Isuzu Commercial Truck of America, Inc. announced that the 2022 Isuzu F-Series trucks made for the U.S. and Canadian markets will feature the Cummins B6.7 diesel engine. This includes the Class 6 FTR (25,950 lb GVWR) and Class 7 FVR (33,000 lb GVWR), which employ Isuzu’s Low Cab Forward (LCF) design. The lineup will also include a de-rated Class 6 FVR.
This is the first product to come to market globally from the respective commercial truck and engine maker formed the Isuzu Cummins Powertrain Partnership (ICPP) in 2019.
“Moving forward we believe the Cummins B6.7 will create broader appeal and will open up new sales opportunities for our dealer network,” said Shaun Skinner, president of Isuzu Commercial Truck of America and Isuzu Commercial Truck of Canada.
A total of eight wheelbases will be available for the FTR and FVR models.
Isuzu said that the LCF design allows for larger cab-to-axle (CA) space and more cargo capacity versus conventional cab competitors with comparable wheelbases, thus giving customers more versatility with their body application choices to accommodate heavier or more spacious cargo loads.
The company also highlighted improved maneuverability, visibility, and comfort due to the 50-degree inner wheel cut. This gives the Isuzu F-Series turning diameters between 43.7' (152" WB) and 65' (248" WB). New LED headlamps should also increase visibility.
The new interior design has dual-tone trim and seating that enhances its visual appeal while adding to passenger comfort, Isuzu stated.
Return to diesel
Previously, Isuzu had been focusing on medium duty gas products. In 2019 Isuzu launched two Class 5 trucks that run on gas: the NQR Gas (with a target GVWR of 17,950 lbs) and the NRR Gas (with a target GVWR of 19,500 lbs). Last year, Isuzu unveiled Class 3 NPR and Class 4 NPR-HD trucks with 6.6L V8 gasoline engines.
“The advanced, more powerful Cummins B6.7 powertrain will create new opportunities for our U.S. and Canadian dealers at a very opportune time," Skinner said. "With our recent addition of Class 5 gas-powered N-Series models and now the Cummins-powered Isuzu F-Series, our product lineup has never been as broad for the growing medium-duty market."
The Cummins B6.7 is mated to an automatic six-speed Allison RDS Transmission (2500 Series). This powertrain delivers 260-hp and 660-lb-ft of torque, the highest horsepower and torque available from the Cummins B6.7. “The Cummins B6.7 has a legacy that goes back almost 40 years, so we’re excited to see it in the Isuzu F-Series,” said Rob Neitzke, executive director of Cummins On-Highway OEM Business. “It gives Class 6 and 7 truck buyers in the U.S. and Canadian markets new ways to experience the B6.7, with configurations that don’t exist today.”
The partnership between Isuzu and Cummins comes at a time when commercial vehicle manufacturers are also investing in electrification and other low- and zero-emission technology to get ahead of regulations, and as ecommerce and last mile delivery have grown during the COVID-19 pandemic. Last July, ecommerce sales jumped 55 percent YOY, according to the Adobe Digital Economic Index.
“Collaborations like the ICPP provide ways to make more efficient use of physical resources to better serve our customers’ needs,” Skinner said. “It prepares us for future challenges and the Cummins engine with our chassis gives the companies a unique product. As forecasts for the medium duty market reflect growth as we look to the future –the benefits from the ICPP come at a very opportune time.”
