Close to a year after the new Isuzu D-Max broke
cover in Thailand, it has reached India for testing, spy shots shared by IAB
readers Prateek & Saumitra have revealed. The second generation Isuzu D-Max
has received subtle design revisions with the minor model change. Now, it
features revised radiator grille, more aggressive headlamps with L-shaped DRLs,
revised fog lamp housing and blacked-out B-pillar. The interior design has not
changed. The alloy wheel design of the mule shows that it's the V-Cross variant
that's on test.
In India, the Isuzu D-Max is available as a crew cab
and a single cab. Of the crew cab version, a V-Cross variant targeted at
private customers is also available. A chassis cab version was displayed at
Auto Expo 2016 and then spotted outside in November last year. This version,
called ‘Spark’, could finally head into the market with the facelift.
The regular crew cab version and the single cab
version employ a 2.5-litre VGS Turbo diesel engine that produces 79 PS at 3,800 rpm and 176 Nm of torque at 1,800-2,400 rpm. The V-Cross crew cab
uses a more potent version of this engine with a tuning of 135 PS at 3,600 rpm and 320 Nm at 1,800-2,800 rpm. A 5-speed manual transmission is
standard. A part-time 4WD system is available in the V-Cross variant.
Along with the new Isuzu D-Max, the new Isuzu MU-X
is also undergoing local testing. The SUV is said to feature a BSVI-compliant
1.9-litre engine. The 2019 Isuzu D-Max could go on sale in India in the first half of
2019.