The Isuzu Challenge Road Trip

MANILA, Philippines - Essentials of a getaway from the city are: an iPod packed with tunes, a picnic basket filled with chips, a cooler with quenching drinks, and of course, a gas tank filled to the brim. But how far can one full tank take you?

This is what the Isuzu Challenge is all about. Proving that a diesel powered vehicle can push the limits of fuel consumption. The Isuzu Challenge is part of Isuzu’s corporate campaign this year, which is the Isuzu Diesel Mission emphasizing Isuzu’s supremacy in the field of diesel technology. The idea is to test how far an Isuzu vehicle can go with a tank filled with Caltex Diesel with Techron D. Professional drivers from the Automobile Association of the Philippines (AAP) take the wheel – driving the Isuzu vehicles across Luzon until it runs out of fuel. A navigator from AAP and a verifier from the MMDA, Road Safety Unit will also be present to monitor the event.

To make things more exciting, Isuzu invited everyone to guess how far the vehicles can go through, www.isuzudieselmission.com.ph. Anyone can input their guesses, the closest guess, without going above the actual distance travelled, gets a brand new Isuzu vehicle.

That’s all the contestants had to do. No purchases required, no traveling required, anyone could just simply log on to the website, make minimal calculations of how far the vehicles can go and input them. Each contestant is allowed with three guesses, making the chances of winning even higher. Guessing period ends right before the vehicles flag off for the actual drive.

For the first leg of the Isuzu Diesel Challenge last May, an Isuzu NHR truck travelled from Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte and finished in Naga City, Camarines Sur. Amelita Sison Fernandez gave the closest answer to Isuzu’s question, “How far can it go?” and won a brand new Isuzu NHR truck.

Her answer was 967.9 kilometers and was the closest to the actual distance travelled, which was 972.4 kilometers or 12.965 kilometers per liter. The second leg of the challenge was held last July where a Crosswind XL started its journey in Cauayan City, Isabela and finished the full tank in Tagcauayan, Quezon.

The winner of a brand new Crosswind was Ryan Dexter Pinpin Dizon who guessed the exact total mileage of 1,190 kilometers or an average of 21.64 kilometers per liter of diesel.

The final and 3rd leg of the Isuzu Challenge has recently been concluded. The start off point was in the southernmost tip of Luzon in Matnog, Bicol.

The vehicle used was an Isuzu D-MAX, a pick-up that is both bold and stylish. With its 76-liter tank filled Caltex Diesel with Techron D, the journey began last October 20.

The gas tank door was signed and sealed by verifier, Maximo Tapongot, MMDA traffic operations officer I, head of Road Safety Unit.

Taking the wheel was Domingo Escarieses, head driver of AAP with navigator Napoleon Moreno, field mechanic supervisor, AAP. Only the driver and the navigator where on board the D-MAX, with the air-conditioning system on for the entire trip and drove across Luzon in an average speed of 60-80 kilometers per hour. Members of the media and an esteemed team from Isuzu trailed the D-MAX’s journey.

The first pit stop for the group was in Legazpi City – the home of one of the country’s treasures – Mayon Volcano. Wasting no time, the drive continued on the following morning, stopping by nightfall in Quezon. The D-MAX continued on the journey to the north, enduring rain and flood, various road conditions from provinces to cities as well as a mix of traffic congestions.

The D-MAX finally halted in Barangay Isidro in Paniqui, Tarlac last October 24. The D-MAX ran out of fuel with the odometer reading 1,844 kilometers or 24.26 kilometers per liter, an impressive record for the D-MAX. The winner of a brand new D-MAX is 22-year old Jennie Lyn Tiongson from Manila whose three guesses were 1,819; 1,844 and 1,869. Concluding this year’s Isuzu Challenge, Isuzu once again proves how fuel-efficient their vehicles are.

The Isuzu Philippines Corporation team who joined the Isuzu Challenge were: Myrna Valle; assistant division manager, sales; Joseph Bautista, product planning head; Timmy de Leon, senior section manager, PR and advertising, Ronald Baladad, PR supervisor, Nora Liquido, sales promotion supervisor, Hermes “Chairman” Canon, PR coordinator, Englebert Bunales, product planning supervisor and Danny Urian, product planning staff.

The Isuzu Challenge is sponsored by Caltex Diesel with Techron D and Freego Jeans, supported by JVC, AVT, Centro Manufacturing Corp., Home Depot, Smartlink, Matabungkay Beach Resort, Monde Nissin Corp., and Magnolia Fruit Drink Health Tea Beverages. Media partners are The Philippine STAR, RMN (DZXL 558khz), DWIZ (882 khz), Jam (88.3), Wave (89.1), Magic (89.9), Mellow Touch (94.7), Crossover (105.1), DWRJ (100.3), Home Radio (97.9), NU Rock (107), DWRT (99.5), and Max (103.5).