For car companies, volume is crucial to the success of the business. One way to get volume is to cover many segments of the market so the bigger companies will have a broad range of products to compete in almost every segment. Of course, the products must also be appealing and sell well too.
So it’s impressive that Isuzu Malaysia, with just the D-MAX pick-up truck as its primary product (plus commercial vehicles), it has been among the top 10 brands in Malaysia. In fact, since being established in 2005, the company has mainly sold the D-MAX which has been locally assembled. And with each new generation being improved in many ways, annual sales kept rising.
Despite ongoing production issues for the whole industry, record sales of the D-MAX were achieved with 1,233 units delivered around the country in March this year. That was the company’s highest ever monthly sales volume in 18 years, and a big jump from the previous record of 885 units recorded in December 2014.
Following the debut of the latest generation a year ago, demand for the D-MAX has continued at high levels and like other companies, supplies are still not as much as Isuzu Malaysia would like. Nevertheless, the orders keep coming in and although it is not yet in the middle of its production cycle, the company has added enhancements to its flagship X-Terrain which already has an impressive list of features.
“The new-generation Isuzu D-Max remains our source of pride as it bridges the gap between how pick-up trucks should perform and what customers desire. The flagship D-MAX X-Terrain, in particular, sought to ensure customers enjoyed some truly stand-out features that make their motoring safer and more pleasurable,” said Isuzu Malaysia’s CEO, Shunsuke Okazoe.
For the latest D-MAX X-Terrain, there are now two more exterior colours – Silky Pearl White and Onyx Black. These join Valencia Orange, the distinctive finish that makes the D-MAX stand out even more among other pick-up trucks.
Another key addition is the Around-View Monitor that provides a 360˚ view on all sides of the vehicle. Using small camera around the vehicle, the imagery captured in real-time is merged into a simulated image that looks like the camera is above the vehicle. The view appears on the 9-inch display panel whenever reverse gear is selected, and there is a 3D guide to help the driver maneuver and position the truck. No more white knuckles parking the long vehicle!
For those who have new smartphones that can recharge wirelessly, there is a charging pad in the D-MAX now. Apart from being convenient as no cable is needed, the phone can be left on the pad and kept charged while having uninterrupted Bluetooth connectivity for music or maps without draining the phone battery.
Isuzu Malaysia has also added a welcome light, which gives a touch of class. LED lamps beneath the vehicle illuminate the surrounding foot areas when the doors are unlocked. When used in tandem with the follow-me home lights, the driver and passengers can move around the vehicle at night confidently as the ground will be well lit.
Finally, exclusive lighted scuff plates are provided and not only help protect the sills from minor scratches but also offers an added touch of elegance to the D-MAX X-Terrain. What we also hope Isuzu Malaysia will provide again are those ‘stealth’ side steps which automatically slide in and out.
“The popularity of the Isuzu D-MAX range, particularly the X-Terrain variant, remains healthy with many first-time owners reveling in life with a modern pick-up truck. Its inspiring safety, comfort and go-anywhere, do-anything versatility has led to a gradual migration of saloon car owners. I believe that with these new added features and colour choices, the D-MAX X-Terrain will continue to appeal to many more who will be tempted to convert,” said Chief Operating Officer, Kenkichi Sogo.
The updated Isuzu D-MAX X-Terrain is available for booking from today at all authorized Isuzu showrooms, with deliveries beginning from mid-July. The revised price for this version is now RM146,938.40 (without insurance), which is slightly more than before.
Keyword: Isuzu D-MAX X-Terrain gets additional features and new colours