WELCOME
WELCOME
to the 28th edition of max*d magazine!
H
ello and welcome to 2022 and another edition of max*d magazine! I trust you had a wonderful holiday period and are excited for a great year ahead. The last 12 months certainly proved to be a year that will not be easily forgotten. For Isuzu UTE Australia (IUA), we welcomed the arrival of the new-generation MU-X, announced new major partnerships and saw our all-time sales record broken before the year even ended. We could not be prouder to have made these achievements alongside you. Since the previous edition, the new MU-X has earned positive feedback from drivers and the Australian automotive media, who have praised it for its class-leading 3.5-tonne towing, torque-rich engine and for retaining the reliability and capability for which it is known. With the latest in safety technology, plus refinements in connectivity and comfort, it’s hard to go past its appeal to Australian families,
business owners and adventurers alike. This good news is only made better by the growing popularity of the MU-X throughout 2021 where you, our buyers, were the driving force in surpassing IUA’s monthly MU-X sales record in September 2021. With our drivers leading the way, we welcomed the 2022 Model Year (22MY) Isuzu D-MAX, which features an array of enhancements and refinements based on your customer feedback. Increased capability and new levels of convenience followed. There’s no denying this is the most advanced Isuzu Ute ever. While the Isuzu family is expanding in terms of vehicles, it’s also grown elsewhere with the welcoming of a new major partnership with the A-Leagues, the home of premier football in Australia. Becoming the first-ever Naming Rights Partner of the A-Leagues’ Men’s competition, the Isuzu UTE A-League and the Official Automotive Partner of the A-Leagues’ Men,
Women, Youth and E-Sports Leagues, IUA will be working with the A-Leagues over the next three years to bring football— and a shared passion for adventure—to all Australians. We can’t wait. In this edition, we have everything from off-road adventures, kitchen delights and tales of everyday Australians making the most of their Isuzus. On page 10, learn all about our partnership with the A-Leagues, the 22MY D-MAX and more, before diving into Tech Head on page 17 to accompany the I-Venture Club as they learn to tow their own way! IUA Ambassador Liz Cantor feels the sand between her toes in Traveller on page 30 at Double Island Point, QLD, in her new MU-X. If you’re after some tips when it comes to campfire cooking, turn to Out of the Box on page 36. Then, before catching the latest from our friends over at Hook, Line and Sinker on page 44, learn about how an Australian workwear initiative is starting conversations for mental health in Unsung Hero on page 42. Finally, watch the D-MAX and MU-X go head-to-head as they take on the Glass House Mountains on page 22 and see who comes out top (spoiler: it was difficult to pick a winner). From all of us here at IUA, thank you again for your ongoing support, your passion for adventure, and your love for your Isuzu vehicles. Please enjoy this latest edition of max*d magazine and join us as we enter a new era for Isuzu UTE.
Hiroyasu Sato Managing Director Isuzu UTE Australia maxd@iua.net.au max*d
5
