Isuzu Ute News

A chance chat with a fuel frugal fellow traveller was enough for Bittern boatie

While touring Tassies Great Lakes in autumn with wife Sue, he spotted another grey nomad parked in his very tidy looking D-MAX with a small caravan in tow.

Remembering the Isuzu Ute Max Run fuel economy guessing competition he saw on www.isuzuute.com.au, where entrants could win a D-MAX and a Haines five-metre power boat by correctly estimating how far a D-MAX LS would tow that boat without refuelling, he asked what fuel economy the D-MAX was getting towing the van. The answer was 12.72 km/litre, the D-MAX trip computers alternate readout mode which is friendlier to drivers still steeped in the miles-per-gallon of yore.

Mark then did the maths, arriving at a 966.72km range. He then got even luckier. He mistakenly thought he had to round that figure, and in doing so, he landed on the exact correct figure of 967.0. Then a third stroke of luck saw him drawn the winner from the handful of other correct entries.

Mark upgraded his prize D-MAX LS to a 4x4 LS-M automatic and fitted it out with a few accessories before he and Sue took delivery at Patterson Cheney Isuzu Ute in Dandenong recently.

"Isuzu Ute say the D-MAX is a real truck, just built compact, and thats exactly how it feels towing the boat, very smooth and effortless and a really great pleasure to drive, sitting beautifully on the highway at cruising speed," Mark Pitman said.

.../2. Isuzu UTE Australia Pty Ltd Marketing and Public Relations Richard Power - General Manager richard.power@iua.net.au Steven Henderson - Coordinator steven.henderson@iua.net.au t (07) 3113 5888 f (07) 3113 5877 NEWS RELEASE 921- 929 Kingsford Smith Drive, Eagle Farm, QLD 4009 PO Box 1128, Eagle Farm, Qld 4009 1300 1 ISUZU www.isuzuute.com.au abn 80 129 563 739

Real world economy

"This story demonstrates there are D-MAX drivers out there actually getting great fuel economy out of their utes, not just expert drivers in the Max Runs," said Isuzu Utes Richard Power.

Winner Mark, a semi-retired electrician and keen fisherman, and wife Sue will likely replace their 4.5m tinnie with the prize Haines cruiser with its 80hp four-stroke Suzuki outboard and use the D-MAX on their regular trips north to visit family in Brisbane.

In the 2010 Max Run, expert driver Hans Tholstrup in a D-MAX LS 4x2 manual towed

the over one-tonne prize five-metre fibreglass power boat 967km from south-west Queenslands Cunnamulla to Coolangatta then up to Cannon Hill in inner suburban Brisbane without refuelling, averaging an RACQ-verified 7.85 litres/100km despite battling stiff headwinds most of the way.

That tow test was a more real world economy test and again proved Isuzu Utes claim that D-MAX is the frugal freighter of the one-tonne conventional-cab ute class, whilst still packing the punch to tow or tote a load with ease and comfort.

Tholstrup had previously stretched an unhitched D-MAX SX 4x2 crew ute an amazing 1,716.3 kilometres on a single tank of diesel, driving from far north Queenslands gulf country down south past Innamincka in South Australia, averaging 4.428 litres/100km . which included 175 km of harsh gravel road.

Note: In these runs, Tholstrup, an expert in economy driving, drove for maximum economy at mostly less than posted speeds over mostly low-traffic roads. At all times during the Run, the full size spare wheel was carried and the door mirrors were in their normal position, not folded back.

Mark Pitman to win a new Isuzu D-MAX ute and a sizeable power boat.

A chance chat with a fuel frugal fellow traveller was enough for Bittern boatie

While touring Tassies Great Lakes in autumn with wife Sue, he spotted another grey nomad parked in his very tidy looking D-MAX with a small caravan in tow.

Remembering the Isuzu Ute Max Run fuel economy guessing competition he saw on www.isuzuute.com.au, where entrants could win a D-MAX and a Haines five-metre power boat by correctly estimating how far a D-MAX LS would tow that boat without refuelling, he asked what fuel economy the D-MAX was getting towing the van. The answer was 12.72 km/litre, the D-MAX trip computers alternate readout mode which is friendlier to drivers still steeped in the miles-per-gallon of yore.

Mark then did the maths, arriving at a 966.72km range. He then got even luckier. He mistakenly thought he had to round that figure, and in doing so, he landed on the exact correct figure of 967.0. Then a third stroke of luck saw him drawn the winner from the handful of other correct entries.

Mark upgraded his prize D-MAX LS to a 4x4 LS-M automatic and fitted it out with a few accessories before he and Sue took delivery at Patterson Cheney Isuzu Ute in Dandenong recently.

"Isuzu Ute say the D-MAX is a real truck, just built compact, and thats exactly how it feels towing the boat, very smooth and effortless and a really great pleasure to drive, sitting beautifully on the highway at cruising speed," Mark Pitman said.

