Truck & Bus News talked to Isuzu Malaysia to find out more about their new products in applications, improvements, fuel efficiency, among other aspects.
The Various Applications of Isuzu New Elf and Forward Truck Models
To increase its brand’s appeal and expand its offerings, Isuzu Malaysia launched several variants of its Elf and Forward commercial trucks in July 2019. This included the 6-speed Automated Manual Transmission (AMT) on selected models and a 19-tonne Forward variant.
Truck & Bus News met with Isuzu Malaysia Commercial Vehicle Division Senior Sales Engineer Kunihisa Nagata and Senior Manager of Product Management Tian Soon Choon recently to find out more about these new products in applications, improvements, fuel efficiency, market response, among other aspects.
“We received very encouraging response from the market after the official launch. Many commented that the new Elf models had better fuel consumption, especially the ‘smoother’ models that feature a secondary ECONO Mode with which the driver could select to automatically change gears at lower engine revolutions, providing even greater fuel savings,” said Nagata.
Following the launch of the new 2019 line-up, Isuzu Malaysia now offers 19 Elf variants of various tonnages and drivetrain, covering 4-wheelers, 6-wheelers, 4x4s and crew-cabs. “This allows us to offer truck operators a wider selection of variants, from which they could select the appropriate Isuzu vehicle for their operation and transportation needs. For them to find the ‘right fit’, it is important for us to help them understand our truck range, the features of each range and models as well as the different applications.”
Larger Alternator to Better Meet Cold Chain Logistics Demand
Isuzu vehicles, Tian said, were suitable for any industry. However, he pointed out that the new Isuzu NPR75, NLR85 and NPR81 came standard with upgraded alternators to provide a bigger capacity, making them especially suitable for the cold chain industry. The quality of chilled and frozen products could only be maintained under temperature-controlled settings. As for medicines and pharma products, it could be a matter of life and death. With the right system and reliable vehicle in place, one could achieve significant savings in reduced product loss and higher customer satisfaction.
The Isuzu NPR75 and NLR85, he stressed, had the highest ACG capacity in the class of 24V/90A as well as the NPR81 with 24V/80A in the local market. “Previously, customers that required bigger ACG capacity had to send their trucks for modification. We have upgraded the alternator to shorten the lead time in delivery.”
Also new is the Elf NLR 4-wheeler with a new wheelbase of 3,345mm, which he said was the longest in the standard wheelbase class. Before this, Nagata said, it was local UBS without warranty but now it was factory fitted, no authority approval was required and there was a warranty by Isuzu. No additional modification cost was involved and there was only a standardised cost in the chassis price.
Having the longest and bigger rear body in the 4-wheel class, he pointed out, allowed the Elf NLR 4 to carry more volume and help the operator reduce running costs such as fuel and toll.
“This is our response to the growth of e-commerce Business-to-Consumer (B2C) and Customer-to-Customer (C2C) platforms that demand more courier service and logistics trucks with bigger cargo space for light parcels.”
Benefits of Isuzu Smoother
As for the Elf NLR 130 and NPR 150 Smoother models, Tian said they were Isuzu’s solution to the shortage of skilled drivers for manual transmission trucks.
“These trucks are fitted with the Smoother 6-speed Automated Manual Transmission (AMT) and could be easily driven by unskilled and new drivers as both the decision to perform a gear shift and the actuation of clutch/gears are done automatically without the intervention of the driver. Isuzu’s Smoother selects the most appropriate gear for a given driving condition, ensuring that engine revolutions remain within the optimal range, thus extending the life of the engine and drivetrain.”
According to Nagata, Smoother models were targeted at courier service, refrigerated, or general cargo transportation fleet operators for local delivery that encountered many start-stops and traffic jam conditions.
Nagata took pride in Isuzu Malaysia for being the first automobile company that offered AMT in the Malaysian light duty truck segment. AMT, he explained, combined the advantages of a manual transmission (MT) and automatic transmission (AT).
“The price difference between our MT and Smoother models is not that significant, making it worthwhile to invest in. The benefits are many. Our Smoother models could reduce downtime and maintenance cost related to clutch change and adjustment as they do not have a clutch disc. Besides the periodic fluid coupling oil change, there is no need to dismantle the transmission to check clutch wear and no clutch replacement is required, saving a lot of time. In addition, fuel consumption could be reduced even with unskilled and new drivers, thanks to the secondary ECONO mode mentioned earlier and gear shifts being controlled by an ECU. Drivers too would find the Smoother models a boon and less fatiguing, enabling them to better retain concentration throughout their workday.”
Free of Charge Shoki-Ryudo
He revealed that the company was still waiting for market response on the Smoother models as their effectiveness could not be felt immediately, but after a period of time.
