Isuzu Motors South Africa (Isuzu SA) has added the Arctic AT35 to its locally assembled D-Max bakkie line-up, produced at its Gqeberha plant, in the Eastern Cape.

Designed in collaboration with Icelandic overlanding vehicle specialist, Arctic Trucks, the AT35 is available in limited numbers, and on special order through Isuzu’s local dealer network.

Isuzu SA’s plant is the only Isuzu facility in the world accredited by Arctic Trucks to produce the AT35. 

It is built on the same production line as the standard D-Max models. However, the bodywork enhancements are added in a dedicated Arctic Trucks conversion area in the body shop, where artisans and technicians craft the bigger wheel wells and arches to accommodate the 35-inch tyres and beefed-up suspension.

Once the e-coating and painting processes are completed, the vehicle follows the normal D-Max assembly line where all the components are fitted, including the specially developed suspension lift kit and Bilstein dampers that provide the vehicle with its off-road attributes. 

The final step in the transformation is the off-line fitment of larger wheel-arch mouldings. 

The AT35 is powered by Isuzu’s 3-l, four-cylinder diesel engine that is also used in the range-topping D-Max models.

The vehicle is covered by the same warranty, roadside assistance and service plan as the standard D-Max. 

The AT35 is priced at R1.12-million.

“We launched the first-generation D-Max Arctic AT35 in 2019, and it quickly earned an enviable reputation as one of the boldest, toughest and most capable 4 X 4 bakkies on the market,” says Isuzu SA product planning and programme management executive Kevin Fouché.

“The new Arctic AT35 carries this legacy into the seventh-generation D-Max range that we launched last year.

“As the range-topping model in the D-Max line-up, the AT35 appeals to buyers who want to stand out from the crowd, as well as those aiming to exploit the vehicle’s adventurous nature and its remarkable off-road capabilities.”