TOKYO -- Isuzu Motors will outsource diesel truck engines to Cummins, a U.S. engine supplier, in a move designed to allow the Japanese commercial vehicle maker to focus on emerging technologies, Nikkei learned on Wednesday.
The arrangement begins later this year and is expected to help save tens of millions of dollars in research and development expenses annually, sources said.
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 design (LCF). 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-ft (152-in. WB) and 65-ft. (248-in. 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.