KOTA KINABALU: The Isuzu D-MAX has built a solid reputation as one of the most capable and proven off-road vehicles in the annual Borneo Safari off-road challenge.
This year, the D-MAX continued the tradition to conquer one of Asia’s toughest off-road events with its new 1.9-litre Blue Power engine.
The pickup truck successfully negotiated the rough terrain in the seven-day event and collected the organiser’s Special Award in recognition of its off-roading capabilities.
Fresh from its launch very recently, the new Isuzu D-MAX 1.9 Blue Power participated in the event with a mere 200km on its odometer straight into the jungles of Sabah as a media support vehicle.
The “Blue Monster” was only given a body lift kit, mud terrain tyres, longer travel shock absorbers, snorkel, winch and heavy duty guards to protect the vehicle from the extreme elements in the jungle. The rest of the truck was stock standard.
Isuzu Malaysia chief operating officer Masayuki Suzuki said: “Off-road enthusiasts understand that strong and balanced power delivery is vital when tackling extremes in the jungle.
“With its impressive power delivery perfectly matched to its new 6-speed gearbox, the new 1.9-litre Blue Power D-Max simply showed its pedigree and dispelled any notion about the capability of its diminutive engine displacement.”
The new engine features a thoroughly reworked design and components to deliver improved engine performance and durability.
The “Blue Monster” joined “Red Monster”, “White Monster” and “Black Monster” as part of Isuzu Malaysia’s commitment as the event’s diamond sponsor.
Members of the media used the vehicles to get close to the heart of the action in this year’s event, which has been organised annually since 1991.
The manufacturer has been a keen supporter of the event, furnishing it with its dependable Isuzu D-
Max vehicles for the last 13 years.