Isuzu unveils gas-powered MD trucks

Isuzu recently unveiled two new medium-duty, gasoline-powered trucks—the NPR and NPR-HD with a 6.6-liter V8 gas engine.

“Some of the major challenges that we’ll face in this decade will result from emissions regulations, both CO2 and NOX,” said Shaun Skinner, president of Isuzu Commercial Truck of America, and Isuzu Commercial Truck of Canada. “These regulations will challenge our entire industry, but despite these challenges, we see tremendous upside in the next five years.”

Skinner emphasized that the Isuzu NPR and NPR-HD are designed to preemptively handle future vehicle emissions regulations, and are a fit for the increase in the urban delivery and last market delivery vocations.

Later this year, the Class 3 NPR and the Class 4 NPR-HD will offer 6.6L V8 gasoline engines, Isuzu said. “This engine provides the optimum combination of increased fuel efficiency, improved acceleration and outstanding durability, all while meeting the next set of restrictive emission requirements,” Skinner maintained.

Highlights of the 6.6L V8 gasoline engine include direct fuel injection to provide fuel control, variable valve timing, 350 horsepower with a peak of 425 foot-pounds of torque at 3,800 rpm, and a design life of 200,000 miles. The vehicles also will feature a 38.6-gallon stainless steel fuel tank.

Production of the NPR and NPR-HD with the 6.6L V8 gasoline engine will begin in July of this year, Skinner said.

Isuzu also revealed plans to introduce a new 6L V8 gasoline engine in the Isuzu NQR and NRR later this year, marking the company’s first gasoline engine offered in a Class 5 low cab forward truck. In the case of the NRR, it’s the first 19,500-pound gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) Class 5 low cab forward truck with a gasoline engine, Skinner added.