Walkinshaw’s tuned Isuzu D-Max now has a reveal date.
The 2025 Isuzu D-Max Blade will be revealed on November 1, 2024, with local deliveries to follow “soon after”.
Walkinshaw Automotive Group says the D-Max Blade has been “reengineered specifically for local Australian conditions”.
“For as long as I can remember, customers and the media have asked about a higher-spec, off-road ready ute to rival the competition, something extremely capable, without compromise,” said Isuzu Ute Australia deputy managing director Koichiro Yoshida.
“I hope they’re ready for the answer – the D-Max Blade has been developed specifically for those Australians who
like to go their own way.”
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Isuzu has released a single teaser image of the D-Max Blade, but we already know what the vehicle looks like after undisguised examples were recently spied.
The Blade is the first collaboration between the Japanese brand and the Australian performance modification specialist, but far from Walkinshaw’s first attempt at making a dual-cab ute even more rugged.
The new D-Max Blade will likely sit on top of the Isuzu ute range, with a focus on off-road capability… just without any extra performance.
Despite the visual tweaks, the Blade will likely retain the D-Max’s 3.0-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine, which produces 140kW of power and 450Nm of torque.
It’s long been rumoured that Isuzu would bring out a tougher-looking version of its D-Max ute, with a government approval filing from July detailing the Blade’s modifications.
The filing noted a ride height increase of 26.5mm up front and 29mm at the rear thanks to bigger wheels and different springs, along with a sailplane, high-mounted brake light, wheel-arch cladding, and a sump guard.
Axle ratings and gross vehicle mass (GVM) are unchanged, indicating the Blade will stack up against the related Mazda BT-50 Thunder as a main rival.
The Thunder brings a tougher look but remains mostly unchanged in terms of extra capability, with a steel bull bar, fender flares and a sports bar the key additions.
MORE: Everything Isuzu D-Max
