Without reliable sources, it is indeed difficult to accept such information.
However, this question was promptly addressed by Kazutoshi Mizuno, the chief engineer of the R35, or more accurately, Mr. GT-R.
In a reply tweet, Mizuno clarified that initially, none of the Isuzu engineers had experience in developing a supercar, as they came from the truck division.
“However, through strong teamwork, a high determination to achieve goals, and training and practice based on comprehensive vehicle measurement system results, all team members managed to become world-class engineers in just 1.5 years,” he stated.
Isuzu D-Max demonstrates its fuel-sipping capabilities once again by completing a record-breaking 2,000 km journey on a single 76-litre fuel tank.
This is not the first time the D-Max has flaunted its prowess. Back in 2015, the D-Max completed a journey from Bangkok to Singapore, covering a distance of 1,809 km on just one tank of diesel.
Then in March 2020, Isuzu Malaysia successfully drove a 1.9-litre Single Cab model loaded with a tonne of weight, clocking a distance of over 1,000 kilometres using just its single tank of fuel.
For the latest achievement, the company fielded three units of the D-Max, which comprised the 1.9L 4X2 Auto Plus, 1.9L 4X4 Auto Premium, and the 3.0L 4X4 X-Terrain variants.
The pickup trucks were driven from the central Thai town of Phitsanulok, located approximately 300 km north of Bangkok to Klang, Selangor.
This was the first time the company put the new third-generation D-Max to the test. Besides featuring a highly aerodynamic exterior design, the 2024 models feature updated Euro 4 engines, offering superior power delivery and fuel efficiency.
The epic feat was witnessed by a technical steward from the Motorsports Association of Malaysia (MAM) who sealed the fuel tanks and observed that the vehicles were driven throughout the journey without any introduction of additional fuel.
It also earned the Isuzu D-Max a place in the Malaysian Book of Records for the ‘Longest Distance Driven In A Pick-up Truck With A Single Tank Of Fuel’.
Speaking at the arrival of the vehicles at the new Ultra Gallant Isuzu 3S Centre in Klang, Selangor after completing its 2,000km journey, CEO of Isuzu Malaysia Shunsuke Okazoe said that the achievement underlined Isuzu’s amazing engineering capabilities in developing Blue Power diesel engines that perform way beyond the call of duty.
“While we do not expect every customer to drive their Isuzu vehicles 2,000 kilometers on a single tank of fuel, it clearly demonstrates the level of engineering that goes into every Isuzu vehicle to even make a feat of this magnitude a possibility,” said Okazoe.
“With the rising costs of various daily items including the price of diesel, those who use the Isuzu D-Max in their daily operations will truly benefit from its cost-saving character,” added Light Commercial Vehicle Division COO, Kenkichi Sogo.
ISUZU D-Max owners displayed their patriotic spirit when they participated in the Isuzu Merdeka Convoy as part of the company’s initiative to celebrate Malaysia’s 67th independence day.
Some 3,300 participants using 900 Isuzu D-Max gathered at 36 Isuzu outlets around the country from Alor Setar to Keningau before heading out on their respective convoys to points of interest within their region.
Various activities were organised for participants to enjoy their Merdeka celebrations including durian fests, white water rafting, glamping, treasure hunts, picnics and many more.
The Isuzu Merdeka Convoy this year follows through on the success of the Merdeka Convoy 66 held last year that was graced by some 600 Isuzu D-Max vehicles. As the largest ever simultaneous parade of Isuzu D-Max in the country, the convoy sought to bring owners together to celebrate the historical date in the country’s history.
“Through the success of the Merdeka Convoy 66, owners have voiced their satisfaction and eagerness to participate in similar outings that develop camaraderie among Isuzu D-Max owners hence we hope to continue developing such activities for our owners,” said Isuzu Malaysia’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Shunsuke Okazoe.
Okazoe said this when he flagged off the convoy at the Indah Utara outlet in Alor Setar, Kedah where participants in 80 Isuzu D-Max headed out to the Tasoh Lake Resort in Perlis to enjoy the drive and a day filled with fun activities.
The ISUZU MU-X, which shares its underpinnings with the D-Max pickup truck, has been given a facelift in Thailand.
