Isuzu is planning to launch a rough-and-ready flagship variant of its D-Max ute, called the Blade. A teaser has been sent out to build anticipation ahead of its November 1 debut.
Finally, Isuzu is going to offer an extra-rugged version of the D-Max to fight with the likes of the Ford Ranger Wildtrak X and Tremor, the Toyota HiLux Rogue, and the Nissan Navara Warrior. But what will it involve? Will it offer more power?
Firstly, no. The engine is set to remain unchanged as the trusty 3.0-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder producing 140kW and 450Nm. However, the Blade will be a locally-developed project designed specifically for Aussie conditions and for current customer demands.
Judging by the teaser image the pumped-out wheel arches give it that extra-tough look, but they also accommodate chunky tyres and bespoke alloy wheels.
According to documents found on a government infrastructure portal, the Blade will come with suspension upgrades offering 26.5mm of added ground clearance at the front and 29mm more at the back (standard X-Terrain is rated 240mm), along with a sump guard and unique sports bar.
This will be the first proper off-road take Isuzu has officially offered in Australia, and certainly the first bespoke D-Max-badged model to undergo extensive local development and testing. Speaking about the new variant, Isuzu Ute Australia deputy managing director, Koichiro Yoshida, said:
“For as long as I can remember, customers and the media have asked about a higher-spec, off-road ready ute to rival the competition, something extremely capable, without compromise. I hope they’re ready for the answer—the D-Max Blade has been developed specifically for those Australians who like to go their own way.”
As far as we understand, the D-Max Blade will not be a special edition model. Instead, it’ll join the lineup as a regular proposition. In our opinion, prices could start from around $85,000, given the current X-Terrain tops out at $70,500 (excluding on-road costs).
An initial production run is expected to sell fast but after that, sales and deliveries are likely to flow as per the regular lineup. More details on November 1, and stay tuned for our full review.
