Confirmed: Isuzu N-Series Will Be Sold by Chevrolet in U.S.
As previously rumored, General Motors and Isuzu confirmed today they’ve “reached an agreement on a U.S. commercial vehicle collaboration” that sees low cab forward trucks making their way to our shores with bowties.
Six new models will be available in the U.S. – Chevrolet 3500, 3500HD, 4500, 4500HD, 5500 and 5500 HD – all based on the Isuzu N-Series.
According to a release from GM, two cabs (regular and crew), three engines (GM 6.0L V8 gas, Isuzu 3.0L turbodiesel and 5.2L turbodiesel) and varying chassis lengths from 109 to 212 inches will be available. The two companies will “explore the use of GM commercial vehicle components” for the trucks and GM will continue its supply of 6.0L V8 gasoline engines and six-speed automatic transmissions to Isuzu. Chevrolet-badged V8 gas models will be assembled in Charlotte, Michigan.
GM has sourced trucks from Isuzu in the past but exited the medium-duty segment in 2009. Isuzu previously sold passenger vehicles in the U.S. but abandoned the market in January 2009 after trimming its lineup down to GM-sourced SUVs and midsize pickups.
The new trucks will go on sale at participating dealers next year.
More by Mark Stevenson
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I thought it was strange seeing the U.S. trucks all with long bonnets (hoods). I guess it is a local tradition. In Oz we have none of them short of the giant B-doubles and road trains. Almost all our mid- duty trucks are Isuzu, Fuso or Hino. The Isuzu diesels are legendary. I have a 14 tonne Isuzu bus with a 5.7l turbo diesel. It has half a million kilometers on it and pulls like a train from 1100rpm. It returns 16 l/100km which is not much more than my wife's Ford pickup. Once America gets used to them, I think they'll do well. I expect to hear lots of comments about safety in a head-on and maybe someone has real statistics. It does not seem to be an issue here.
I drove an Isuzu NPR for eight years as part of my job and I loved it! I could maneuver that thing into any crazy tight space you could point to thanks to the crazy tight turning radius. I wouldn't trade that truck for anything with a hood as far as driving is concerned. I didn't have to work on it so I cannot comment on ease of maintenance but with the cab lifted the entire engine is exposed. I don't see how that makes things hard to work on?