Still in its second generation, the MU-X now appears more snazzy thanks to sharper front and rear lights, as well as a new bumper design that incorporates an air curtain. The wheels have also been redesigned to give a sportier look.
For the 2025 model year, the MU-X is available in a new RS variant, which features a more aggressive design with a mesh grille, black painted wheels, roof, pillars, and side mirrors, as well as bright green accents around the RS logo and the wheels.
The interior showcases a new design on the instrument panel, seats, and door trims, in line with the brand’s ‘Bold and Dynamic’ design concept.
Standard features include a seven-inch digital instrument cluster, a nine-inch touchscreen infotainment system, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and a brown leather upholstery. The RS variant also receives ambient lighting.
Additionally, the MU-X is equipped with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) that include various driver assistance and safety features depending on the variant. It also includes a ‘transparent bonnet’ feature similar to what Land Rover offers to make off-roading just a little bit easier.
There are no mechanical changes whatsoever, meaning the MU-X will retain the 1.9-litre turbodiesel engine with 148 hp and the 3.0-litre mill with 187 hp. Both are paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. 4WD is offered as an option, but it is standard on the RS variant.
THE facelifted version of the third generation Isuzu D-Max has been officially launched in Malaysia, bringing fresher looks and a host of new features and equipment.
The lineup of the pickup truck remains unchanged, comprising five variants as follows:
X-Terrain 3.0L 4X4 AT
Premium 1.9L 4X4 AT & 3.0L 4X4 AT
Auto Plus 1.9L 4X2 AT
Standard 1.9L 4X4 MT & 1.9L 4X4 AT
Single Cab 1.9L 4X4 MT & 3.0L 4X4 AT
Pricing starts from RM98,949.20 for the 1.9-litre Single Cab while the flagship X-Terrain is priced at RM157,938.40 on-the-road without insurance in Peninsular Malaysia.
The most noticeable changes in design include sharper Bi-LED headlights, bigger grille with a new honeycomb insert, and redesigned fog lamp housings. The turning signals are now integrated with the LED daytime running lights.
At the rear, you’ll spot newly designed taillights and a new tailgate that now includes a new handle with a keyhole, enabling the tailgate to be locked should a canopy or cover be fitted.
Wheels come in 18-inch size, in Tough Style design for the X-Terrain and Sporty Style design for the Premium. They are wrapped in 265/60 R18 all-terrain tyres.
As for exterior colours, Valencia Orange is replaced with the new Namibu Orange Mica, while Islay Grey, Onyx Black, and Dolomite White Pearl colors are still available.
Inside, the X-Terrain variant gains several new features seen usually in high-end SUVs. For example, the driver is greeted with welcome lights, door sill and footwell illumination upon opening the door.
The luxurious feel is enhanced further with leather upholstery on the seats and steering wheel, along with a Miura pattern on the door panels. Isuzu says Miura is inspired by a classic Japanese origami-inspired paralellogram design.
Additionally, the D-Max now comes equipped with a 10-inch touchscreen that provides access to wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a reverse camera, and Around View Monitor.
The pickup truck also comes with a 7-inch multi-info display, USB-C charging port, wireless charger, and an 8-speaker surround sound system.
The safety system is enhanced through the use of a fourth-generation stereo camera with a wider 120-degree field of view. The camera is also capable of increasing its forward detection distance from 120 meters to 150 meters.
Another new update is the Rear Cross Traffic Brake system. When the vehicle detects an on-coming vehicle while reversing, an audible and visual signal is given. It will proceed to apply the brakes should an imminent collision be anticipated.
The D-Max’s off-roading prowess is also enhanced with the new Rough Terrain Mode, which is standard on all Double Cab 4X4 models. The is able to detect the level of grip each wheel has and apportion the power from a spinning wheel to the wheel that has most grip. It can be used in all transmission modes – 2H, 4H or 4L.
The engine lineup remains unchanged. Like before, there’s the 4JJ3-TCX 3.0-litre turbo-diesel inline-four, generating 190 PS and 450 Nm, and the RZ4E-TC 1.9-litre inline-four unit making 150 PS and 350 Nm.
