Isuzu Considering Raptor Rival. DMax Arctic Truck.

[csv8]

"Isuzu Australia could bring its own rival to the Ford Ranger Raptor, Toyota Hilux Rugged and Holden Colorado Sportscat with the introduction of a ute based on the UK’s D-Max Arctic Truck.
Speaking with Drive, newly appointed director of product planning Yugo Kiyofuji said he was considering bringing a factory-built tough truck in the same vein as the incoming wave of performance utes.
“Yes, there is an opportunity,” said Kiyofuji.
“We just like to permeate the new image about LS-T into the market and the customer will dictate if they want something with more bells and whistles, and we’ll decide what to add on to this.”
The latest MY18 LS-T brings added interior comfort and new three-span leaf rear suspension for a plusher ride, but it doesn’t reach the aggressive styling and off-road focus of the upcoming Raptor or recently launched Sportscat and Rugged X. However, unlike previous efforts by Isuzu to launch kitted-editions put together at dealerships, Isuzu is planning to build a serious effort out of the factory in Thailand.
“Basically dealers setup the early special accessory models and it didn’t really catch the market. Basically, suspension was standard, interior and plastics were added and everything. It was a trial, but it didn’t really succeed from my perspective.
“So that’s why we setup separate exclusive marketing collateral for this, and then the market will dictate if this is enough or not.”

The move to three-span leaf suspension might pave the way for an independent rear suspension set-up similar to the Nissan Navara and Mercedes-Benz X-Class, though it would probably be reserved for the next-generation ute that’s due sometime after 2020, but Isuzu wants to balance performance with its ‘fit for purpose’ slogan.
Isuzu in the UK offers a dressed-up D-Max Arctic Truck AT35 adding 17-inch alloys with 35-inch 315/70 Nokian Rotiiva tyres for 290mm clearance via 30mm body and 20mm suspension lift and Fox Performance Shox, but the engine is a relatively small 1.9-litre turbo diesel producing 121kW and 360Nm – the Australian market trucks produce 130kW and 430Nm.
“Potentially [we would go rear coil suspension], for the next gen. It’s a bit early stage still and whether the suspension changes or remains or not will be dependent on what customers feel. If this [three-span leaf] is not enough it will be fed back to the manufacturer and go into the plan on whether we change the three-leaf or go into something totally new.
It seems Isuzu has ruled out a V6 for now, with Euro 6 its focus once the regulations become clearer.
“Some boast about V6 and some about figures but we are not trying to go into the battle of the figures.
“Potentially [we’ll bring the 1.9-litre here]. We have to think about the whole uses of the customer, in case the 1.9-litre is too weak and it’s not a good choice for us. We’ll see what its potential is.
“Currently in the market Euro 6 is under discussion. Potentially (we’ll build a whole new engine), it’s still ambiguous how the Euro 6 regulation will go ahead.”

[Falcon SXR8]

Don't think the 1.9 will cut it unfortunately with the isuzu faithful.

[jpd80]

Therefore, there's nothing that's practically off the shelf ready to sell here
and copying the Raptor sports truck is no guarantee of sales success either.

[Bossxr8]

Since when is the Merc and Navara coil spring live rear axle IRS? Journo should know better.

[CyberWasp]

The car companies are crazy for not making what the market wants.
How many Rangers for example do you see with Flares, Lift and Bigger Wheels?

For a lot of people it is a hassle to modify a vehicle to get that look as you have to consider warranties and the legalities of bigger wheels and offsets, not to mention gearing, speedometers and insurance companies.

A factory solution makes sense and avoids these complications.

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by CyberWasp

The car companies are crazy for not making what the market wants.
How many Rangers for example do you see with Flares, Lift and Bigger Wheels?

For a lot of people it is a hassle to modify a vehicle to get that look as you have to consider warranties and the legalities of bigger wheels and offsets, not to mention gearing, speedometers and insurance companies.

A factory solution makes sense and avoids these complications.

I see more aftermarket 4x4 shops opening up....bout as much as caravans. This is why the oems are jumping on the bandwagon. The market is growing in this area. This and caravans.

[Vesper Martini]

Originally Posted by CyberWasp

The car companies are crazy for not making what the market wants.
How many Rangers for example do you see with Flares, Lift and Bigger Wheels?

For a lot of people it is a hassle to modify a vehicle to get that look as you have to consider warranties and the legalities of bigger wheels and offsets, not to mention gearing, speedometers and insurance companies.

A factory solution makes sense and avoids these complications.

image

Indeed. I forget who it was, a regular poster on here fitted larger wheels to his Ranger as many do, but later found by increasing the overall track it made it illegal. that's despite having the factory flared Guards fitted.

So reluctantly he pulled the wheels off.

If they make a factory option it will address this.