Isuzu Max Run Challenge, a three-day drive organized by Isuzu Motors India Private Ltd. between Vijayawada and Mumbai, was held during September 23-25. KPMG in India was the process advisor and evaluator of the Max Run Challenge drive.
Upon the conclusion of the drive the process evaluation report was presented by Raajeev B. Batra, Partner, KPMG India, to Mr. Takashi Kikuchi, Managing Director, Isuzu Motors India, in Mumbai. Starting from Vijayawada, three Isuzu D-Max pick-up trucks drove though Hyderabad, Solapur and Pune before reaching Mumbai, thus covering the distance of more than 1,000 km in one full tank.
The Isuzu D-MAX achieved an average of 18.3 km per litre under real world conditions. The vehicles were equipped with the GPS Telemetry System in order to facilitate the exact kilometers travelled and track the drive in real time.
Commenting on the occasion, Mr. Takashi Kikuchi said: “It is an important and exciting day for us, since our three day Isuzu Max run challenge concludes today. We are extremely happy to have organized such a drive. The Isuzu Max Run Challenge is a global initiative that has been successfully undertaken in Australia, the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia and the Middle East. The world over the Isuzu D-Max is known for its excellent fuel efficiency, power, torque, operating economy and we wanted to prove the same in India as well.”
He added: “The three-day drive has not only facilitated demonstration of the USP of the vehicle, which is fuel efficiency & vehicle performance, but has also established the fact that with correct driving technique anyone can get the best out of an Isuzu. Isuzu has conducted fuel efficiency training in different countries, and we would like to extend this for the Indian customers too.”
In India, the pick-up truck segment is one of the largest and fastest growing segments in commercial vehicles (CV), accounting for 35 per cent of the total CV market. Maharashtra is the biggest pick-up truck market in India and an integral part of Isuzu’s growth strategy.
The three-day drive was flagged off by Mr. Toru Kishimoto, Vice President, Isuzu Motors India, at Vijayawada on September 23. Three professional drivers drove through the States of Andhra Pradesh, Telengana and Maharashtra covering a diverse terrain of India from the east coast to the west coast.
India’s first international pick-up truck range “Isuzu D-Max” comprises three models with two cabin options and two deck options. The “Isuzu D-Max Single cab” is available in flat deck and the “Isuzu D-MAX Space Cab” is available in both flat deck and arched deck variants.
The mighty Isuzu D-Max is propelled by a 2499cc, 4-cylinder inter-cooled turbo-charged diesel engine, mated with a 5-speed manual transmission. This powerful engine pumps out 134 hp power @ 3600 rpm and 294 Nm torque @ 1800-3200 rpm range, which enables the Isuzu D-Max to carry a payload of 1.2 ton effortlessly.
With a 76 litre fuel tank, the Isuzu DMAX sports a bold and aggressive look on the outside and sophisticated, passenger-car like interiors, making it a pride for the owner.