Isuzu beefs up D-Max with off-road ready Blade edition

Isuzu seems to be giving what 4x4 enthusiasts want out of the D-Max pickup truck. The latest update in the country saw the addition of a rear-locking differential, and at the recently concluded Philippine International Motor Show, the D-Max was even dressed up with steel bumpers, a lift, and camping equipment.

But over at the Land Down Under, Isuzu Australia is looking to take the D-Max into battle against the Ranger Raptor. They have revealed the special edition D-Max Blade – an off-road-oriented variant developed by the Walkinshaw Automotive Group.

Up front, it gets a more aggressive look with a new black-themed front grille design, fitted with an integrated light bar. The front bumper also gets added protection in the form of a red bash plate.

There’s also a tubular stepboard at the side with the side mirrors and door handles painted in black. At the bed, Isuzu fitted the D-Max with a metal sports bar for added form and function. To complete the rugged look, the pickup truck also gets special Blade decals.

The track width of the D-Max has been widened thanks to the black fender flares and the new 17-inch alloy wheels that feature a more negative offset than the standard set. The wheels are also wrapped in 275/65/R17 Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac RT all-terrain tires for better traction off-road.

In terms of its suspension, the D-Max gets Monroe MTV twin-tube dampers and new coil springs in front to increase the ride height and also improve on-road dynamics. Combined with the new set of wheels, the D-Max Blade is about an inch taller than the standard model.

Inside, the D-Max features Blade logos on the headrests, floor mats, and door scuff plates, but most of the interior features are similar to the standard model. Behind the gear shifter and engine bay, there are plaques to designate the specific build number.

Powering the D-Max Blade is still the 3.0-liter, four-cylinder turbodiesel called the 4JJ3-TCX, making 190 PS and 450 Nm of torque paired to a 6-speed automatic transmission. Much like the top-spec LS-E in the country, the D-Max Blade gets the rough terrain mode and rear locking differentials.

While the D-Max Blade is only built for the Australian market for the time being, Isuzu Philippines can surely pick up the idea (no pun intended) and offer a similar off-road-oriented version here. Perhaps, a new Boondock edition?