By Jade Brasher
Watch the video here!
Indianapolis in May. The Motor Speedway is busy, the sun shines bright during the day with a cool breeze at night, the town is gearing up for summer, and this year, Isuzu, Cummins, and Allison Transmission held an event for the books. A collaboration between the three companies helped build the new Isuzu F-Series, and because it was deemed safe enough to hold events post-pandemic, the companies hosted a customer appreciation and media event to showcase the new truck.
The main attraction was a ride and drive event, giving attendees an opportunity to get behind the wheel with three different testing components that included the turning radius, acceleration, and new automatic braking safety system (in the new N-Series diesel). The courses were a little extreme compared to everyday driving experiences, but that helped determine just how well the F-Series will drive in the field.
POWER OF THREE
The F-Series comes in three different models: the Class 6 FTR with a 25,950-lb GVWR, the Class 6 FVR De-rate with a 25,950-lb GVWR, and the Class 7 FVR with a 33,000-lb GVWR. Isuzu offers the F-Series in eight different wheelbases from 152 to 248 inches, which will accommodate up to a 30-ft truck body. Based on the wheelbase chosen, the Isuzu F-Series features a 50-gal or 100-gal fuel tank.
The Isuzu F-Series gets a standard Cummins B6.7 diesel engine. The addition of the Cummins engine pairs two proven and preferred components—the number-one selling LCF truck and Cummins diesel engine—in one powerful package. The B6.7 engine has proven itself through millions of miles in the medium-duty segment, and according to Rob Neitzke, executive director of Cummins Inc. North American Truck OEM Business, its roots date back nearly 40 years.
The Cummins B6.7 turbocharged inline 6-cylinder engine pumps out 260 hp and 660 lb-ft of torque. The F-Series also comes equipped with the Cummins Single Module After-Treatment system that incorporates the selective catalyst reduction (SCR), diesel particulate filter (DPF), exhaust cooler, and electronic exhaust restriction into one piece. This design ensures a clean frame rail. The Cummins engine is paired with an Allison 6-speed 2500RDS-Series automatic transmission. This powertrain in an Isuzu F-Series is sure to be a driver and owner favorite.
LCF DRIVABILITY
To truly experience a truck, you’ve got to get behind its steering wheel. As previously mentioned, media and Isuzu customers had their turn driving an F-Series truck and experiencing its maneuverability and how quickly it can get up to speed and decelerate at the ride and drive event. All participants had plenty of time in the driver’s seat, and that time allowed me to gain a better understanding of how an LCF truck differs from a conventional truck.
You can’t discuss a low cab forward truck without mentioning its superior turning radius—which I got to experience firsthand. The Isuzu team’s maneuverability obstacle course consisted of tightly compacted cones requiring full wheel cut and slow speeds. Sitting above the front wheel in an LCF versus behind the wheels in a conventional truck that I’m more familiar with was a bit trippy at first. But experiencing the extreme tight turns without turning or running over a single cone now has me convinced that if maneuverability is a must for your fleet, an LCF is the obvious answer. The F-Series’ 50-degree inner wheel cut improves maneuverability by leaps and bounds.
Driving an Isuzu low cab forward also improves a driver’s visibility. In fact, its improved visibility also improves operator, other motorist, and pedestrian safety. While conventional cabs provide visibility at 24 ft ahead of the truck, the F-Series (and all Isuzu LCF trucks) provides visibility at just 8 ft from the truck. That improves forward visibility by 16 ft. When you can see more of what’s around you, you’re more aware of what’s around you. Driver awareness leads to safer decision making.
PROVEN POWERTRAIN
After experiencing the F-Series’ ability to maneuver through even the tightest spaces, next up was its acceleration and deceleration. On the test track, the Isuzu team set up a drag strip with the help of professional race car drivers and professional racing equipment. All the attendees made a competition out of who had the best reaction time (with yours truly getting the best time of the day); however, the drag strip did allow all of us to experience the power of the Cummins and Allison pairing. With the pedal to the metal, the Isuzu F-Series was able to get up to speed at a relatively quick pace and also slow quickly enough to make a turn at the end of the strip.
We don’t expect Isuzu customers to race the F-Series, but we do expect them to require a powertrain that can get the job done, and all throughout the day, the Cummins and Allison pairing seemed to suit the Isuzu F-Series perfectly.
But not only is the F-Series safe, highly maneuverable, and quick to get up to speed and decelerate, the new truck is more modern with updated features and improvements.
UPDATED FEATURES
In an effort to modernize the 2023 F-Series, Isuzu gave it LED headlamps with running lights. The new headlamps contribute to the LCF’s already improved visibility and safety by making the truck itself more visible to oncoming traffic and pedestrians as well as illuminating the truck’s surroundings. The new Isuzu F-Series also gets a new instrument panel, new dash material color, and new seat fabric and design, upgrading and modernizing the look and feel of the new model.
Other F-Series accessories include:
- Keyless entry that locks and unlocks doors via key fob
- A backup alarm
- Block heater and receptacle that warms engine coolant for efficient cold engine start
- Power and heated mirrors that prevent fogging and ice buildup
- High-visibility seat belts
- Seat covers that protect against wear and tear
- Aluminum wheels
- Air suspension
- Chrome grille
- Touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Mobileye passive safety system that alerts drivers of forward collision, pedestrian collision, lane departure, and more.
TRIPLE THREAT
Applications that require a box truck, reefer, stake bed, or others that operate in the city, congested neighborhoods, or areas requiring a tight turning radius would fare well with an Isuzu F-Series’ low cab forward design. But when you add the proven Cummins B6.7 engine with an Allison automatic transmission—well that’s a recipe for a pretty incredible work truck. Let the triple threat of an Isuzu, Allison, and Cummins work to your advantage.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jade Brasher is the editor of Modern Work Truck Solutions magazine. Reach her at jade@mwsmag.com. Find out more about the Isuzu F-Series featuring the Cummins B6.7 engine and Allison automatic transmission, visit www.isuzucv.com.
