Isuzu Commercial Truck of America, Inc. has introduced two new gasoline engines for its N-Series trucks.
The engines include a 6.6-liter V8 that will be available in the Class 3 NPR and Class 4 NPR-HD, and a 6.0-liter V8 that will be offered in both the Class 5 17,950-lb. GVWR NQR and the Class 5 19,500-lb. GVWR NRR.
The NRR will be the first 19,500-lb. GVWR low cab forward truck on the market to offer a gasoline engine option, Isuzu says.
“Some of the major challenges our industry will face in the coming decade are the result of emissions regulations, some that have been defined and some that are still a work in progress,” said Shaun C. Skinner, president of Isuzu Commercial Truck of America and Isuzu Commercial Truck of Canada. “At the same time, we see an increasing demand for gasoline engines in Classes 3, 4 and 5. These engines will allow us to meet new and stringent emissions requirements and meet the needs of our dealers and customers as the market grows and evolves.”
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NPR Gas and NPR-HD Gas 6.6L V8
Production of NPR Gas (12,000-lb. GVWR) and NPR-HD Gas (14,500-lb. GVWR) models equipped with the new 6.6-liter V8 gasoline engine will begin this July.
To develop the new powerplant, engineers began with a proven small-block design and incorporated advanced Gen V technology to meet heavy-duty powertrain requirements, the company says. Isuzu says highlights include:
- Direct injection provides precise fuel control and more complete combustion;
- Variable valve timing;
- Variable displacement oil pump;
- Power output of 350 HP and 425 lbs.-ft. of torque at 3,800 RPM;
- and 200,000-mile design life.
The engine will be mated to a 6L90 six-speed automatic transmission with double overdrive and a lock-up torque converter. Both NPR and NPR-HD models will offer a 38.6-gallon stainless-steel fuel tank for extended driving ranges.
Both standard cab and crew cab models will be available with wheelbases ranging from 109 to 176 inches.
NQR Gas and NRR Gas 6.0L V8
The new 6.0-liter V8 engine that will debut in the upcoming NQR and NRR Gas models represents the first time Isuzu has offered a gasoline engine in a Class 5 truck, the company says, adding the NRR Gas will be the first gas-powered Class 5 low cab forward truck with a 19,500-lb. GVWR in the industry.
The engine will be certified and supplied by Power Solutions International and built from a Vortec V8 block that has been customized to Isuzu specifications, and the company says the powerplant will produce 311 HP and generate 353 lbs.-ft. of torque at 4,150 RPM.
The engine will be mated to a six-speed Allison 1000 RDS transmission with power takeoff. This will be the first time Isuzu has offered PTO in a gas-powered truck, the company says.
Like Isuzu’s new Class 3 and 4 gas trucks, both the NQR and NRR will offer a 38.6-gallon stainless-steel fuel tank, and Isuzu says customers can choose between a standard cab with seating for three or the crew cab with seating for up to seven, plus wheelbases ranging from 132.5 to 176 inches.
Spartan Motors will be assembling these trucks starting later this year, and availability is anticipated in the fourth quarter of 2020 or early first quarter of 2021.
