TMW - The updated Isuzu D-Max Blade, better looks, better comfort and more kit.

After testing the last model, the Fury, i was given the opportunity to try the updated D-Max Blade Automatic, and to say this car, compared to the previous one, is a vast difference, is an understatement.

With only the AT35 and Yukon that sits above the Blade, you know that you are getting a well kitted out car. And you do, the car costs £27,999, but our car here today comes with some extra's

• Tow Bar - £187.50
• 13 Pin Towing Electrics - £140.004
• Special paint Pearlescent White - £250.00
• Bed Rug - £375.00
• Lazer Lights - £412.50

Taking this car to £29,364, now thats a lot of money, but you are getting a lot of car for that money, for a start you get a double cab, making access so much easier for back seat passengers, and to be honest i think it looks a lot better too as a Double, the car has had an update since the last time we tried one, and again, it looks far superior, with new look frontage, with new bumper and lights, it gives it a more muscular and purposeful look.

inside the car you get a full leather upholstery, with a better sat nav, buttons and switchgear all to hand and not miles away like you find in some other cars, it is also far more comfortable than before, and being an auto, its far easier to drive, why would anyone have a manual gearbox these days when auto's are just so good.

The Access for rear seat passengers as mentioned is really easy and once there they have loads of space to get comfortable, even with the front seats set further back, there is still enough leg room for anyone that would require lots of space.

The Blade can do a claimed 112mph, not that you would want to do that, it would be a little rough, driving at motorway speeds is perfect, comfortable and quiet, anything more and it does get a little noisy and rough, although the 1.9 litre is very capable, it is tuned more for "work" than leisure.

 The fuel consumption of the D-Max is claimed to be

• Urban 30.4mpg
• Extra Urban 40.9mpg
• Combined 36.2mpg

We found it difficult to get to those figures but we were not far adrift at all, and we were impressed at what was achievable, its also not the "cleanest" pick up on the market with 205g/km, but it is Euro 6 Compliant, if the car was able to achieve the combined figure of 36.2mpg it would give the car a touring figure of 605 miles between fill ups.

The changeable set up between 2WD and 4WD is with a dial, and allows the car to be able to be taken off road, we didn't do this, but with the large chunky tyres, going off the beaten track and onto more harsh terrain seems like it would be very easy indeed.

There is no getting away from the fact that this is a very large car, it handles as such, thankfully getting in and out of parking spaces is easy with the reversing camera, but it does poke out of the end of a normal sized bay, but to be honest most cars are getting this big, whereas parking bays are getting smaller, so something needs to be done.

Because the car is high up the list of models you can be assured that you get loads of kit, some of which are :-

• LED lights from and rear
• Tinted Windows, load liner (additional carpeted cost)
• Electric Windows
• Central Locking
• Keyless Entry and push Button Start
• Gear Shift Monitor
• Touchscreen with Multi Information Display
• Bluetooth
• DAB Radio
• Apple Car Play
• Android Auto
• Front and Rear USB Ports
• Multiple Speakers
• Loads of Storage
• Leather seats 
• Arm Rest
• Carpets
• Hill Descent Control
• Hill Start Assist
• Full Range of Safety
• 18" Alloys

And thats just the tip of the iceberg, there are far more toys to play with and believe me, you can spend a vast amount of time working out all the bits and pieces.

CONCLUSION

This new model, well updated, heavily, is a huge step forward and is far superior in all aspects, from drive, comfort, economy, safety and additional equipment, it is a more capable car than the model it replaces.

This car really moves the goal posts and by some way too, there are now more and more of this style car available in the UK, from Nissan, Renault, Mercedes, Ford and Volkswagen, each has their own capabilities, but the Isuzu D-Max combines all for a great price, you would be silly not to consider the car over and above the competition, thats just how good this car is !

Ssangyong expands its dealer network by a further five new outlets, along with new models

• Five new SsangYong sales & service dealerships named for Canterbury, Maidstone, Montrose, Sheffield and Wakefield

A further five new SsangYong dealers have been added to the SsangYong franchise as the brand prepares to launch Rexton, its all-new large SUV arriving this autumn.

The new appointments are:

• Canterbury SsangYong
• Duthies of Montrose
• FG Barnes Maidstone
• Burrows Motor Company, Sheffield
• SB Wakefield

“The arrival of our new Rexton SUV is undoubtedly raising interest in the brand,” says Paul Williams, CEO of SsangYong Motor UK, “while the other improvements we have made to the range - added safety equipment on Tivoli & Tivoli XLV, new-look to Korando and increased towing capacity on the Musso pick-up, have all added to range appeal.

“With the current political and economic conditions, value-brands are increasingly in demand and we can offer a wide product portfolio of six different models - a choice of SUVs plus a seven-seat MPV and 1-tonne pick-up, unlike some other car makes.

“Confidence in SsangYong is growing steadily as our performance and improving media profile indicate, and the quality of prospective new dealers is extremely encouraging. We expect to be able to announce another tranche of new dealers in the near future,” Mr Williams concluded.

