Isuzu D-Max Achieves Max Distance

After
traversing some 1,300km through some of the most diverse terrain in the region,
crossing dozens of rivers via bridges and ferries and four days after they
started, the two Isuzu D-Max that began the Max Fuel Efficiency Run in Kuching,
Sarawak arrived in Sabah’s state capital on Sunday, 14^th May 2006
to a warm welcome by members of the media, Isuzu Malaysia staff and staff of
Universal Motors, the new Kota Kinabalu dealer.

 A
delighted CEO of Isuzu Malaysia Sdn Bhd Kyoya Kondo who was on hand to receive
the crews at the Shell station on Jalan Kepayan said that the feat truly
underlined the tagline that the Isuzu D-Max offered the best of both worlds.

 “When
we decided to put the D-Max to the test, we were quietly confident of the
2.5-litre completing the journey as it had proven itself in Peninsular Malaysia
last year.  However, we were not
totally certain that the 3.0-litre version with its powerful intercooled turbo
engine, one of the most powerful pick-ups on the market, would be able to show
its gentler side by completing the journey,” said Kondo.

 In
the Max Fuel Efficiency Run, two versions of the Isuzu D-Max, a 2.5-litre 4×2
and a 3.0-litre 4×4 were driven from Kuching to Kota Kinabalu, a distance of
1,292km using just its one tank full of standard pump diesel it received prior
to the journey.

 According
to Kondo, the Max Fuel Efficiency Run was to show Malaysians that there were
ways to tackle the rising fuel prices through sensible driving and owning
vehicles that had been proven to be fuel efficient.

 The
crews began the journey at Isuzu Malaysia’s newly-appointed dealer Rhino
Motors’ showroom on Jalan Tun Jugah in Kuching on Thursday 11^th May
2006 and were flagged off by Sarawak’s Assistant Minister of Culture and
Urbanisation YB Datuk Sim Kheng Hui and made two overnight stops in Sarawak at
Sibu and Miri before passing through Brunei and heading into Sabah for the final
overnight halt in Papar.

 Along
the journey, the vehicles kept to speeds of approximately 80km/h as road
conditions allowed and were observed by an official from the Automobile
Association of Malaysia (AAM) who verified that the vehicles were driven on
their own power without towing or slipstreaming. The only time the vehicles were
not driven on its own power during the journey was when it had to cross rivers
via ferries.

 At
the overnight halts, the Isuzu D-Max were kept in the compound of the nearest
police station to ensure that no clandestine refuelling was carried out.

 The
Max Fuel Efficiency Run across almost the entire length of Borneo Island is the
second such long distance fuel efficiency project undertaken by Isuzu Malaysia.
The first was in November last year in conjunction with the launch of the Isuzu
D-Max 2.5L. In that test, the vehicle was driven from Kuala Lumpur to Johor, up
to Kedah and back down to KL, a distance of over 1,400km using one tank of
diesel.

 The
D-Max’s fuel efficiency prowess stems from its highly-developed direct
injection engine design that is able to optimally balance power, flexibility,
durability and economy. As the leader in diesel engine technology and one of the
largest producers of diesel engines in the world with a cumulative production of
over 17 million units, Isuzu’s D-Max model boasts of an excellent balance of
performance, driveability, comfort and economy into one stylish package.

 Apart
from the obvious savings one enjoys by driving vehicles that are fuel efficient,
the less fossil fuel that is burnt, the better it is for the environment on the
whole as there will be a much lower production of greenhouse gasses.

 Isuzu
Malaysia Sdn Bhd is the sole assembler and distributor of Isuzu light commercial
vehicles in Malaysia. The main model in its stable is the Isuzu D-Max double cab
both in a 2.5-litre 4×2 version and 3.0-litre 4×2 and 4×4 versions.

Information on fuel
consumption

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