Isuzu D-Max Crystal Press Brochure and its 'Barbie' Protagonist

Unlike the U.S. where pickup trucks are used by many drivers as a primary source of transportation eliminating the need for a traditional passenger car, in Europe these type of vehicles are above all used by professionals solely for work purposes. Having said this, you'd expect their press brochure to be full of hard working men on construction sites or farms for example. Apparently not, as our French pals over at Le Blog Auto discovered. To promote its new high-end, luxury edition of the D-Max called Crystal, Isuzu of France summoned the help of a blonde female model.

Not that we have any problem with a nice-legged blonde in high-heels driving around a pickup-truck, but somehow we find it completely off topic and even a bit ridiculous - especially the picture where the model eats splashes her lipstick...

Via: Le Blog Auto

Euro NCAP Crash Tests Pick-Up Trucks: Results Disappoint

The European equivalent of the American NHTSA in terms of crash tests, Euro NCAP, revealed today the results for three pick-up trucks, the Nissan Navara, the Isuzu D-MAX/Rodeo and the Mitsubishi L200. It’s the first time that Euro NCAP has performed crash tests in this specific vehicle category. Surprisingly, Euro NCAP notes in an official statement it released that the crash tests reveal that the safety of vehicles in this category is not a high priority for some carmakers.

Both the Nissan Navara and the Isuzu D-MAX/Rodeo received poor scores in Euro NCAP’s adult occupant rating. In particular, Nissan’s Navara achieved an extremely poor rating of a one star strikethrough while the Isuzu D-MAX/Rodeo also received a disappointing two star strikethrough rating in adult occupant protection with an unacceptably high risk of life-threatening injury to the chest region. -Continued

The best of all the pick-ups tested by Euro NCAP was the Mitsubishi L200, which received a respectable four star result in adult occupant protection. All the vehicles received disappointing child and pedestrian protection scores.

Official: Isuzu Abandons North American Passenger Vehicle Market

We had been hearing various rumours about Isuzu leaving the North American market the past few months, but now its officially-official; as from January 31, 2009, Isuzu will stop distributing new passenger vehicles in North America. Although the Japanese carmaker will cease supplying passenger vehicles, they will however continue to provide service support to their customer base and dealers for years to come. -Continued after the jump

In the official press release, Isuzu Motors America said it is leaving the North American market because General Motors may discontinue the Ascender Sport Utility Vehicle, and the i-290 and i-370 pickup trucks in the near future. Of course, the fact that Isuzu’s sales in the States fell from 103,997 units in 1999 to 7,098 in 2007 may have something to do with that decision.

Via: AN (Sub. req.)