SsangYong is actively looking for good dealers with an entrepreneurial ‘can do’ attitude to represent the brand in a number of locations, and current open points include: Aberdeen, Ayr, Blackpool, Bristol, Cambridge, Derby, Grimsby, Hull, Inverness, Lincoln, Liverpool, Milton Keynes, North Birmingham, Oxford, Perth, Portsmouth, Salisbury, Southend, Swindon, Taunton, Teesside, Truro, Watford, Worcester, Worcester, Wrexham and York.

WORLDWIDE SALES MAY - VW COMMERCIAL - The sales continue to grow each month.

• 6.5 per cent growth in Western Europe
• 5.8 per cent more deliveries in Germany
• 10.3 per cent gains in the Caddy series

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles delivered 204,800 light commercial vehicles worldwide up to the end of May. This represents an increase of 5.4 per cent compared with the same period last year. In Western Europe, deliveries to customers increased by 6.5 per cent in the first five months of the year to 143,100 vehicles.

In Germany, the brand delivered 52,600 units, 5.8 per cent more vehicles than in the same period of the previous year. Significant increases were recorded in France (+14.4 per cent to 9,200 vehicles), Italy (+13.5 per cent to 5,100 vehicles) and Spain (+9.3 per cent to 6,100 vehicles). Deliveries in Eastern Europe rose by 15.2 per cent to 15,700 vehicles.

In North America, 4,400 vehicles were delivered to customers. This corresponds to an increase of 48.0 per cent. In South America, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles delivered 15,800 vehicles (+7.1 per cent); in the Asia-Pacific region, it was 9,500 units (+11.8 per cent).

The markets in Africa (-15.4 per cent to 5,100 vehicles) and the Middle East (-20.3 per cent to 11,100 vehicles) recorded declines in vehicle deliveries.

Overview of worldwide deliveries by model range (January to May 2017 inclusive):

• 86.100 vehicles from the T model range (81,200; +6.0 per cent)
• 70,900 vehicles from the Caddy range (64,300; +10.3 per cent)
• 30,400 vehicles from the Amarok range (29,600; +2.5 per cent)
• 17,400 vehicles from the Crafter range (19,100; -8.9 per cent)

(The drop in deliveries of the Crafter is attributable to the model changeover.)

New Mazda Museum opens in Germany with the vast majority of cars coming from one families private collection.

• First facility of its kind outside Japan opened to the public in Augsburg, Germany on the 13th
• With 45 classic Mazda vehicles, the museum features key models from Mazda’s history.
• The museum was created by local Mazda dealer Auto Frey.

Bringing alive the illustrious history of an unconventional carmaker from Hiroshima, the first Mazda museum in Europe – and indeed the only one outside Japan – opened on the 13th May in Augsburg, Germany.

Mazda Classic – Automobil Museum Frey, a project led by local Mazda dealer Auto Frey with the support of Mazda Germany, spotlights Mazda’s almost 100 years of defying convention. The centrepiece is an exhibit of 45 vehicles, which includes classic Mazdas officially sold in Europe as well as exceptionally rare models only available in other parts of the globe.

Models currently on display include a 1967 Mazda Cosmo Sport, a 1969 Mazda Luce R130 and several generations of RX-7, plus with rarities like a rotary Parkway bus and even a rotary pick-up truck, Mazda’s rotary history features heavily.

However, the sheer breadth and variety of models on display demonstrates how Mazda has been combining innovative technology with stunning designs in the name of driving joy for nearly 100 years. Other highlights include a 1960 Mazda R360, the company’s first mass-produced passenger car, a 1962 Mazda K360 three-wheeled light truck, a 1966 Mazda Familia 1000 coupé, a 1976 Mazda 616 and the Mazda AZ-1, a distinctive mid-engined lightweight sports car from 1992.

Created from the personal passion of the owners of local Mazda dealer group Auto Frey, the museum is located in a stunningly refurbished tram depot dating from 1897. Located in the centre of the Bavarian town of Augsburg it is also equipped with an expansive event area, restaurant facilities and a gift shop.

Amazingly the 45 cars on display in the museum represent just a small proportion of the personal collection of the Frey family.

Mazda dealers since the late 70s, Walter Frey and his sons Markus and Joachim have personally restored many of the cars in the collection and travelled the world in search of rare classic Mazdas.

“Uniquely impressive, the first Mazda museum outside Japan represents a dream come true for the Frey family to share with the public its one-of-a-kind collection of vintage Mazdas from around the world,” commented Mazda Motor Corporation Executive Vice President Akira Marumoto. “Everyone at Mazda headquarters is very proud that the Freys are a part of our organisation and have created something so extraordinary.”

The selection will change continually, too, with additional gems from the Frey’s collection of 120-plus vehicles destined for rotation into the exhibit. Operators also hope the venue will become a hub for vintage Mazda club meetings and classic car events in general. Auto Frey has been a Mazda dealer since 1978 and currently operates three locations in the Augsburg area.

For more information, see: www.mazda-classic-frey.de/en.