THE Isuzu Smoother Drive 2024 program, a nation-wide corporate social responsibility (CSR) and truck roadshow initiative which began on 11 March and concluded with a finale event at the Isuzu Service Center in Shah Alam on 29 March recently, has covered a total combined distance of 3,554 kilometers, logged by 11 Isuzu trucks deployed to the whole of Peninsular Malaysia and parts of Sabah and Sarawak to deliver donated items to the underprivileged communities.
The program was organized by Isuzu Malaysia and 23 of its participating dealers covering 26 locations in conjunction with the month of Ramadhan, as a way to give back to the underprivileged communities.
It entailed the dealerships contributing, as well as collecting donated items including daily household goods, non-perishable food and beverage, and clothes from customers, employees and the public.
In Peninsular Malaysia, six trucks that comprised two medium-duty Euro 5 FVR Smoother AMT and four light-duty Euro 4 ELF Smoother AMT were flagged-off from Isuzu Hicom Malaysia (IHM) assembly plant in Pekan, Kuantan on 11 March.
In the course of this 19-day program, the trucks were required to arrive at each participating dealership on a pre-scheduled date, as they travel from one location to another.
Upon reaching at each dealership, the trucks were tasked to pick up all the donated items and deliver them to the various charity homes for underprivileged children, physically-handicapped and seniors in each locality.
Following the delivery of items to the homes, the trucks made their way back to the dealership for an evening event of truck display and ‘buka puasa’ dinner to thank all the customers and public for their support.
The six trucks for Peninsular Malaysia were divided into two teams. The first team of three trucks covered eight Isuzu dealerships spread across the east coast and northern parts of Peninsular Malaysia. These trucks were driven a total of 1,178.9 kilometers in distance and delivered the donated items to 8 charity homes.
The second team of another three trucks made their stops at 10 dealerships scattered in the southern and central parts of Peninsular Malaysia and recorded a travel distance of 929 kilometers to deliver aid to 16 charity homes.
Meanwhile in East Malaysia, five ELF Euro 4 Smoother AMT trucks travelled a total distance of 1,447 kilometers across the landscapes of Sabah and Sarawak to make their stops at seven participating dealerships showroom and delivered the donated items to 7 charity homes.
Shunsuke Okazoe, Chief Executive Officer of Isuzu Malaysia said “We are very pleased to note that the Isuzu Smoother Drive 2024 program has successfully benefitted so many charity homes in Malaysia and that we were able to deploy our newly-launched FVR Smoother AMT and ELF Smoother AMT trucks to serve this good cause. We hope that this initiative has indeed go the distance in helping to ease some burden of the charity homes and uplift the spirit of their beneficiaries in this coming festive season.”
“As Malaysia’s top truck brand, Isuzu is committed to ensuring that our efforts encompass a larger spectrum of creating better life, from continuously delivering customer satisfaction through reliable trucking solutions to enhancing sustainability and making meaningful social impact that can help improve the lives around us.”
He further shared, “In addition to the unwavering support from our dealers and customers whom we would like to extend our sincere thanks, the smooth and on-schedule execution of our “ISUZU Smoother Drive 2024” program was also a huge testament of the reliability and efficiency of our trucks in maintaining great uptime during the whole time traversing on various terrains across long-distance.”
Both the FVR Smoother and ELF Euro 4 truck range were launched in Malaysia early March this year in response to the changing industry and environmental landscape which requires greater efficiency and performance balanced with cleaner emission and better sustainability. In addition, Isuzu Malaysia now offers the complete range of trucks from light-duty to prime mover that are equipped with its Smoother AMT technology.
ISUZU Malaysia has once again achieved outstanding performance by recording the highest truck sales compared to other brands for the year 2023. This achievement places Isuzu in the number 1 position in the overall truck segment for 10 consecutive years and in the light-duty truck brand segment for 14 consecutive years in Malaysia.
Isuzu’s leading position in the market is reinforced by the overall sales performance of 7,209 units, including light, medium, and heavy-duty trucks for the previous year. This represents a 44.9 percent market share in the overall truck segment in Malaysia.
Meanwhile, the light-duty truck segment recorded sales of 6,864 units, marking the highest sales in Malaysia for that segment.