.../2. Isuzu UTE Australia Pty Ltd Marketing and Public Relations Richard Power - General Manager richard.power@iua.net.au Steven Henderson - Coordinator steven.henderson@iua.net.au t (07) 3113 5888 f (07) 3113 5877 NEWS RELEASE 921- 929 Kingsford Smith Drive, Eagle Farm, QLD 4009 PO Box 1128, Eagle Farm, Qld 4009 1300 1 ISUZU www.isuzuute.com.au abn 80 129 563 739

Real world economy

"This story demonstrates there are D-MAX drivers out there actually getting great fuel economy out of their utes, not just expert drivers in the Max Runs," said Isuzu Utes Richard Power.

Winner Mark, a semi-retired electrician and keen fisherman, and wife Sue will likely replace their 4.5m tinnie with the prize Haines cruiser with its 80hp four-stroke Suzuki outboard and use the D-MAX on their regular trips north to visit family in Brisbane.

In the 2010 Max Run, expert driver Hans Tholstrup in a D-MAX LS 4x2 manual towed

the over one-tonne prize five-metre fibreglass power boat 967km from south-west Queenslands Cunnamulla to Coolangatta then up to Cannon Hill in inner suburban Brisbane without refuelling, averaging an RACQ-verified 7.85 litres/100km despite battling stiff headwinds most of the way.

That tow test was a more real world economy test and again proved Isuzu Utes claim that D-MAX is the frugal freighter of the one-tonne conventional-cab ute class, whilst still packing the punch to tow or tote a load with ease and comfort.

Tholstrup had previously stretched an unhitched D-MAX SX 4x2 crew ute an amazing 1,716.3 kilometres on a single tank of diesel, driving from far north Queenslands gulf country down south past Innamincka in South Australia, averaging 4.428 litres/100km . which included 175 km of harsh gravel road.

Note: In these runs, Tholstrup, an expert in economy driving, drove for maximum economy at mostly less than posted speeds over mostly low-traffic roads. At all times during the Run, the full size spare wheel was carried and the door mirrors were in their normal position, not folded back.

Mark Pitman to win a new Isuzu D-MAX ute and a sizeable power boat.

Isuzu UTE Australia Pty Ltd 929 Kingsford Smith Drive, Eagle Farm, QLD 4009 PO Box 1128, Eagle Farm, QLD 4009 ABN 80 129 563 739 1300 1 ISUZU 1300 1 47898 Web: www.isuzuute.com.au Email: info@iua.net.au F : +61 (0)7 3113 5877 T : +61 (0)7 3113 5888

Marketing Bulletin 6 /2010 Thursday 3rd June 2010

Dealer Principal Sales Manager Marketing Manager D-MAX Sales Specialist

D-MAX wins another Ute Of The Year award!

Great news and further proof that the product excellence embodied in 'Spirit of Truck' really does live in D-MAX !

Isuzu D-MAX has claimed the 2010 Ute Of The Year award as judged by respected specialist commercial vehicle magazine Delivery.

Publisher and managing editor Chris Mullett called on his long experience in light and heavy trucks plus his off-road 4WD expertise as a former 4x4 driving school operator to head up his magazines judging panel, awarding the accolade to D-MAX for the integrity and depth of its truck engineering for which Isuzu is famous.

"The D-MAX is certainly the pick if you are looking for a solid workhorse that does an honest days work without ever complaining," Chris Mullett said.

"We found that when we delved into the chassis and componentry, there are further benefits such as longer chassis lengths, wheelbase dimensions, stronger axle bearings, chassis cross-members and more impressive engine performance that show the depth of its original development.

"While all utes tend to look the same, the engineering and reliability of the D-MAX itself highlights the reasons for purchase. Its one of the most powerful, the most economical and its also one of the most capable," Chris Mullett said.

Second award

The Delivery magazine award is the second Ute Of The Year which D-MAX has won in the less than two years it has been on sale in Australia.

Isuzu UTE Australia now offers an automatic transmission option in its D-MAX SX

mid-spec 4x4 and 4x2 crew utes, while adding standard cruise control to all SX

variants, freshening up its top LS crew utes and introducing a crimson red mica

finish to the range.

The D-MAX high-series LS-U 4x4 and LS 4x2 crew utes are the most changed in

appearance with a new design chrome grille featuring a prominent central cross bar and

sabre-tooth details plus new double-spoke alloy wheels.

Space cab rear seats

D-MAXs stylish space cab upgrades to four seats from two with almost all of its

considerable cabin storage space behind the front seats preserved. Twin rear jump seats

with multiple folding modes are added to the variant which continues as an SX 4x4

cab/chassis manual.

Lifting each seat squab reveals a box with a flat load platform lid under which are

segmented small tool storage racks. These boxes can flip forward and fill the rear foot-well

recesses, their flat backs levelling with the prop-shaft tunnel to present a near flat load

platform across the cabin floor width.

