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Limited edition bakkie commemorates 45 years of local production

Home Manufacturing & Processing Automotive Limited edition bakkie commemorates 45 years of local production

ISUZU Motors South Africa is celebrating its legacy of producing sought-after Isuzu bakkies in the country over the past 45 years with the launch of the limited edition D-Max 45, competitively priced at R906 100.

Based on the seventh-generation D-Max range, and specifically the 3.0 Ddi double cab LSE 4×4 Automatic derivative, the D-MAX 45 will be released in limited numbers from the end of July 2024. It will be available with an exclusive range of accessories and features, adding further lustre to one of the bakkie segment’s most revered nameplates.

“The Isuzu D-Max, and the KB before it, have enjoyed a long and proud legacy in South Africa, and were responsible for creating and popularising the double cab bakkie segment which is now the mainstay of the local industry,” says Kevin Fouche, department executive: product planning and programme management at Isuzu Motors South Africa.

“With the inherent practicality, versatility and go-anywhere capability offered by this type of vehicle, it’s no surprise that bakkies now top new vehicle sales in South Africa,” Fouche says. “The D-Max has consistently been a leading contender in the segment, whether it’s for commercial applications with the trusted D-Max single cab, empowering the agricultural industry with the tough D-Max extended cab, or as a family-oriented leisure vehicle with the all-encompassing D-Max double cab.”

Over its seven iterations, the Isuzu bakkie range has remained one of the most compelling and popular models in the light commercial vehicle segment, ever since the first-generation KB came off the Kempston Road production line in Port Elizabeth (now Gqeberha) in 1979.
Following the establishment of Isuzu Motors South Africa in 2018 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Isuzu Motors Limited – the first outside of Japan – Isuzu trusted and loved bakkie was renamed “D-Max” in line with the brand’s global nomenclature.

“The limited edition D-Max 45 celebrates this proud heritage with unique features, colour options and accessories that will make it a highly sought-after offering in the Isuzu D-Max range,” Fouche says.

D-Max 45 features

The D-Max 45 is based on the 3.0 Ddi double cab LSE 4×4 automatic, which means it has an appreciably high level of standard comfort, safety and convenience features, matched to the proven capabilities of the 3.0-litre Ddi intercooled turbodiesel engine which produces 140 kW of power and 450 Nm of torque. This is combined with a dependable six-speed automatic transmission and a part-time four-wheel drive system with a standard differential lock to conquer more challenging terrain.

However, the D-Max 45 stands out from the standard LSE models thanks to the adoption of a gloss black front grille with contrasting lower fog lamp facia accent garnish, 18-inch gloss black alloy wheels with distinctive silver ring centre caps, and a classy yet practical black Rhinoman X-pedition canopy. The tailgate continues the theme with a black ISUZU decal, as well as a special 45-year commemorative badge that signals this model’s exclusive status.

Easy access to the load compartment is facilitated by the inclusion of the tailgate assist feature, while the inclusion of a spray-on bedliner ensures that a variety of goods can safely be carried without scratching the load bed.

A range of attractive colour choices has been selected for the D-MAX 45, comprising Desert Orange, Splash White, Mercury Silver, Biarritz Blue and Islay Grey.

The upmarket interior, which includes the LSE’s partial leather seat trim, benefits from the addition of durable Bundu Basher rubber floor mats, which makes it ideal for dusty and muddy off-road adventures.

A wireless charger is included on the D-Max 45 to keep compatible smartphones charged at all times. This complements the standard nine-inch touchscreen multimedia system with integrated wireless Apple CarPlay and AndroidAuto.

The D-Max LSE’s standard suite of safety features is carried through to this limited edition model, including driver and passenger front airbags, side airbags, curtain airbags, a driver’s knee airbag and the far-side airbag between the front seats.

Active safety features include ABS with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist System (BAS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC) with Traction Control, Hill Start Assist (HSA), Hill Descent Control (HDC) and Trailer Sway Control.

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