Isuzu’s stylish new shaped 3.5 tonne NKR range has resulted from the close co-operation between Isuzu Truck UK and the company’s assembly operation in Portugal, with the design brief to build a light weight fully bodied truck, specifically for the UK market. From the production of their first truck in 1918, Isuzu Motors has become one of the world leaders in the design and manufacture of light and medium commercial vehicles. There are some 27 million trucks sold in 140 countries, including some of the most inhospitable environments in the world, stands testament to the calibre of the trucks themselves. Launched in 1996, Isuzu Truck (UK) currently offers the N-Series range of trucks through their 65 franchised outlets.The 3.0-litre diesel engine fitted with a turbocharger and intercooler will produce 130bhp at 3,400rpm but the best bit is the 280Nm of torque that’s marshalled at a usefully low 1,700rpm. The NKR excels in urban environments with an extremely tight turning circle this is a very compact and easily manoeuvrable truck, handling and driving more like a van than a small truck.
The NKR trucks are forward control vehicles which basically means that the steering rack is located in a position forward of the front wheels. The driver, therefore, is seated above the front axel. This layout produces a number of key advantages over the conventional arrangement found in light trucks converted from panel vans. The absence of a bonnet in front of the driver also creates excellent visibility which, again, aids manoeuvrability. With the engine located out of the way under the seats, space in the cab is impressive. Ease of cab access and the convenience of automated transmission make this the perfect machine for urban, multi-drop or stop start operations. Five years ago automatic gearboxes were a rarely offered in light commercial vehicles and when they were made available by a manufacturer; customers rarely took much notice. Today, systems such as Isuzu Truck’s Easyshift are becoming more widely available and more popular. What we have is a semi-automatic gearbox which gives the driver of selecting fully automatic mode or sliding the lever across its gate to make clutchless manual changes himself. The advantages of the system are obvious in urban settings where traffic lights, junctions and congestion mean lots of gear changes are required. The system should also reduce wear and tear on parts and fuel economy may also benefit.
Big payloads are what this small truck is all about. Their primary function is to carry as much as possible while still manoeuvrable enough to cope with narrow lanes and busy urban streets. The NKR has the hefty load requirement well wrapped-up and you can get between 1,180kg and 1,400kg on the back of your flatbed drop-side model depending on your choice of cabin and wheelbase. For more specialist type of operations involving more complex bodywork such as refrigerated, boxes (including Luton type) and curtainsiders the NKR range is available with differing wheelbases as a chassis cab for just such custom-built requirements.
Its also worth noting that Isuzu Truck are fast building a reputation for their innovative approach to customer care. They offer comprehensive back-up with the focus placed on ensuring that customers can always get through to speak to a person with the power to actually do something about any problem. The Managing Directors direct telephone number is even printed on their website! This is one of the benefits of having a comparatively small-scale operation but its striking a chord with truck operators and it could be the thing that swings more buying decisions in Isuzu’s favour.
