Smart Isuzu relies on Space Cab rather than Twin.

It’s a known fact that we all learn from other people’s mistakes. It’s also a known fact that the pickups have not been a major hit among transporters in India, more so the ones with twin cabs or crew cabs. The reason is simple: Transporters believe in ferrying goods and the more the merrier. Overloading in trucks, buses, cars and even on two-wheelers are a way of life in India. In a car meant for five, we have sometimes eight squashed in and on a motorcycle meant for two, we often see four riding merrily. Similarly, in a vehicle meant to carry one tonne of goods, for example, almost two tonnes are stashed up.

It is believed that Isuzu imported 10 twin cabs D-Max  pickups into the country for testing and getting a feedback from the people. Almost all ten have been sold out to keen buyers. But the company as part of its strategy did not manufacture these twins cabs, rather has concentrated on single cabs and space cabs. These vehicles are contract manufactured at Hindustan Motors’ plant in Thiruvallur district near Chennai in the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

If sources are to be believed, Isuzu Motors India may begin making the twin cab pickups once their own plant goes on stream in India 2016 near Hyderabad in Andhra Pradesh. Currently, pickups in India can only be driven by those who possess a commercial driving license. Even if those among the private citizens want to buy a pickup for their own recreational use, they cannot because private license holders cannot drive this vehicle.

Senior government sources have indicated that the government is considering amending the Motor Vehicles Rules and may allow those with private driving licenses to drive twin cab pickups soon. But this may take at least a couple of years to come into force and then perhaps Isuzu may begin manufacturing them at its own plant in India. Till then it would be only their single cabs and space cabs.

Driving a Space Cab D-Max

A D-Max space cab and a test track somewhere in Tamil Nadu proved to be a lethal combination. Journalists took turns over a few weeks to assess the pickup and by Jove, every one of that breed drove like a maniac, thinking that this one was meant for the race track rather than our boring commercial sector. I too got carried away momentarily by the sheer power of the Isuzu diesel machine that churned out around 134 bhp of raw power @ 3600 RPM and a massive torque of 294 Nm@ 1800-3200rpm. Riding on 215/70R15 radial tubeless tires, the pickup was more of a sports utility vehicle rather than just a transporter.

(Read details in the June 2013 issue of the Motown India magazine)