Full production of gasoline-powered Isuzu N-Series trucks has begun at a Spartan Motors facility in Charlotte, Mich., according to Isuzu Commercial Truck of America. Spartan began initial assembly on April 18, and resumed production Tuesday, May 3, under a contract with the Anaheim, Calif.-based distributor.

The 2012 N-Gas models are the only gasoline-engine LCF trucks available. They complement diesel-powered Isuzu N-Series Class 3 and 4 low-cab-forward trucks that come from Japan. NPR Gas trucks were previously assembled by General Motors at its plant in Janesville, Wis., which closed two years ago.

The new N-Gas trucks are powered by GM's Vortec 6-liter small-block V-8 rated at 297 horsepower and 372 pounds-feet of torque. The powerplant is mated to a new Hydra-Matic six-speed automatic transmission with double overdrive and lock-up torque converter for enhanced fuel economy and performance, Isuzu said. Previous NPR Gas models used a four-speed automatic.

N-Gas trucks come as a 12,000-pound-GVW NPR and a 14,500-pound NPR-HD. Both are available as a two-door Single Cab, with wheelbases of 109, 132.5, 150 and 176 inches, and a four-door Crew Cab, with wheelbases of 150 and 176 inches.

"With the introduction of these new models, our dealers once again offer the broadest range of low-cab-forward solutions in the industry," said Shaun Skinner, executive vice president and general manager of Isuzu Commercial Truck of America, in a statement.

"We are especially pleased that Spartan-one of the industry's most respected manufacturers of high-quality specialty chassis and vehicles-is assembling our N-Series gas trucks," he said. "Their expertise and quality workmanship will be an enormous benefit to us, to our dealers, and to the end users of our vehicles."

The gasoline-powered trucks will be available in Isuzu dealerships nationwide beginning this month. Isuzu has been the dominant supplier of LCF trucks in North America, and its long association with GM ended two years ago when GM ended production of Class 5 through 8 trucks, including versions for Isuzu. GM now sells the Vortec V-8s to Isuzu under a supply contract.