Demand for Isuzu’s N-Series gasoline-powered trucks continues to grow as the company recently announced its 40,000th truck at the Spartan Motors facility in Charlotte, Michigan.
“From April 2015 to June 2016—a span of 15 months—we went from 20,000 to 30,000 gas-powered Isuzu trucks produced in Charlotte,” said Shaun Skinner, president of Isuzu Commercial Truck of America. “Now, only twelve months later, another 10,000 N-Series gas trucks have been built. That’s a testament to the increasing popularity and growing reputation of our gasoline engine, low-cab-forward trucks.”
Assembly of Isuzu N-Series gas trucks began at Spartan in April 2011. Isuzu N-Series gas trucks are powered by a Vortec 6.0-liter small-block V8 that produces 297 horsepower at 4,300 rpm and generates 372 lbs.-ft. of torque at 4,000 rpm.
The powerplant is mated to GM’s Hydra-Matic 6L90 six-speed automatic transmission with double overdrive and lock-up torque converter for enhanced fuel economy and performance. An optional version of the engine is capable of being converted to run on compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG, or propane).
A full range of gasoline-powered models is available:
- NPR (12,000-lb. GVWR) Single Cab in wheelbases of 109, 132.5, 150 and 176 inches; Crew Cab in wheelbases of 150 and 176 inches
- NPR-HD (14,500-lb. GVWR) Single Cab in wheelbases of 109, 132.5, 150 and 176 inches; Crew Cab in wheelbases of 150 and 176 inches
Isuzu also markets diesel-powered N-Series trucks, the Reach Van powered by Isuzu and the all-new Class 6 FTR, launched last month. Reach and FTR are also assembled by Spartan Motors.
“We offer the most complete line of low-cab-forward medium-duty trucks in the industry,” Skinner said. “The gasoline-powered NPR and NPR-HD are an important part of our lineup. So we expect to be reaching even more production milestones in the future.”