Isuzu Malaysia recorded a growth of 2.7 percent compared to the previous financial year, demonstrating continuous positive growth for Isuzu Malaysia.
In terms of sales, Isuzu Malaysia achieved a positive growth of 11 percent in the medium-duty truck, heavy-duty truck, and prime mover segments for 2023.
Shunsuke Okazoe, Chief Executive Officer of Isuzu Malaysia, said, “We are extremely proud to achieve this remarkable success once again and to remain the best-selling truck brand in Malaysia. Maintaining this success for over a decade certainly exceeds our expectations.”
“At the same time, we are very excited to know that our continued market leadership clearly demonstrates Isuzu Malaysia’s commitment to providing the widest and most advanced range of trucks to our customers, despite navigating changing industry landscapes.”
“The stability of the economy and the recovery of the supply chain have contributed to the positive growth in the commercial vehicle market, especially in the light-duty truck segment. This positive performance further highlights our presence in this market,” Okazoe added.
THE Isuzu D-Max continues to record outstanding sales for 2023 with 9,650 units sold, setting a new record. This represents an increase of 439 units compared to the 9,211 units sold in 2022.
This achievement serves as evidence of the success of the design and features offered by the pickup truck, which has transformed the market and garnered more fans.
With its record sales for two consecutive years in Malaysia, the third generation Isuzu D-Max has successfully carved its own path and become the preferred pickup truck for consumers.
“Since the introduction of the third-generation D-Max in Malaysia in 2021, the interest in this model has remained consistently high due to its advanced features, excellent driving characteristics, versatile operations, and favorable value,” said Shunsuke Okazoe, Chief Executive Officer of Isuzu Malaysia.
“This new model has also expanded our customer base, recording a 185 percent increase in sales while simultaneously retaining our existing customer group.”
With a comprehensive lineup of eight variants for the Isuzu D-Max, users can choose the model that best suits their needs, ranging from the Single Cab version to the most advanced and flagship X-Terrain model.
Once again, the 1.9L Standard variant is the top choice, constituting 28% of sales.
Demand for the X-Terrain variant has also continued to increase throughout 2023. Its sales have risen by 24.5 percent since its launch. Notable features include the Advanced Driving Assistance Systems (ADAS) and a seven-year unlimited mileage warranty.
Sustained strong demand for the Isuzu D-Max has enabled the brand to secure the No. 2 position in Sabah, Kedah, and Pahang for the pickup truck segment. Nationally, it holds the third position with a market share of 16.6 percent.
THE Isuzu D-Max has been selected as the new vehicle for the National Registration Department (JPN) in their efforts to enter Orang Asli villages located in the interiors across the country for citizenship registration activities.
Three units of the Isuzu D-Max delivered will be utilized to serve at JPN offices in Kuala Mu, Perak; Gua Musang, Kelantan; and Kuala Rompin, Pahang. Its primary role is to operate alongside the Department of Orang Asli Development (JAKOA) and enter Orang Asli settlements to register residents, especially newborns in the respective areas.
To ensure safe travel for the vehicle and all passengers, all of these Isuzu D-Max units have been equipped with a winch, bull bar, canopy, and tires suitable for muddy surfaces.
In addition to the 3.0-liter diesel engine with 187hp and 450Nm torque, the D-Max is also equipped with a four-wheel drive system, differential lock, and the ability to wade through water up to a depth of 800mm.
This will allow it to confidently cross streams, rivers, or flooded roads and facilitate the team’s safe travel to and from their destination.
The Director-General of JPN, Zamri bin Misman, received three units of the Isuzu D-Max 3.0-liter from the Chief Operating Officer of Isuzu Malaysia, Kenkichi Sogo, during a brief ceremony held recently in Rompin.
The Chief Operating Officer of Isuzu Malaysia, Kenkichi Sogo, announced that the proven reputation of the Isuzu D-Max as a reliable vehicle will undoubtedly further facilitate the government department’s operations.
“The Isuzu pickup truck has earned recognition and established a reputation as a vehicle capable of enduring any condition and road surface.
“We are confident that this new D-Max will serve JPN very effectively in carrying out their duties,” added Kenkichi Sogo.
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