OUR TIMELY INTERVIEW with celebrity TV chef, Mike Robinson (see page 40 – December issue) comes in the same month that Isuzu has announced that it’s produced a bespoke D-Max for the keen huntsman. As you can read in our story, Mike is a keen hunter-gatherer, and enjoys doing that in a 4×4, and after a dalliance with the Land Rover product decided that the Isuzu pick-up was the thing for him, so no surprise this has come together. Mike’s actually already had two Isuzus, but this one has some nice touches just for him, including a rubber tray insert to hold his binoculars firmly in place, a secure gun box for his rifle and ammo, with special-tailored rubber grip mats on the wing mirrors to rest the rifle and take aim… To avoid glare that might distract his prey, Mike has had all the chrome bright work wrapped in matt-black vinyl. Good move in our view as the original is a touch too bling for some tastes. At the rear the D-Max has a winch and ramp for those large kills, and the load bed has a Truckman Grand Hard Top. You can look out for the truck on ITV’s Countrywise Kitchen show, as it will be working hard around the 20,000-acre estate that Mike manages.

THE NISSAN TeRRA SUV concept vehicle is an interesting power option, as it has hydrogen fuel cell technology driving three electric motors for 4×4 drive. Looking at the pictures here, it follows the quirky looks of the Qashqai and Juke but it is certainly the power option that excites, offering as it does zero emissions. Sadly, at present, it is a design concept rather than a technical exhibit so details of the proposed fuel cell/electric motor’s are not detailed. However, it does use the same electric propulsion system that is used in the Nissan LEAF, and that is a production reality, so we can but hope that this will see the light of day soon. The use of the electric motors means that the vehicle doesn’t have any axles, which allows for a flatter floor space. The punch line to the project, however, explains that the TeRRA ‘signals that Nissan is ready to mass-produce fuel cell electric vehicles whenever hydrogen becomes widely available’.

CHEVROLET CLAIMS THAT THE company actually invented the SUV class some 75 years ago with the launch of the Suburban Carryall back in 1935. If that’s the case, it has taken the US company some time to join in the latest competition in the highly competitive small SUV segment. That will all change now the Chevy Trax has been unveiled at the Paris Motor Show, joining the company’s larger Captiva SUV. The European 4×4 Trax will have a 1.4-litre 140bhp turbo petrol unit, and a 1.7-litre 130bhp turbodiesel option. The Trax will have Hill Assist, Hill Descent, Traction Control and Trailer Stability Assist. No prices were available as we closed for press.