Utilimaster » Reach
Isuzu Commercial Truck of America, Inc., distributor of America’s best-selling low-cab-forward trucks, and Utilimaster, Inc., a category leading manufacturer of specialty chassis and vehicles, unveiled the commercial step-vah Reach™ at The Work Truck Show 2011 in Indianapolis. Utilimaster Corporation designed the van body on the chassis of Isuzu NPR ECO-MAX, powered by well known Isuzu's 3.0-liter 4JJ1-TC turbocharged diesel engine providing 150 hp. These van has a 35 percent better fuel economy than a traditional commercial van. The engine has a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology, which injects Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) into the hot exhaust stream to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by over 85 percent. “The Reach is the ideal walk-in van for today’s market because its Isuzu powertrain offers incredible fuel efficiency and proven durability, and its frame, suspension, steering and braking systems are true commercial grade, not just beefed passenger van components” said Shaun Skinner, executive vice president and general manager of Isuzu Commercial Truck of America. “Today’s fleet and vocational buyers are looking for low cost of ownership, and the Reach lives up to its name—it reaches a new standard in low cost of ownership that no other commercial van can match.” The stripped chassis’s engine has been relocated to minimize engine protrusion into the cab, making inside movement in and out of the front seat much easier for improved productivity. Likewise, the driver seat position and numerous component locations have been revised to accommodate the walk-in van body. The Isuzu's chassis has 12,000-lb. GVWR. The Reach will be offered in two wheelbases—134 and 151 inches—and three body lengths—10, 12 and 14 feet. With an interior up to 27 inches higher than a conventional Ford or GM van and 10 inches wider than a Sprinter van, the cargo area can offer 450, 540 or 630 cubic feet of storage, depending on wheelbase and body length selected. The streamlined shape—11 percent more aerodynamic than comparable vehicles—improves fuel efficiency while it reduces interior noise. All body panels have been designed for quick removal and replacement so that, if repairs are necessary, the vehicle can easily and quickly be restored to its original condition.
