Much of the Isuzu KB development over the years has been influenced by the agricultural community, owing to its reliability and toughness in challenging farming environments, Isuzu brand manager Mlungisi Nonkonyana tells Engineering News.

General Motors South Africa (GMSA) will again showcase the off-road capabilities of its latest offerings — the sixth-generation Isuzu KB and the Chevrolet Trailblazer, at the 4 × 4 demonstration track at this year’s Grain SA Nampo Harvest Day.

Over the past decade, GMSA, the local subsidiary of US-based car manufacturer General Motors, has exhibited several Chevrolet, Isuzu and Opel utility and passenger vehicles at the agricultural trade fair, which is held yearly at Nampo Park, in Bothaville, Free State.

GMSA will exhibit the new-generation Isuzu KB range of single-cab, extended-cab and double-cab bakkies and the 2.8 ℓ diesel four-wheel-drive automatic Chevrolet Trailblazer LTZ sports utility vehicle, launched in South Africa at the end of last year.

The Nampo organisers have a specially designed 4 × 4 demonstration track, with various obstacles, such as a side hill, water wading, hill ascents and descents, a seesaw and sand crossings, all designed to demonstrate the different off-road aspects and capabilities of a vehicle.

Chevrolet will put the Trailblazer through the 4 × 4 course to highlight its off-road capabilities and demonstrate the latest-generation limited slip rear differential technology, which prevents all the power being allocated to one wheel, keeping both wheels in powered rotation instead.

The instructors of the Isuzu Off-Road Academy, which is based at the Gerotek test facility, in Pretoria West, will showcase the new-generation KB’s off-road capabilities and Nampo visitors will have an opportunity to be passengers in the vehicle during off-road demonstrations on the track.

Chevrolet brand manager Tim Hendon describes Nampo Harvest Day, held from May 14 to 17, as a “true working agricultural show” with an organiser that has a no-nonsense approach to business.

Nampo enables Chevrolet to gain exposure in the agricultural community and build the reputation of the Chevrolet brand as a rugged off-road utility and safe family vehicle.

The Chevrolet Trailblazer features a 2.8 ℓ Duramax diesel engine, with four cylinders and 16 valves. It delivers 132 kW and 470 nm torque at 2 000 rpm.

The Trailblazer LTZ is available with either a 2.8 ℓ diesel power or V6 petrol engine and includes, among other features, projector lens-type headlamps, rear fog lamps, roof rails, a traction control system, electronic stability control, hill-descent control, hill-start assist, trailer-sway assist, limited slip rear differential technology and 18-inch aluminium alloy wheels.

The LTZ is 4 878 mm long, 1 902 mm wide and 1 847 mm high. The towing capacity on the 2.8 ℓ drivetrain of the Trailblazer can reach 2 950 kg.

The seven-passenger seating arrangement offers a foldable second and third row, providing additional storage room. Inside, load space ranges from 205 ℓ with all the seats up, to 1 830 ℓ with all the seats folded down.

Nonkonyana says Nampo, as an event where all agriculture-related industries meet, provides a platform for the related industries to showcase their products to the agriculture sector.

He adds that one of the main attractions to the Isuzu stand at Nampo will be the Isuzu monster show truck, known as Sumo. Sumo is based on an Isuzu KB design and was built by GMSA’s engineering team in Port Elizabeth. The stand will provide prospective customers and current Isuzu owners with an opportunity to experience the new Isuzu KB.

Nonkonyana believes the Isuzu is suitable for the Nampo fair, as the Isuzu brand has a special long-standing relationship with the agricultural community.

The new-generation Isuzu KB offers features such as superior towing capability, payload, fuel efficiency and comfort, as well as superior off-road capability, which gives the customer an all-round bakkie, he says.

The Isuzu Off-Road Academy personnel will also showcase the off-road capabilities of the Isuzu TrailView bakkie. The TrailView bakkie is fitted with a 360º camera and is being used by the Isuzu Off-Road Academy team to map South Africa’s most famous and challenging off-road trails for people to explore on its TrailView website.

The 4 × 4 trails include the Moolmanshoek Langesnek and the Moolmanshoek Visierskerf trails, in the eastern Free State, and the Hennops off-road trail and De Wildt 4 × 4 trail, in Gauteng.

“The team is mapping out the best off-road trails in the country, giving off-road enthu- siasts the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the trails before they experience them for real. The TrailView website is also a platform for sharing stories, tips, photos and videos with other 4 × 4 enthusiasts,” explains Nonkonyana.

“The TrailView website is similar to Google streetview, but off-road,” he adds.

The Isuzu Off-Road Academy aims to teach existing and prospective Isuzu owners what the KBs are capable of, while sharpening their off-road driving skills. Non-Isuzu owners will also have the opportunity to put the classroom theory into practice in Isuzu KB’s off-road trails around the country, says Nonkonyana.