Go! Drive & Camp – September 2019

VolkswagenAmarok3.0V6TDI

Extreme4Motion

R707 400 ToyotaHiluxGRSport

R786 400

Youwon’tbeabletobeatit point-to-pointinanoff-roadrace

A fewsuspensionupgradesandcosmetictweaksto

the local bestseller.

The king of road-going lifestyle bakkies.

FordRangerRaptor

R829 200 Volkswagen Amarok 3 0 V6 TDI

http://www.weg.co.za go! Drive & Camp^ September 2019 |^29

missed the obvious, and the mud flaps are
also special Arctic Trucks examples.

Out and about
The AT35 uses exactly the same 3.0
turbodiesel engine you’d find in the regular
range-topping D-Max, so it might disappoint
those of you who were expecting a few extra
ponies being freed from the powerplant to
hear that it kicks out the same outputs. The
D-Max is already slightly down on power
compared with its rivals, and now it’s got
massive tyres to rotate as well.
You feel the worst of it as you pull away
from the traffic lights, but it’s still no donkey.
The deficit is barely noticeable on the open
road and at freeway speed, but what you will
notice is the D-Max’s gruff engine note, which
is now infamous for being slightly agricultural
in the noise it makes. You’ll also discover that
you are also way more noticeable as fellow
road users crane their necks to see exactly
what’s towering above them.
Surprisingly, the big BFs under the wheel
arches are not that noisy on tarmac, which

ther in the cap for the

rrain variety they stock.

e AT35 tracks a little

kittishly at the national

limit however, but these

conversions were not

xactly designed for that

d ofspeed on this type

rface.

rethe AT35 really

shinesis offthe beaten track; as

the surfaces loosens, and the speed comes

down slightly. Potholes that you might have

avoided before with the relatively low-profile

tires and large rims typical of today’s double

cabs are now swallowed whole, and there’s

a sense of sure-footedness as the AT35

confidently munches up the miles on a gravel

back road.

It also made a strong case for itself on

the dunes of Brakkeduine 4x4 and Camping

• which is the surface most like the deep
  snow for which these vehicles were made.
  No matter how much sand was dug up and
  the established tracks through the obstacles
  seemingly ruined, the AT35 muscled its way
  around like a champ.

Conclusion

If you’re worried about getting a flat, know

that Isuzu doesn’t leave you in the lurch

because you also get a 245/70 R16 tyre on

a 16”x 6.5J steel rim as a standard spare

when the emergency puncture repair kit

isn’t sufficient. Isuzu South Africa says that,

initially, 50 units will be built annually. Instead

of going to your nearest 4x4 outfitters, now

you can get a course-ready vehicle right off

the showroom floor, that was built on Isuzu’s

own production line.

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine................................................................................... 2 999 cc,four-cylinder,turbodiesel

Power..................................................................................... 130kW@3 600rpm

Torque................................................................................... 380Nm@1 800rpm

Gearbox................................................................................ 6-speedautomatic

Fuelconsumption........................................................... 8,6ℓ/100km(manufacturerclaim)

Tank........................................................................................ 80ℓ

Groundclearance............................................................ 268mm

Approachanddepartureangles............................ 36°and28°

Breakoverangle.............................................................. 31.4°

Wadingdepth................................................................... 718mm

Tareweight......................................................................... 2 130 kg

Payload................................................................................. 911kg

Towingcapacity............................................................... 2 900 kg

Warranty.............................................................................. 5years/120 000 km

Serviceplan........................................................................ 5years/90 000 km

Safetyrating...................................................................... (EuroNCAP,2012)

Modeldriven..................................................................... IsuzuArcticAT35VS3.0D-MAX4x4LXDC

PRICE.................................................................................... R803 300

COMPETITORS

Double cabs with spice

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