Isuzu Motors Limited has just pulled the covers off the seventh-generation Elf light-duty truck. Also known here in the Philippines as the N-Series trucks, the new model will be receiving major upgrades including advanced safety technology, 16 years after the sixth-generation first appeared in showrooms in 2007. In addition, a Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) version was also introduced, the very first EV commercial vehicle from Isuzu.
Starting off with the exterior, the Elf is getting a new face. The grille design is adopted from the smaller passenger truck the D-Max, meanwhile, the vertical headlights which are meant to reference Isuzu’s logo are retained but now come with futuristic styling. Inside, the cabin has been reworked with driver comfort and fatigue mitigation being the priority. The doors now have semi-grip type door handles which could be accessed from both the lower and upper sides of the door to improve ease of access. Isuzu has also given the Elf other quality-of-life changes like a smaller steering wheel and an enhanced pedal piston position to give drivers a more optimal driving position.
In order to boost the Elf’s efficiency, Isuzu introduced the newly-developed Isuzu Smooth Intelligent Transmission (ISIM). The ISIM is a 9-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) which, according to Isuzu, offers improved fuel economy when it is mated to the 4JZ1 diesel engine. The 9-speed ISIM transmission is claimed to keep RPMs low for better fuel efficiency and reduces noise to alleviate driving fatigue. Isuzu says that the dual-clutch system allows for quick shift changes, reducing torque loss and mitigating shift shock during gear changes.
Isuzu has also equipped the Elf with advanced safety systems and driver safety features, these include improved stereo camera performance, a short-range millimeter-wave radar, and a driver status monitor. The entire truck is equipped with nine new safety features including a pre-collision braking system, a blind-spot monitoring system, and a full-speed range adaptive cruise control, a first for a light-duty truck made in Japan.
The new BEV version of the Elf is claimed by Isuzu to be able to fit five battery packs capable of carrying 20 kWh each, what this means in terms of the truck’s range is unknown however as Isuzu has not mentioned it in its release.
The new Elf will be available in Japan this 2023 followed closely by the F-Series truck which is scheduled to come out in the summer. Since Isuzu has a commanding presence in the commercial vehicle market here in the Philippines, this new version of the N-Series will likely be available in the country soon. Unfortunately, we can’t say the same thing for the BEV version of the Elf so we’ll have to wait for Isuzu’s announcement on that.