“We would know how effective our Isuzu Smoother models are in helping our customers reduce their cost of ownership and operation as well as in hiring drivers through Shoki-Ryudo activities that are conducted by our Sales Engineers free of charge. Shoki-Ryudo is a truck initial usage monitoring process to ensure the vehicle purchased is operating in good condition without breakdowns and providing the necessary improvements. It is for Isuzu all models including Elf, Forward, Giga. ”
Isuzu Forward with beefier chassis and Higher Performance
Meanwhile, the Isuzu Forward range, he continued, which was a favourite among long haulers was further improved with a beefier chassis and higher performance. Responding to the Malaysian new weight restriction order 2018 that allowed higher Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) for medium and heavy duty trucks, Isuzu Malaysia upgraded the GVW of its FVR300, FVR240 and FVR Auto to 19 tonnes to meet market demand.
“The upgraded GVW capacity from 18 tonnes previously to 19 tonnes allows owners of the FVR300 to maximise each load and reduce transportation cost. Easy manoeuvrability on suburban roads and highways also made it ideal for long and intra-city hauling, eliminating the need to break bulk for urban pick up and deliveries. The front axle capacity is increased to 7,500kg for superior carrying capacity.”
Apart from that, the enhanced 300hp Euro 3 engine with 986Nm of torque, which was the highest in its class, he said, gave the FVR300 model superior performance for severe operation and over Malaysian road conditions, particularly on hilly terrain. He recommended this model for transport service and poultry carriers as well as those who were considering a 6×2 conversion.
“Equipped with a new Eaton transmission, the FVR300 range now uses nine forward speeds including a ‘crawler’ gear for severe terrain. The new transmission ratios better match the engine’s improved performance characteristics, giving the FVR more flexible performance while engine revolutions remain more frequently in the optimal zone,” added Tian.
Isuzu Malaysia chose to retain the FVR240 model in the line-up for those who require large cargo capacity but haul less weighty bulk. It is suitable for the transport and courier service industry as well as cold chain industry as a refrigerated truck. Safe stopping force and firm parking on a slope are among its strengths.
As for the Forward Auto, Nagata pointed out that it had been in the market for about 4 years. It was widely used as garbage compactors, road service trucks and aircraft refuelling vehicles. The new range now came with a slightly longer wheelbase – 5,060mm – that he explained was to accommodate the automatic bin lifter.
Further upgrades to the Forward line-up included a new chassis, Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) with full air brake and a larger capacity alternator that could better meet the power demands of high-amperage equipment.
The good old models that were still maintained were the Isuzu Giga heavy duty truck range, Nagata said, which were for tipper usage, while the Isuzu Prime Mover is for long haul logistics application.