Each rear space cab seating position has a three-point seatbelt, cup-holder and a side

pocket in the cabin side trim, plus enhanced visibility via the space cabs signature low-sill,

rear opening rear side windows. A backrest pad stretches across the full cabin width rear

wall.

Despite the extra cost of the new space cab rear seat installation, the $2,500 price step up

from single to space cab in D-MAX remains up to $2,500 less than others in the class.

Space cab increases only $700 with the extra seats and cruise control.

All D-MAX SX variants also gain five-speed intermittent wiper mode while silver hubcaps

for the 16" drilled steel wheels replace black, for a smarter look.

When applied to the 4x2 SX crew ute, the automatic option also includes the 4x4 high-ride

suspension with 225mm ground clearance, wheel arch flares, 16" wheels and 245/70 tyres.

Automatic remains unavailable on cab/chassis models due to their uniquely 150mm longer

wheelbase of 3200mm, the longest in the class. Automatic has always been offered in DMAX

LS, LS-M and LS-U.

Inside all LS variants, the dash centre stack fascia and side air vent registers and surround

panels all change to satin black with chrome trim rings from the prior silver finish. Cabin

headlining adopts a cosy black, different from the continuing dark grey in the lower-spec

3rd May 2010

variants. Instrument and control lighting changes to orange from blue while the silver bands

around the main three dial faces change to a more up-market gunmetal.

Speedometer graphics in all D-MAX variants change to 2km/h graduations from the

previous 5km/h with more legible numerals, in a nod to increased speed limit enforcement.

Similar improved graphics apply to the tachometer and odometers.

"D-MAX has now been on sale in Australia for 18 months, so we decided to herald some

running upgrades with a new look for our top-selling LS-U 4x4 and LS crew utes," said

Isuzu UTE Australia managing director Hitoshi Kono.

"We recently retailed our 5,000th D-MAX, and each month between 75 and 80 per cent of

sales have been 4x4. Private and small business owners are still the majority of D-MAX

buyers, which differs from the fleet sales which dominate the segment. However, the

availability of automatic now in both 4x4 and 4x2 SX crew utes will fit the needs of many

state and local governments as well as business and rental fleets.

D-MAXs tri-mode four-speed automatic has normal, Power and 3rd modes plus

Adaptive Grade Logic, which holds third gear during varied-gradient ascents to avoid

hunting and on steep descents to help hold speed. Power mode upshifts at higher revs

while 3rd starts in third gear to avoid wheel spin on acceleration from rest on very

slippery surfaces like snow, ice or wet clay.

"Were seeing the D-MAXs market share generally trending upwards against fierce

competition, thanks to the great brand strength of Isuzu, with its 70-year history of building

trucks big and small as well as diesel engines. It shows in D-MAX, which is a true truck

built compact, with all the hidden engineering strengths built in and some class-leading

attributes.

Local buyers have seen that D-MAX embodies the utter reliability for which Isuzu is

globally famous and has demonstrated exceptional real world fuel economy and low

ownership cost while still delivering on performance," Mr Kono said.

Isuzu UTE's D-MAX diesel ute has towed a trailered five-plus metre fibreglass power boat

weighing over 1000kg nearly 1000km from the outback to the ocean and onto the city

without refuelling.

Eco-futurist and tree farmer Hans Tholstrup drove a top spec D-MAX LS 4x2 manual fiveseat,

four-door crew ute 967km from south-west Queensland's Cunnamulla to Coolangatta

then up to Cannon Hill in inner suburban Brisbane on its standard tank of diesel.

Along much of the route except for the last 100km up to Brisbane, Tholstrup battled 25-to-

35km/h head and nose winds as the weather wound up to dump the major February floods

on central Queensland.

The D-MAX's calculated average fuel use was 7.85 litres/100km based on its nominal fuel

tank volume of 76 litres. This is less than the most frugal D-MAX model's best ADR 81/02

figure of 7.9 l/100km -which excludes any towing, and likewise much less than the no-tow

8.4l/100km ADR figure for the heavier LS manual. Fuellings at the start and finish of the

Run were supervised and verified by RACQ representatives.

Tholstrup had previously stretched an unhitched D-MAX SX 4x2 crew ute 1,716.3

kilometres on a single tank driving from far north Queensland's gulf country down south

past Innamincka in South Australia. That drive - which included 175 km of harsh outback

gravel-returned an average consumption of 4.428 litres/100km-the economy of an

electric-petrol hybrid or a small diesel car.

This tow test was designed as a more real world economy test and has again proved

Isuzu's claim that D-MAX is the 'frugal freighter' of the one-tonne conventional-cab ute

class, whilst still packing the punch to tow or tote a load with ease and comfort.

Note: In these runs, Tholstrup, an expert in economy driving, drove for maximum economy at mostly less than

posted speeds over mostly low-traffic roads. At all times during the Run, the full size alloy spare wheel was

carried and the door mirrors were in their normal position.