Isuzu Commercial Truck of America, Inc. announced that production of its all-new entry in the Class 6 medium-duty truck segment—the 2018 Isuzu FTR—will begin in May.
The F-Series truck, which will be assembled at a new 85,000-square-foot Spartan Motors facility in Charlotte, Michigan, will have a starting manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $82,180.
Orders for the truck will be accepted at the beginning of April.
“The all-new FTR is truly a game-changer,” said Shaun Skinner, president of Isuzu Commercial Truck of America. “This truck’s combination of low-cab-forward design and Class 6 GVWR gives it fantastic maneuverability and visibility along with the ability to carry more cargo than a conventional Class 6 truck. Its four-cylinder diesel engine is environmentally friendly and gives the truck outstanding fuel efficiency. Its class-leading warranty gives its owners peace of mind. And it’s an Isuzu Truck, a name that is synonymous with dependability, durability and low cost of ownership.”
The FTR will be powered by the Isuzu’s renowned Isuzu 4HK1-TC 5.2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder diesel engine—a first in the segment.
“We believe that more and more competitors in this class will be turning to four-cylinder engines, because they are cleaner and more efficient,” Skinner said. “Our 4HK engine goes beyond environmental friendliness and economy—it’s also durable and powerful.”
Isuzu also announced that this engine now carries a B-10 durability rating of 375,000 miles—meaning that 90% of engines should reach that mileage before requiring an overhaul. This represents an increase of 65,000 miles from the engine’s previous (and already robust) 310,000-mile B-10 rating.
Other technical highlights:
- The FTR’s turbocharged Isuzu 5.2-liter 4HK1-TC engine generates 520 lbs.-ft. of torque at 1,650 rpm and 215 horsepower at 2,500 rpm
- The engine is mated to an Allison 2550 RDS six-speed automatic transmission with power take-off (PTO) capability
- The front axle has a capacity of 12,000 pounds, while the rear axle has a capacity of 19,000 pounds
- GVWR is 25,950 pounds
- 11R22.5 tires are fitted to 22.5" × 8.25" steel wheels
Because of its low-cab-forward configuration and clean back-of-cab design, the FTR can provide more cargo space within a given overall length than comparable conventional Class 6 trucks.
Eight wheelbase lengths, ranging from 152 to 248 inches, will accommodate bodies from 14 feet to 30 feet, allowing for a wide variety of body applications.
The FTR’s low-cab-forward design also dramatically increases visibility and markedly improves maneuverability.
“With inner 50-degree wheel cut, this truck has an incredibly tight turning radius,” Skinner said. This saves drivers time as they navigate crowded city streets where the FTR is expected to be in greatest demand—and that adds to productivity.
The FTR cab’s wide step and wide-opening doors allow easy entry to the spacious interior of Isuzu’s exclusive Hexapod cab, which features three-across seating and extra space for storage behind the seats.
Other interior amenities include a side under safety mirror, overhead console, and a suspension driver’s seat with armrest specially designed to increase comfort and reduce driver fatigue.
The Isuzu FTR, like every Isuzu diesel truck, comes with a suite of features and programs that dramatically reduce downtime and overall cost of ownership, including:
- A standard Multi-Information Display that allows drivers to monitor the status and condition of over a dozen vehicle performance functions, reducing maintenance costs and downtime
- Available Vehicle Health Reports provide comprehensive analysis of the truck’s powertrain and emissions systems, fuel economy, brake usage and driver operating habits
- Three-year/unlimited mileage powertrain limited warranty
- Four-year/unlimited mileage perforation from corrosion limited warranty