Isuzu is planning to introduce back its popular lifestyle pick-up truck, the Isuzu D-Max V-Cross. The brand had discontinued the model at the turn of BS6 emission norms as the vehicle was unable to match the new stringent standard but now a test mule spotted testing on public roads leads us to believe that the SUVs launch could be just around the corner.
According to the spy shots, the new BS6 emission-compliant Isuzu D-Max V-Cross will come with a 1.9-litre diesel engine as the DDi branding is clearly visible on the tailgate. The four-cylinder, turbocharged diesel engine produced 150 PS of power and 350 Nm of peak torque in the BS4 era and came with a 6-speed automatic gearbox. The brand is likely to offer only a single engine option, report sources. In the BS4 avatar, the V-Cross also came with a 2.5-litre diesel engine that made 134 PS of power and 320 Nm of torque paired with a 5-speed manual transmission.
The Isuzu D-Max V-Cross appears similar to the BS4 model and the brand may not make any changes to the design or styling of the V-Cross. Expect mild changes to the interior material quality, but otherwise, the pick-up is likely to come with the same imposing grille on the front, projector-beam headlamp setup, bumper-mounted fog lamps, muscular flared wheel arches, roof rails in a silver finish, entry step to ease ingress and egress, vertically oriented combination taillamps etc. The V-Cross is also likely to come with features that existed on the BS4 model such as automatic climate control, touchscreen infotainment, cruise control, powered seats, alloy wheels, bi-LED headlamps, shark-fin antenna, and all the bells and whistles in the safety department including multiple airbags, ABS, EBD, traction control, electronic stability control, rear parking sensors as well as Brake-Override system (BOS).
Isuzu is hiking the prices of the commercial pick-up range – D-Max Regular Cab and D-Max S-Cab. From 1st April 2021, both the models will cost INR 1,00,000 extra from the current ex-showroom price. The brand mentions that the increased cost of production, transportation, and logistics is the main reason for the price hike.