- Isuzu going B-I-G with its KB range in SA
- Icelandic company involved in special vehicles
- Special conversion jobs on Isuzu D-MAX trucks
PORT ELIZABETH South Africa – An exclusive and very well-specced Isuzu D-MAX Arctic AT 35 is about to become the brand’s flagship in South African showrooms and the required parts are coming all the way from Iceland, home of glaciers and volcanoes and a specialist vehicle conversion company called Arctic Trucks.
The modest operator that makes much of high suspensions and giant rim/tyre conversions is based in Reykjavik, the island nation’s capital in the south-west of the country’.
The South African launch will be in May 2019, the units based on the Isuzu 300 4×4 Double Cab LX a/t.
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The Corner’s Editor, Les Stephenson, went to Iceland in 2010 with Toyota to test that brand’s Hiluxes equipped with similar equipment from Arctic – but also semi-horizontal ”bush bars” for glacier driving. Horizontal?
Yep, you don’t want to drop into a hidden glacier, do you…?
The idea was to assemble similar vehicles in SA for use in the Antarctic – but the Toyota concept failed.
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Dominic Rimmer, technical services boss at Isuzu Motors SA, told The Corner in a media release: “The Isuzu D-MAX is respected for its fit-for-purpose design, outstanding reliability and proven durability but the coming bakkie is intended for customers seeking an extremely capable but thoroughly unique on/off-road bakkie.
READ MORE Isuzu features on Carman’s Corner
“Whether driven in arduous off-road conditions or used on the road, this is a rugged and character-filled bakkie that certainly commands attention.”
The bakkies will be assembled in South Africa but have already received full local validation – their distinctive look totally functional with, Isuzu SA says, ”an unashamedly muscular presence”.
FULL FACTORY WARRANTY
The flared wheel arches add 18cm to the overall width, the suspension and tyres nearly five cm to the ride height.
The vehicles will be delivered in South Africa with a full factory warranty and dealer support and, the automaker says, ”buyers can be assured they will handle the toughest South African conditions with unprecedented capability”.
How much? R785 000.
The warranty includes a five-year or 120 000km bumper-to-bumper warranty, five years of no-rust-through and a five-year or 90 000km service plan.
Service intervals: Annual or every 15 000km. Roadside assistance, service and maintenance plans, are available.
