[CarMatt777]

I've been doind some heavy research and it has finally all paid off. ISUZU has a Thai partner called Thai Rung Automotive. They have a model called the Adventure Master, and it has won car of the year in Thailand, or so the website said. It was rough to seperate the Thai parts and the English parts. THIS IS AN SUV VERSION OF THE D-MAX FROM ISUZU. This is exactly what executive VP Terry Maloney desribd in this article on ISUZU's future in April 2003:

In 2005-06, Isuzu hopes to get a body-on-frame SUV built on the company's Thai-market pickup. As shown to reporters in sketch form at the New York show, it would be larger than the Rodeo and the old Trooper, but shorter and narrower than the Ascender.

I have plenty of pics and a little info at my ISUZU webage:

http://www.freewebs.com/isuzuforever/

This could be ISUZU's secret weapon in hiding. I think it looks great and stylish, and the interior reminds me of the new Infiniti QX56. This is one serious SUV and i think with proper advertising it could be a big hit. Finally, a new SUV that is 100% ISUZU tough. Im so excited and im glad i could make this known to everybody. What do you guys think of it?

 

[LTC Don]

Interesting pics. The first one from the side is actually the most appealing to me. All the other off-side pics remind me of the Assender and the Highlander a bit.

I note the huge space in the fender wells above the tires............

I'm not familiar with the D-Max' suspension and drive train, what are the lift options and so forth?

As far as being a success in the American market...........well, as we've all established many, many times over the years, it's all about the marketing and ISUZU NA just hasn't been aggressive in that area.

Cost will certainly also be an issue, this new ride is certainly more along the lines of a family wagon, so I think from an off-road perspective, the ISUZU enthusiast crowd is starved for a retro-styled Trooper that fits a utilitarian lifestyle.

Cheers,

 

[Conman]

Nice pics. The 3rd row area appears larger than I expected so this truck will def. be longer than any current Isuzu. Hopefully it will be wider but it's looking a little tight there. I think I remember reading on a website it will have a link rear suspension(while the d-max pickup is leaf in the rear). Front is t-bars IIRC. Holden is selling the Rodeo(aka D-max Pickup) with the trusty 3.5 V6 Gas so I suspect that if it does make it here, that will probably be the Gas engine option. I'm not going to hold my breath for the TD engine which would be nice though.

Con

 

[Conman]

Website for Thai Rung Automotive.
http://www.thairung.co.th/english/default.aspx
http://www.thairung.co.th/English/Consu ... nture.aspx

It appears they are building Nissan Patrols(suv we don't get) and they Frontier Pickup as well for the Thai Market as well.

Con

 

[CarMatt777]

Well it may look long, but its actually not as long as the Ascender. The Ascender has a little bit more legroom on all three rows and about 50% more cargo space in the back. This is still a great SUV and i think it could offroad to some extent, on the count of its high from the ground. If the D-MAX can do it easily in the ISUZU challenge in South American jungle, i dont see why this one couldnt be almost as good. Thai Rung also sells (or sold im not really sure) the Grand Adventure, and it looks almost exactly like a Trooper. But maybe it just was a rebadged Trooper so that model would not fit expectations for the new model. I think this SUV would fit right in and cold do well with ISUZUs new marketing techniques. Anybody seen the new commercials that have been repeating over and over on TV recently? Ive see nthem about 15 times, mostly on the weather channel. They are even sponsoring the Weather channel and have been getting the name ISUZU put on the top of the screen for full weather forcasts. then they thank them for the sponsoring and it cuts to the new ISUZU commercial. ""Hurry in to Sport Utility Value Days at ISUZU" it says, and shows many pictures of the Ascender, Rodeo, and Axiom. Its also says $4000 of Ascender, $4000 of Rodeo, and $4000 of Axiom. Its a pretty good commercial and is the first fruits of the advertising deal ISUZU made with Malone advertsing a few months ago. I think they are finally getting their advertising act together, and preparing for their comeback in 2005 or 2006 after all ties with GM are severed. This is the New Isuzu!!

 

[CarMatt777]

Does anybody care??? Anybody plan on buying one when they reach US shores??

 

[LTC Don]

Can someone explain this > "Final Gear Ratio 5.125" - and how this number is derived?

It comes from here:

http://www.thairung.co.th/English/Consu ... nical.aspx

The chart lists 4.55 for the MT, but 5.1 for the AT - I don't know if that's good or bad :?

I feel so stoooopid with some of this number stuff.

Cheers,