New Isuzu N Series is here

Isuzu Trucks has formally announced the release of the latest N Series which is being touted as the safest Isuzu truck ever developed for the Australian market.

On sale this month, the latest incarnation of Isuzu’s perennially popular 4x2 N Series trucks will offer the next generation of truck safety with the introduction of Isuzu Intelligent Safety.

And while engines and gearboxes will remain basically the same, there other changes which make this evolution of the N Series quite significant.

Combined with improved cabin appointments, the new N Series range also boasts an increase in maximum towing weights.

All new N Series trucks receive at least 500kg increases in towing capacity — up to 4500kg rating for models with 4HK1 engines (NPR, NQR and NPS models), and 4000kg rating for all other models in the range. Matching this increase, Isuzu dealerships will offer genuine towbars and a selection of 50 mm or 70 mm tow-balls rated to the truck’s capacity as an optional accessory at extra cost.

The latest generation safety features in all Isuzu N Series 4x2 trucks are found in a new Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS).

Isuzu says the new ADAS has been carefully designed to observe changing traffic conditions and assist drivers in maintaining a safe distance from other road users, pedestrians, cyclists, and objects. It all works to help avoid collisions with a combination of warning alerts and automations that activate when an imminent crash or potentially dangerous change in driving environment is detected.

Isuzu’s ADAS features include Advanced Emergency Braking system (AEB) with Forward Collision Warning (FCW), lane departure warning system (LDW), Traffic Movement Warning (TMW), Distance Warning System (DWS) and Auto Lighting System (ALS)

The eyes behind Isuzu’s new ADAS is the highly effective Hitachi Stereo 3D Camera, proven to be incredibly accurate in object detection, as well as speed and depth perception (regardless of day or night operation).

Unlike other trucks in the market that offer a single camera attached to the windscreen (usually at the top) and a radar sensor mounted lower on the cabin face or bumper, Isuzu has mounted the dual-lens Hitachi camera inside the cabin in a central dashboard position that does not obstruct driver view and is not attached to the windscreen.

According to the manufacturer, this gives the camera a superior field of vision to detect lower-height objects while in motion (small children for example) a critical advantage for those working in built-up areas.

Coming as no stranger to the Australian truck market, emergency braking and lane departure warning systems have become an accepted and well-received addition to safety suites.

Isuzu’s Advanced Emergency Braking system with Forward Collision Warning (FCW) works by way of the dual optical sensor camera, which monitors the environment in front of the truck. It can detect and determine the distance of three-dimensional objects such as vehicles, pedestrians, bicycles and other objects that appear in front of the truck.

Under normal operating conditions the system is designed to avoid a collision with a speed difference up to 50km/h and can reduce the risk of a collision impact for higher speed differentials, even at night.

With this model, Isuzu also introduces a unique feature, the Distance Warning System (DWS). This is designed to ensure the truck operator is travelling at a safe distance from the vehicle ahead.

Allowing drivers to pre-set a desired minimum distance, the DWS will alert drivers with a subtle visual warning on the dash when an unsafe distance is detected. The system has been programmed to only activate when speeds exceed 30km/h, which makes it useful for highway driving and prevents warnings in traffic.

There’s also a Traffic Movement Warning (TMW) that monitors stationary vehicles ahead and will alert the driver with a warning sound when forward traffic movement is detected.

Rounding-out the Isuzu Intelligent Safety suite in the new N Series 4x2 range is an Auto Lighting System (ALS) which functions automatically when selected by the driver, adjusting headlight and taillight brightness to meet changing outside lighting conditions, providing drivers with optimum lighting for safe driving.

Isuzu Australia Limited National Sales Manager, Les Spaltman noted new N Series trucks were built to support operators across a gamut of applications, but that urban operators would find particular benefit in Isuzu’s ADAS.

“Isuzu’s data shows that most businesses needing a light-duty truck operate in urban settings, including freight movement in cities and residential areas, business-to-customer service or delivery, and operators needing their trucks on site within metro areas.

“It’s also in these dense, high-traffic situations that the most unfortunate collisions occur, with our data also showing pedestrian and cyclist accidents with trucks accounting for the largest percentage of serious injury and death.

“Linked to the dual-camera, our ADAS is designed to be an extra set of eyes on the road, helping the driver monitor everything from other road users, pedestrians and cyclists, through to changing traffic conditions," Mr Spaltman said.

Along with the safety enhancements comes a host of additional updates to the new N Series, making for a fairly comprehensive renewal of Isuzu’s most popular range.

Additional updates include an interior revamp in seat cover material and cabin appointments, and a new exterior headlight assembly with prominent fog lights giving the new range a distinctly different forward appearance.

Behind the dashboard also comes a new CAN converter circuit and connector, making it easy to fit a fleet management or telematics system.

Other additions include a customisable speed limiter which can be set at the dealership, new cab-tilt warning device, and long-awaited suspension seats in selected narrow-cab models.

Customers can also expect to see new products hitting Isuzu’s Ready-to-Work range, with Tipper and Tradepack line-ups expanded, plus additional models slated for 2022 release.

“We are incredibly pleased to offer our customers the next generation of safety in light-duty trucking with our updated N Series range,” commented Mr Spaltman.

“With confidence, we can say these are the safest, most advanced, diesel-powered light-duty Japanese trucks in the Australian market.

“In terms of work-smart features to keep drivers safe and comfortable, and capacity to get the job done, we believe operators will see a huge difference between owning a new Isuzu N Series truck compared with any other similar truck out there,” he concluded.