Tuesday, November 2, 2010

ISUZU D-MAX WINS INAUGURAL FUEL EFFICIENCY AWARDS

ISUZU D-MAX WINS INAUGURAL FUEL EFFICIENCY AWARDS
Asian Auto Magazine, one of Malaysia’s leading automotive magazines has named the Isuzu D-Max 3.0L 4x4 as the winner of the first Asian Auto Bosch Fuel Efficiency Awards 2008-2009 in the pick-up category.
The monthly periodical, the oldest motoring magazine in Malaysia declared the Isuzu D-Max as its inaugural winner underlining the superiority of Isuzu’s diesel engine heritage and engineering that clearly delivers the goods in terms of fuel efficiency.
According to Kyoya Kondo, CEO of Isuzu Malaysia, the award is yet a further step in acknowledging what has been one of the driving forces behind the Isuzu D-Max’s success. “Isuzu’s heritage in diesel engine technology has not only given our products one of the best diesel engines in the market in terms of durability and reliability but equally important has been the far-reaching attribute of fuel efficiency,” he said.
The Isuzu D-Max, which Isuzu Malaysia debuted in 2005, has enjoyed buoyant demand with double-digit year-on-year growth and now commands nearly 20 percent share of the nationwide pick-up market. Its versatility and impressive comfort also helped propel it to become one of the fastest-growing models in the country today.
Built in Isuzu’s own plant in Pekan, Pahang, the Isuzu D-Max bested all other pick-up trucks in the line-up with its impressive fuel-sipping attributes despite sporting one of the biggest engine displacements in the awards line-up.
“The 3.0-litre Super Commonrail diesel engine is probably one of the most balanced engines on the market in terms of performance, refinement, durability and efficiency,” said Wan Zaqi Zacary, Assistant Manager, Product Planning and Marketing of Isuzu Malaysia. “It is not so much about who has the most power but how you put that power to good use really matters to the customer,” he added.
The Isuzu D-Max’s fuel efficiency has been legendary and Isuzu distributors globally have been using the vehicle’s strong attribute to market the product by pushing the limit of distance the vehicle is able to traverse using just its one 76-litre tank of diesel.
Last year, Isuzu Malaysia embarked on a Dura-Miles Challenge project where an Isuzu D-Max 3.0L 4x4 and 2.5L 4x2 were driven from Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur, covering a distance of 1,501km without needing to take on additional fuel.