Credit: TAHA Motors
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- Credit: TAHA Motors
The Isuzu with it’s updated design and premium features and largely due to the lower price may well establish a stronger base in the country with the new generation.
Isuzu the Japanese car maker has revealed the new second gen MU-X in Thailand. The new car incorporates a sharper design, which makes it look futuristic and also will help it in posing a bigger threat to its competition in India. The segment consists of the Toyota Fortuner, Ford Endeavour, Mahindra Alturas G4, and the Toyota has been dominating it for the better part of a decade now, with the Ford taking up the second spot. It is not an exaggeration when one says that the Isuzu has very stiff competition, in a country where it just sells two other models and is a new entrant.
The new MU-X takes on a sharper design, with a new front fascia which houses the hexagonal grille with two chrome bars. The headlights are like sharp slits and come with LED DRLs, the tail lights also have LED. The stance of the car which earlier symbolised just a big-bulky SUV now emphasises on the modern design language which other manufacturers have adopted. The shape of the body may look familiar to the Fortuner from angles, and that is not a bad thing at all, in fact the looks of the Toyota are one of its major selling points.
The car comes with two engines in Thailand, a 1.9L Turbocharged diesel which makes 150hp and 350Nm of torque while the other is a 3L Turbocharged diesel which makes 190hp and 450Nm of torque. With the BS6 norms currently applied across India, these particular units might be engineered or different engines developed- the outgoing MU-X used the older 3L Turbo unit which made 174hp and 380Nm of torque.
The SUV is a seven seater and the new car comes with redesigned seats, which are plush and made out of premium materials to embody the comfort. The seats are made with COOLMAX technology which ensures that long drives are comfortable without too much heat on the seat surface. The front seats are electrically adjustable while the steering has multiple smart functions. The infotainment screen is a 9in unit which comes with Apple carplay and Android auto and eight speakers,and other advanced smartphone connect features. The car has Dual-Zone climate control and a 220V AC and 12V DC charging points for devices.
The car has Advanced Driver Assistance systems like front collision alert, automatic braking, adaptive cruise control, Pedal misapplication mitigation, Multi-Collision brake which are fed data by the 3D imaging camera, 2-point radar and 8-point cycle sensors. The MU-X features 6 airbags and all other standard safety features of this segment.
On paper the new MU-X surely is a tough competitor to the segment leaders and should be able to carve a niche for itself, especially due to the lower price it is offered at- the present gen car sold for INR 29L top trim while the competitors start at 30 lacs. It has the features, the build quality, and the pedigree to interest the customers, and the new design should definitely benefit Isuzu’s campaign in India. The MU-X BS6 variant should come to the country by next year, when the other carmakers also update their cars, and is expected to be priced between INR 27-30L.
Favourie Car: Nissan GT-R R35
Quote: What you do in life echoes in eternity- Russell Crowe, Maximus, Gladiator
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