It’s not very common to see an old pickup truck in neat and pristine condition. Back in the day, these were proper workhorses and treated as such. For the most part, the bodywork would be battered and bruised, but at least the engine was (relatively) healthy.
Another thing about these old pickups was they weren’t all too punchy. They’re certainly a far cry from the 200hp haulers we have these days. Back then, we were lucky enough to see half of that.
Still, there’s something about these old trucks that’s endearing. Isuzu is well aware of that and has shown off a rather neat concept during the 2025 Bangkok International Motor Show. It’s called the Isuzu Dragon Max concept, and we wish more companies would do it.
OTHER STORIES YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED:
BIMS 2025: A closer look at the new Isuzu MU-X coming soon to PH
This is what we think the next-gen Nissan Navara could look like
2025 Bangkok International Motor Show highlights:
Okay, it’s more a factory restomod than an actual concept. The Dragon Max is an early TF/Faster/Pickup/Fuego that gets a cyberpunk-inspired exterior and a very modern powertrain. All in all, it looks pretty sweet.
At the front, you get matrix-LEDs for headlights, as well as smoothened edges for a more modern look. At the same time, it’s been lowered, rides on low-profile tires, and uses the extended-cab body for a longer bed. It’s no hauler, but it carries a whole lot of presence.
So, what’s this modern powertrain we’re talking about? It’s the new 2.2-liter turbodiesel engine that powers the entry-level D-Max and MU-X models in Thailand. Even in its base form, it’s still heaps more powerful than the original engine that powered the Fuego.
The original Pickup/Fuego put out around 85hp to 100hp and mustered less than 300Nm. Meanwhile, the new base 2.2-liter effortlessly makes 161hp and 400Nm of torque. But the one under the hood of the Dragon Max has been tuned to ‘over 220hp.’
Sadly, it’ll never reach production, but it does show a growing appreciation for these old Japanese pickups. Let’s be real, though—seeing anything from the ’90s in great shape is a treat already in itself.
More photos of the Isuzu Dragon Max concept:
