THE engineer who developed the optional extras for the Isuzu Rodeo must have been a Star Trek fan.
For just like the USS Enterprise has the ability to exceed its normal performance when Kirk orders "warp speed" so did my Rodeo Denver Max which was fitted with the £760 optional extra Prodrive pack.
All right, warp speed is a bit of an exaggeration with the Rodeo, but the difference you get when you hit that little white button on the dashboard is pretty amazing.
Without Prodrive this chunky double cab takes a laborious 16.8 seconds to reach 60mph. Hit the magic button and it drops to a very respectable 12.4 seconds.
Not only that, you get increased flexibility and a stronger throttle response.
Looking a little like a giant Tonka toy the Rodeo Denver Max is the fifth generation Isuzu pickup and is now appealing to people who in the past would never have thought of driving this sort of vehicle.
It's easy to see the attraction. With the double cab you get the space that most medium sized family cars can offer as well as the large load bed for carrying, well virtually anything.
And unlike with a lot of its competitors the Rodeo Denver offers sensible leg room in the rear and the rear seat backs are set at a sensible angle - in some double cabs they are almost vertical.
The cabin offers seating for five and comes with "soft touch" upholstery.
And with its smart alloy wheels, chrome side steps and soft-top front bar with chrome insert it also has a lot of street cred.
It's powered by a new powerful three-litre diesel engine which boasts a hefty amount of torque which is again boosted by the Prodrive pack.
It is, however, not the quietest of diesel engines even from within the well sound proofed cab. But in some perverse way that adds to macho image of driving this vehicle.
When the going gets tough you can go from two-wheel-drive to four-wheel-drive with the Rodeo at speeds of up to 60mph via a dashboard button. And when the going gets really tough there is always four-wheel-drive low ratio.
But don't be fooled into thinking that because it's an efficient workhorse you don't get all the comforts you get with a car.
This Isuzu comes with everything from air conditioning and electric windows to a good radio/CD player. And on the safety side you get ABS with electronic brake force distribution and twin airbags in the front.
And the icing on the cake is that company car drivers are only liable to taxation on a fixed £500 per year - including the use of free fuel when offered.
FAST FACTS
Isuzu Rodeo Denver Max
Price: £20,679 with £760 Prodrive pack
Mechanical: 130bhp(155 using Prodrive), 2,999cc, 4cyl diesel engine driving all four wheels via 5spd manual gearbox.
Max speed: 96mph
0-62mph: 16.8 (12.4 using Prodrive) secs
Combined mpg: 30.7
CO2 emissions: 243g/km
Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles