Spartan Motors will assemble gasoline-powered Isuzu N-series low-cab-forward trucks beginning in the second quarter of 2011, Isuzu Commercial Truck of America announced at the American Truck Dealers convention in Orlando, Fla.


The two companies also said they are developing a commercial walk-in van combining a body from Spartan's Utilimaster subsidiary with Isuzu's NPR diesel chassis, with prototypes due late this year.

Spartan, a manufacturer of specialty chassis and vehicles, will assemble all gasoline-engine models of the Isuzu N-Series chassis to Isuzu's specifications at one of its assembly facilities, The powertrain will employ a GM 6-liter V-8 gasoline engine and Hydra-matic 6-speed transmission under a new agreement with General Motors, said Shaun Skinner, ICTA's executive vice president and general manager.

GM had assembled NPR Gas trucks at its plant in Janesville, Wis., until the plant ceased operations a year ago, and GM later quit the medium-duty truck business entirely. Isuzu said Spartan will build gasoline-powered Isuzu NPR and NPR-HD trucks in both single and crewcab models, and that these vehicles would be reintroduced for the 2012 model year.

Isuzu-Utilimaster van

The new walk-in van - with a body designed by Utilimaster atop an Isuzu NPR chassis with a 3-liter diesel - will combine the functionality and design flexibility of a custom-built work truck with the styling and ergonomics of a cargo van, said Skinner and John Marshall, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Utilimaster. Prototypes are scheduled to begin rolling off the line in the third quarter of this year, with full production scheduled for the second half of 2011.

Body components and materials have been evaluated and selected for safety, appearance, quietness, light weight, and resistance to impact and corrosion. Body panels are also designed for quick removal and replacement. Two wheelbases-134 and 151 inches-and three cargo area lengths-10, 12 and 14 feet-will be offered. All models will feature a 34-inch-wide by 74-inch-high cab door opening for easy driver ingress and egress. The cab will offer a choice of either swing or sliding doors. Several rear door designs will allow the cargo area to be customized to the operator's needs. Options will include 270-degree twin-swing doors, twin side-sliding doors, and roll-up doors.

The cab interior is optimized for ergonomics and productivity. Even a driver over 6 feet tall can walk in and out of the cab in an upright position, and can stand up inside the cab area. The placement and design of instruments and controls have been simplified for ease of use, and for easy installation of customer-specific equipment.

A spacious modular cargo area will offer buyers integrated vocational packages specifically designed for their applications, the executives said. The cargo area will be taller and wider than popular competitor vans, with up to 700 cubic feet of storage. Each of the vocational cargo-storage modules has been engineered for quick and easy installation, with no drilling or other body modifications required. And any module can be specified as a factory or dealer-installed option, or ordered through the dealership and installed by the final customer.

Underpinning the van's body-on-frame design will be a strong Isuzu NPR commercial truck chassis with a GVW rating of 12,000 pounds. The frame, axles and brakes are all proven Isuzu N-Series components like those in more than 200,000 Isuzu N-Series trucks produced and sold annually throughout the world. Of the more than 400,000 Isuzu-built diesel trucks sold in North America since 1986, more than 81 percent are still registered and in service today, Skinner said.

Isuzu's 4JJ1-TC engine, a turbocharged and intercooled 3-liter, dual overhead-cam, direct-injection 4-cylinder diesel that will make as much as 150 horsepower and 282 foot-pounds of torque. The 4JJ1-TC engine has a 10,000-mile change interval and carries a 310,000 mile B10 life rating. This means that 90 percent of the engines should reach 310,000 miles without requiring overhaul.

More info: www.isuzucv.com/