Speaking to drive.com.au at the launch of the updated D-Max and MU-X this past week, Yugo Kiyofuji said he had no interest in the “battle of the figures” contest, following the unveilings of the 190 kW Mercedes-Benz X350d and the 200 kW Volkswagen Amarok V6 TDI.
“For the next-gen, I don’t have anything to comment on, but from my perspective, we will remain Isuzu brand. I’m not going to ask the factory to introduce V6 or 300 kW and 600 Nm. That’s not something we should set,” Kiyofuji said.
“Some boast about V6 and some about figures but we are not trying to go into the battle of the figures. What we are focusing on is how the customers can use the vehicles, which is the reason we have high flat torque so the high torque from the start, low revs, that’s something the customer wants at the end of the day”.
He added that ” It’s not about 200 kW and whatever. It’s not a speeding car, it’s not a racing car, so I think we are going to keep the same Isuzu spirit for the next generation, at least around the powertrain”.
Kiyofuji instead remarked that Isuzu will be focusing its attention on safety for the next generation D-Max, with the aim of introducing aids such Autonomous Emergency Braking and Lane Departure Warning in an attempt to obtain a five-star ANCAP rating.
“As we talk about next-gen, and it’s early to talk about it from my side, but having said that five-star ANCAP is something mandatory for both private and fleet customers. The rule around ANCAP five star has been moved and definitely we’re going to comply across the range, so you can tell what is going to come on top of the current safety features," he said.
Introduced last year, Australian D-Max models have come powered by an updated version of the venerable 4JJ1-TCX 3.0-litre D-TEQ turbodiesel engine, that produces 130 kW and 430 Nm of torque, 50 Nm more than the same engine powering local KB variants.
While confirmed for South Africa in the second quarter of 2018, the much anticipated MU-X, which has been the dominating force within the body-on-frame SUV segment in Australia, will forego the more powerful engine for the same unit powering the KB, but according to reports, feature a six-speed automatic gearbox.
IMAGE from performancedrive.com.au
