2016 Isuzu D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 Photos, engines & full specs

Developed as the ultimate go-anywhere version of the D-Max, the 2016 Arctic Trucks AT35 version came to fulfill the dreams of offroad enthusiasts with a brawny and prepared vehicle.

The 2016 Isuzu D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 was the best version of the lineup. However, this was not produced by the Isuzu but rather was adopted by the car manufacturer since the aftermarket tuning company Arctic Trucks proved to comply with the strictest quality standards of the automaker. Furthermore, Isuzu sold this upgraded version of the D-Max through its dealers' network in the UK and other countries, where customers were begging the car manufactured to provide them with a more rugged, menacing vehicle, and they were not disappointed by the tallest, widest, meanest version of the second generation of the D-Max.

Right off the bat, the car's high ground clearance couldn't be hidden from plain eyes. Its headlights were still there and shared with the rest of the D-Max range. However, the bumper was unique to this model, featuring a large air intake on the lower side with a single horizontal slat and a pair of rectangular-shaped fog lamps flanking it. Below, a metallic rocker-slider protected the engine and the gearbox from hits.

From its profile, the tall vehicle couldn't go unnoticed wherever it was driven. To help customers with the ingress and egress to the cabin, Isuzu added a set of aluminum side steps. The peeps from Arctic Truck designed and installed enlarged over-fenders to cover the wide, fat tires with tall sidewalls. These were wrapped around 17-inch painted alloy wheels. At the back, the smoked taillights were part of the package and made the pickup look more rugged. In addition, the car manufacturer added a redesigned bumper with a chromed trim, while below it was a metallic horizontal bar.

Inside, customers were greeted by a slightly modified interior, fitted as standard with all the bells and whistles from the carmaker's parts bin. Atop the center stack, the 2016 Isuzu D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 featured an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment unit provided by Pioneer and integrated into the car's telematics. Lower, the round dial of the HVAC control panel looked simple and easy to use. At the same time, the four-spoke steering wheel featuring buttons for the media and the onboard computer framed a rounded instrument cluster. There, Isuzu placed a fresh 4.2-inch black-and-white LCD flanked by the speedometer and tachometer.

However, the most significant changes happened under the skin. While the engine was the 2.5-liter inline-four powerhouse provided on the rest of the Isuzu D-Max range, the suspension and the wheels were utterly new. Arctic Trucks increased the vehicle's ground clearance and added Fox Performance Series dampers. In addition, the 35-inch tires with a wide thread ensured a firm grip on loose grounds. In addition, a locking rear differential was standard, increasing traction for the 2.2-ton mid-size pickup.