Become a desert warrior with an Arctic Truck

THERE'S JUST SOMETHING about stepping up onto the running board of a truck and climbing into the cab. We don't know whether it comes from numerous movies or TV series where the lead characters are kitted out with pick-ups, or if it is simply the elevated position in which you find yourself, but we love it. Like ascending to the bridge of a large boat, from there you are master of all you survey. Though with the Arctic Trucks Isuzu D-Max AT35 we took out this week that could be road, desert, or its intended domain, ice.
At this point you'll probably be asking yourself why Arctic Trucks have a branch out here in what is quite literally the polar (get it?) opposite environment. Well, these trucks can be modified for desert exploration. And that's exactly what the company has done with this Isuzu. Even though the standard D-Max model is known for decent handling and mobility, the AT35 version has built on these features and aims to enhance the off-roading experience. While we weren't able to really open up the taps on the dunes, the small bit of sand driving we did was easy and secure. At no point did we feel as if we had to be cautious, even in the soft, deep stretches. The reasons for this are two-fold. The Isuzu three-litre twin-turbo common-rail engine produces 16ohp and delivers 400 Nm of torque and the truck is fitted with 35" tyres on 17x10 wheels. The body has also been raised by 30mm with 20mm raised suspension from a regular D-Max. The overall combination is superb. The engine runs on diesel, which creates a more industrial sound for one, but also means there is far more time between fill-ups.  A 3.5-tonne towing capacity adds to the industrial feel.
On the road, it's a perfectly serviceable automobile. It's not the quickest, but certainly no slouch. A flick of a switch transfers the drive power from four wheels to two for increased economy. There's a rearview parking camera, which is absolutely necessary on a car of this size and, as a result of everything in Dubai being 'bigger and better' you can even park it in mall car parks even though its height exceeds two metres.
Would we have one? The cabin space is alluring, as is the square footage of the cargo area complete with a true blue American tailgate. It's very easy to drive too. The size takes a bit of getting used to, but once you've figured out the dimensions and if we were more into off-roading a bit more, yes, we would.
Specs
Power: 160hp
Torque: 400Nm
Towing: 3.5-tonnes
david@khaleejtimes.com