AT35's wheel arches to be redesigned to accommodate the 35-inch all-terrain wheels. Image: Isuzu
Largely viewed, but not directly classified as an alternative to the Ford Ranger Raptor, Isuzu officially unveiled the new Arctic Trucks fettled D-Max AT35 on the first day of the Nampo Agricultural Expo in Bothaville in the Free State on Tuesday.
Shown for the first time in the United Kingdom last year, the second generation AT35 to be modified by the Icelandic firm will once again be assembled in South Africa and go on-sale later this year with pricing to be announced later.
As with the previous AT35, the newcomer is once again based on the flagship D-Max derivative, this time the V-Cross, but furnished with extended colour coded wheel arches in order to accommodate the 35-inch BF Goodrich all-terrain tyres.
Wrapped around model specific 17-inch alloy wheels, the inclusion of the 35-inch wheels has resulted in Isuzu having to fit the D-Max with a bespoke lift-kit, off-road focused suspension, heavy-duty Bilstein dampers and a wider front track.
The end result is an increase in ground clearance from 232 mm to 266 mm, a wading depth of 865 mm versus 800 mm and a payload increase from 970 kg to 1 045 kg.
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In terms of approach, departure and breakover angles, the former increases from 30-degrees to 33-degrees and the latter from 22.5-degrees to 34-degress. The central departure angle is now rated at 23-degrees as opposed to the 18-degrees of the standard D-Max V-Cross.
Despite the AT35 keeping hold of its part-time four-wheel-drive system, Isuzu has deemed it necessary to fit a new actuator for the electronic system it says engages in 0.61 seconds. As with the standard D-Max V-Cross, the AT35 gets an electronic rear diff-lock as standard.
Besides its mentioned exterior revisions, the D-Max AT35 also receives additional add-ons in the form of steel side-steps, a sport bars with red accents, red AT badges on the centre caps of the wheels, and AT35 badges on the tailgate and on the front wings.
Inside, the interior’s sole adaptions from the V-Cross are AT35 branded floor mats, headrests and door sills.
It, therefore, means that standard specification is carried over from the V-Cross, namely the nine-inch touchscreen infotainment system, eight-speaker sound system, dual-zone climate control with rear vents, tyre pressure monitor, keyless entry and push-button start, Auto High Beam Assist LED headlights, electric front seats and wireless smartphone charger.
Standard safety and driver assistance tech comprises Multi Collision Brake Assist, Lane Keep Assist, Forward Collision Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Blind Spot Monitoring, Autonomous Emergency Braking, Lane Departure Warning and eight airbags.
Up front, the 4JJ3-TCX DDI 3.0-litre turbodiesel engine has not been adorned with more power or torque, meaning unchanged outputs of 140kW/450Nm fed to the rear or all four wheels via a six-speed automatic gearbox.
Like the V-Cross, the AT35’s sticker price includes a five-year/120 000 km warranty and five-year/90 000 km service plan, however, no details regarding the final sticker were disclosed at Nampo.
Based on pricing of the regular V-Cross that retails from R857 700, expectations are that the AT35 will possibly retail around the R1.1-million mark, which will put directly against the EcoBoost V6-powered Raptor that carries a sticker price of R1 149 700.
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