Isuzu D-MAX X-Runner ute

Isuzu UTE Australia has announced the new limited edition D-MAX X-Runner ute, which adds around $4500 worth of extras and was designed to promote the company's annual Max Run Challenge.

Based on an Isuzu D-MAX 4x4 LS-U ($45,500 plus ORC), the X-Runner ute will be limited to roughly 150 units or about three vehicles per dealer. It fetches $46,990 drive-away, creating savings by eliminating on-road costs and adding a three-piece hard tonneau cover, tub liner, black sports bar, carpet mats and X-Runner decals.

The limited edition ute is covered by Isuzu's new five-year, 130,000km warranty announced late 2012, which also includes five years of roadside assistance.

The Max Run Challenge is Isuzu's way of spruiking the fuel efficiency of its D-MAX utes, run annually since 2009 (except in 2012 when Isuzu launched its new D-MAX ute). The competition encourages the public to guess how far the 3.0-litre D-MAX ute can travel on one tank of diesel fuel.

The record is currently 1716.3km, which was achieved in 2009 in a D-MAX 4x2 crew cab low ride manual ute. That equates to an average fuel consumption of 4.4L/100km.

In 2013 the event will be undertaken in a 4x2 LS crew cab Ute hooked up to an auto tranny, and driven by Dakar Rally specialists Bruce Garland and Harry Suzuki. They will start in south east Queensland and drive south west as far as possible.

The person who guesses closest to the distance travelled on one tank of fuel will win a similar ute to the one driving cross-country -- a $45k 4x2 LS crew cab ute with an automatic transmission. First prize also includes a one year supply of diesel worth $5000 and a $2000 camping voucher.

Weekly prizes will also be given away, including diesel fuel vouchers to the value of $400 as well as travel vouchers worth $200.

Isuzu utes have had a strong start to 2013, with January sales up by almost 80 per cent year on year, from 370 to 660 units.

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