Dakar - South African crews dig deep as second week begins
The 2026 Dakar Rally roared back into action on Monday with Stage 8, a gruelling 481km loop around Wadi Ad Dawasir.
- Industry News
- 12 January 2026
The Suzuki X-Rider, which started out as a limited edition in 2016, is now an established part of the Isuzu D-Max bakkie range with a new D-MAX 3.0 TD Double Cab X-Rider Auto added to the range.
The X-Rider is Isuzu’s full-specced model, featuring extra equipment and three distinctive colours with even more distinctive names - Summit White, Switchblade Silver and Pull Me Over Red.
Up till now, the X-Rider nameplate was only available with the 100 kW 2.5 turbodiesel engine. It is now joined by the well-known three litre, four-cylinder turbodiesel engine with 130 kW and 380 Nm which, in this model, is mated with a six-speed automatic transmission.
To distinguish the X-Rider, it is fitted with black roof rails; a black sports bar with Red X-Rider logo, black running boards, an eight inch AX2 infotainment system with colour touchscreen, a black tailgate handle with rear-view camera, and a tow bar rated at 3.5 tonnes. The seats are partially covered in black leather with red stitching.
Eighteen inch all black diamond cut alloy wheels on all terrain tyres complete the package.
The 3.0 TD Double Cab X-Rider Automatic slots in below the standard 3.0 Auto LX, which retails for R515 478.25 while the 3.0 X-Rider comes in just R58 000 more than the 250 HO Double cab X-Rider Auto, which retails for R421 043.48.
Pricing for the special edition D-MAX 3.0 TD Double Cab X-Rider Auto starts at R479 217,39 (August 2020).
The three mid-range X-Rider derivatives continue as part of the Isuzu D-MAX model range with prices as follows:
250 HO Double Cab X-Rider (R405 652.17).
250 HO Double Cab X-Rider A/T (R421 043.48).
250 HO Double Cab X-Rider 4x4 (R451 478.26).
The 2026 Dakar Rally roared back into action on Monday with Stage 8, a gruelling 481km loop around Wadi Ad Dawasir.
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