With the new 2019 line-up on stream, he said the company was aiming at 40 per cent of the local total market share. “We currently occupy more than 35 per cent of total market share and hope to achieve our target with the new offerings that are intended specifically to meet current market needs and requirements.”
近距离接触全新五十铃Elf 和Forward卡车车型
马来亚五十铃为了提升其品牌吸引力和供应，在2019年7月推出了Elf 和Forward商用车系的好几个新车型。这包括在某些特定的车款上配备6速手自排和19吨Forward 款型。
《卡客车新闻》近日与五十铃马来西亚商用车部门高级销售工程师永田晋久（Kunihisa Nagata）和产品管理高级经理陈顺春见面，以了解更多有关这些新产品的应用、改善、燃油效益及市场反应等。
“在正式的发布会后，市场反应令人感到鼓舞。许多业者表示全新的Elf车款更加省油，特别是配备二级Econo 模式的 ‘Smoother’车款 ，让司机能够在引擎转速较低时选择自动换档 ，带来更大的燃油节省。”永田晋久表示。
自2019年全新系列推出以后，马来西亚五十铃目前拥有19种Elf车型，包含不同的吨位和传输系统，覆盖4轮、6轮、4X4及Crew-cab。“这样一来，我们就能为业者提供更广泛的车型，他们也能从中根据他们的营运和运输需求，选择真正适合他们的五十铃车辆。然而，只有协助他们了解我们的卡车系列，每一个车型系列的特点，以及不同的应用，才能帮助他们找到最适合他们营运需求的车辆 。”
更大的交流发动机，更好地满足冷链物流需求
陈顺春说，五十铃车辆适用于各种行业。然而，他指出五十铃NPR75、NLR85 及NPR81标配较大的交流发动机，拥有更大的电力，使它们特别适合冷链行业。冰鲜和冷藏的产品，只能在设定的温控下才能保鲜，而药物和医药产品则可能关乎生死。有了合适的系统和可靠的车辆，就能降低产品损失和获得更高的客户满意度。
他强调，五十铃NPR75和NLR85，在本地的24V90A 级别中拥有最高的ACG容量。“过去，需要更高ACG容量的客户，必须将卡车送去改装。我们推出了升级版的交流发动机，缩短交货时间。”
另一个新品是 配备 3，345毫米长轴距的Elf NLR 4轮卡车，他说该车型是目前标准轴距中长度最长的卡车。永田晋久说，在这之前的轴距都是由本地车身制造商自行加长，没有任何保修期，但现在是原工厂装配，五十铃提供保修。因此，客户只需支付标准的底盘价格，不需要获得有关当局的批准。
他指出，在4轮卡车级别中拥有最长的轴距和较大的后车身，使Elf NLR4 拥有更高的装载量，协助营运者降低运行成本如燃油和通行费。
“随着企业对消费者（B2C）电子商务发展和客户对客户（C2C）平台的不断增长，业者要求拥有更大货舱的卡车，来提供轻包裹快递和物流服务。而这款卡车，便是我们的回应。”
五十铃Smoother的优点
陈顺春表示，至于Elf NLR 130 和NPR 150 Smoother车型，则是五十铃针对市场缺乏熟练手排卡车司机所提供的解决方案。
“熟练或新手司机能够轻易驾驭这些配备Smoother 6 速自手排（AMT）变速箱的卡车。这是因为自手排自带换档功能，离合器/变速器会自行启动 ，无需司机的干预。五十铃Smoother会按照路况，自动切换所需档位，确保引擎转速维持在最佳范围内，延长引擎和传输系统的使用寿命。”
据永田晋久表示，Smoother车型的目标客户是那些经常面对起停和交通拥堵路况的本地快递服务、冷藏或普通货物运输车队营运者。
永田晋久为马来西亚五十铃而自豪，因为它是第一家为本地轻卡提供自手排功能的汽车公司。 他解释说，自手排结合了手排和自动传输系统的优点。
“Smoother 车型与我们的手排卡车的价格差异不大，因此很值得投资。更何况，前者有许多优点。我们的Smoother车型能够降低停机时间和与离合器相关的维修成本如更换和调整离合器，因为它没有离合片。除了定期为液力偶合器换油，无需拆卸变速器来检查离合器的磨耗情况和更换离合器，非常节省时间。此外，我们在前面曾提过二级Econo模式，在该模式下 ECU将控制换档，所以即使是由不熟练和新手司机驾驶这些卡车也能降低油耗。司机也会发现Smoother车型能够提高他们的工作素质，降低疲劳，让他们在工作日的一整天拥有更好的注意力。”
免费的Shoyi-Ryudo
他透露说，该公司仍然在等待市场对Smoother车型的反应，因为它的效率不是立马就能够感受到，而是需要经过一些时日。
“透过我们的销售工程师所提供的免费Shoyi-Ryudo，我们就能知道五十铃Smoother车型如何协助客户降低他们的拥有成本和运营开支，以及聘请司机。Shoyi-Ryudo是一个卡车最初使用监控程序，确保所购买的车子运作良好，没有故障，并提供需要的改进。该服务覆盖五十铃的所有车型，包括Elf，Forward及Giga系列。”
五十铃Forward底盘更坚固，性能更高
与此同时，他继续说，深受长途运输客户喜爱的五十铃Forward系列，如今拥有更坚固的底盘和更高的性能。马来西亚五十铃在政府于2018年公布全新重量限制法令，允许中重型卡车拥有更高的车全重后，将其FVR300，FVR240 及FVR Auto的车全重提高至19吨，以符合市场的需求。
“FVR300的车全重 从过去的18吨提高到现在的19吨，让客户能够将每一次的载荷最大化，降低运输成本。它在郊区和高速公路的易操纵性，使它尤其适合长途和同城运输，无需在城市采取散装货物式提货和交付。前轴承载力提高至7，500公斤，使它拥有超高的承载力。”
此外，他说，它加强的300马力欧3引擎，可输出986 牛顿米扭矩，是该级别中最高的，使FVR300车型在马来西亚严苛刻操作和恶劣路况下，特别是丘陵地带拥有卓越性能。他认为此款型相当适用于运输服务和作为家禽运输车 ，以及那些考虑转换成6X2车型的业者。
“配备全新Eaton传输系统，FVR300 车型如今采用9速变速箱，包含用于恶劣地形的‘爬行’档位。这个全新的传动比能够更好地匹配改善的引擎性能，不仅使FVR的性能更具弹性，又能让引擎的转速经常停留在最佳范围内。”陈顺春补充。
马来西亚五十铃为那些需要较大载货量，但运载轻货物的运输业者保留了FVR240 车型。它适用于运输业和快递服务，以及作为冷藏车。安全刹停和在斜坡上稳固停车是它的其中两个优点。
永田晋久指出，FVR Forward Auto推出市场约有4年。它被广泛用作垃圾压缩车、道路服务卡车及飞机添油车。 该系列如今拥有较长的轴距— 5，060毫米，他解释是为了能够安装上自动垃圾桶升降机。
Forward系列的进一步升级包含全新的底盘、配备全空气制动器的防锁死制动系统（ABS） ，以及更大容量的交流发动机，能够更好地满足高安培设备的电力需求。
永田晋久表示，五十铃仍保持的旧车型是作为自卸车用途的五十铃Giga重卡系列，而五十铃Prime Mover则适合用于长途物流。
随着2019年新车型的推出，他表示公司的目标是在本地市场取得40% 的市占额。“我们如今拥有超过35% 的市占额，我们希望这些专为满足市场需求而设计的新产品，能够协助我们达到这个目标。”
