[XCAR domestic new car original]
On December 7, 2014, the high-end pickup truck D-MAX of Jiangxi Isuzu will be officially listed in Kunming, Yunnan.,The price of the new car is 134-182,800 yuan.Jiangxi ISUZU is a joint-venture vehicle manufacturer established by Japanese Isuzu in China. It is jointly funded by Japanese Isuzu and jiangling motors Group, with the equity ratio of 50:50. The domestically listed D-MAX is a new generation model.
Speaking of the history of D-MAX, if you look at the picture below, I believe it will bring back some memories. Isuzu pickup truck began to enter China from TF model. At first, it was introduced and produced by Qingling. Later, domestic independent brands began to copy this model.
●Appearance: more impactful than the previous generation.
The shape design of the new generation D-MAX has a strong tough guy style. Compared with the previous generation, the new D-MAX has a more visually striking front face design. The front design is outlined by straight and angular lines. And a large number of chrome-plated decorations are applied in the middle net, and the headlights that have been rising to the side fender make it more recognizable.
The sideways design does not have the rigid and straight lines of the previous pickup truck models. Instead, it is a more dynamic curve. For example, the rear window and the junction with the carriage and the tail are all curved strips, which inject more youthful and energetic atmosphere into the whole car. The design of the rear of the car is relatively conventional due to the limitation of the trunk. However, the chrome decoration at the rear bumper correspondingly enhances the grade sense of D-MAX.
The external configuration of D-MAX is relatively few, but it is also normal for pickup trucks. After all, the orientation of the model does not blindly pursue high configuration, but focuses on high throughput and cargo capacity, which is reflected in its internal configuration. The front lighting uses lens halogen headlights, and the rear tail is also a halogen light source. Due to the high ground clearance, in order to facilitate passengers to get on and off, the side of the car body is also equipped with pedals. The shape of the wheel hub is simple and clear, and the off-road tires it uses are very suitable for its vehicle positioning, which greatly improves the grip of D-MAX on off road.
●Interior: The overall design is simple, clear and layered.
Although the interior modeling of D-MAX is not so rich in design sense, it is not lacking in layering on the whole, and the regional division is clear and concise. Although the materials used are not delicate, the visual effect is not cheap. The interior does not have a complicated design language, and the overall style is simple and clear.(The picture below is taken from the D-MAX test drive of Aika in Australia, so the steering wheel is the right rudder, and the domestic model is the left rudder. The overall interior layout is basically the same as that of the Australian model.)
The dashboard adopts white backlight, which is clear and eye-catching. Because it is a diesel model, it will enter the red zone at 4500rpm. The center of the instrument panel is equipped with a black and white multi-function display screen. It can display many contents including mileage, fuel quantity, water temperature, fuel consumption (with instantaneous fuel consumption display) and vehicle information. The three-position steering wheel is wrapped in leather and equipped with multi-function buttons.
Internal configuration is not its advantage project. As far as the positioning and service target of D-MAX are concerned, it is not difficult to understand where the focus of its models is. However, it is certainly not a problem to meet the most basic comfort of daily commuting and field work. This time, the author had the opportunity to experience the high and low models with different configurations. Compared with these two models, the biggest difference in comfort configuration lies in the multimedia entertainment system, air conditioning system and seats. Aside from these three items, the comfort configuration of the two is basically the same.
Although the rear space of many pickup truck models is not the key consideration standard, the actual experience of D-MAX has not disappointed us. In the past, the experience that the rear space of pickup trucks is better than nothing will not happen on D- MAX. In terms of seat configuration, the high and low models are made of leather and fabric, and the main driver’s seat of the high model also provides electric adjustment function.
There is plenty of storage space in the front passenger area. The glove box on the center console can be opened in two layers. And there are also cup holders at the air outlets on the left and right sides of the air conditioner, which can be used to heat or cool drinks to some extent. The front seats are equipped with central armrests, and the storage space after opening the central armrest box is considerable. The rear storage space is relatively small, and there is no rear air outlet.
●Power: equipped with 2.5L engine and 5-speed manual/automatic manual transmission.
Isuzu pickup truck imported from China will be equipped with 4JK1 engine, with a displacement of 2.5L, a maximum power of 136 HP and a maximum torque of 320Nm. Variable cross-section turbocharging (VGS) technology can improve the response time and acceleration ability of the engine at low speed by adjusting the exhaust flow cross-section according to the different engine speeds.
It is matched with manual and five-speed automatic manual transmission. The emission reaches the high standard of the fourth country and has the ability to upgrade to the fifth country. In terms of safety configuration, D-MAX comes standard with double airbags and early warning seat belts, which greatly improves the safety factor.
Market prospect analysis
In the previous test drive article, the editor of Aika Automobile once mentioned that from the perspective of head-on confrontation, there is really no pickup truck model in the domestic mid-range pickup truck market that can be similar to the comprehensive level of D-MA. However, from the positioning point of view, it seems that only Toyota’s hilux can be regarded as a competitor, but hilux’s sales volume is not good because there are fewer domestic agents and the price is slightly higher.
Although Zhengzhou Nissan’s D22 pickup truck is similar to D-MAX in positioning and design, the D22 model is too old to compete with D-MAX in the same generation. The Nissan Navara pickup truck, which can really compete with D-MAX, has no plans to introduce it at present.
Editor’s comment:D-MAX, made in Isuzu, Jiangxi, locates high-end pickup trucks. From the previous analysis, we also see that this car has no direct competitors in China at present. However, at present, more than half of domestic consumers who buy pickup trucks are in second, third and even third-and fourth-tier cities, and most of them are mainly used for pulling goods. Therefore, pickup trucks launched by companies such as Futian and Great Wall are very popular with consumers because of their high cost performance. High-end pickup trucks like D-MAX want to open the domestic market, and the price is very important. The positioning and main attack areas should be more clearly targeted, and the best way is to do a good job in publicity.
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