Suzuki Motor Corporation; JATCO Ltd; CNH America LLC (USA), Mazda Motor Corporation; UD Trucks Corporation; Isuzu Motors Limited; Kayaba Industry Co., Gearless traction drive company Torotrak PLC has signed a cooperation and licence agreement with Univance Corporation, a leading developer and manufacturer of passenger and industrial vehicle transmission units and other automotive parts headquartered in Japan. MORE

The Reach van, with its four-cylinder, 3.0-liter Isuzu diesel engine, demonstrates a 35% fuel efficiency improvement over traditional vehicles in the FedEx Express fleet. FedEx Express, a unit of FedEx Corp. has added 1,900 lightweight, composite-body Reach vehicles from Spartan Motors , a division of Utilimaster, to its fleet. MORE

The vehicles are manufactured by Anaheim-based Isuzu Commercial Truck of America Inc. The California Energy Commission approved funding of $2,604,000 to help bring more buses and trucks powered by natural gas to the state’s highways. The awards are expected to support the purchase of more than 125 new natural gas vehicles; funding comes from the Commission’s Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program. MORE

Isuzu D201 35 hp diesel engine (left) and the LiquidPiston 40 hp X2 Prototype (right). Click to enlarge. LiquidPiston, Inc. MORE

This request by the Alliance echoes a similar, earlier request by Global Automakers, the trade association representing the US divisions of 12 international automakers (Aston Martin, Ferrari, Honda, Hyundai, Isuzu, Kia, Maserati, McLaren, Nissan, Subaru, Suzuki and Toyota). MORE

In the experiments, the researchers used a 425 cm 3 single-cylinder engine based on a GM/Isuzu 1.7 MORE

Isuzu Motors Limited and General Motors Company signed a formal agreement jointly to develop a next-generation midsize pickup. Isuzu and GM previously developed two generations of pickups that have been popular in more than 100 countries around the world due to their strong performance, fuel efficiency and durability. The project is intended to strengthen the light commercial vehicle business of GM and Isuzu, whose pickup represents the basis for the new model. MORE

Comparison of DSF fuel economy gains and costs with competing technologies, from Tula’s 2013 SAE paper. Wilcutts et al. Click to enlarge. MORE

Phil also held leadership positions at Chrysler and Isuzu and most recently was the CEO of Coda Automotive. Pinnacle Engines, developer of a highly efficient 4-stroke, spark-ignited (SI), opposed-piston, sleeve-valve architecture engine ( earlier post ), has appointed five industry leaders to its newly formed Asian Business Advisory Board. Pinnacle Engines also announced closure of its Series C financing, bringing total investment in the company to more than $30 million. MORE

ZeroTruck, a developer and producer of commercial electric trucks, is using Dow Kokam’s large-format lithium-ion battery systems to power fully-electric, Class 3-6 work vehicles based on the Isuzu N series chassis—a flexible medium duty truck platform. The Isuzu N series chassis design enables ZeroTruck to be modified for utility, dry freight, stake bed, tow, sweeper, and refuse body type applications. MORE

and Isuzu Motors Ltd., Sketches of SIM-Drive concepts. Click to enlarge. SIM-Drive Corp. , a spin-off from Keio University (home of the Ellica, earlier post ), announced that 34 companies and municipalities, including automakers Mitsubishi Motors Corp. MORE

will enter talks with Isuzu Motors Ltd. GM is looking to acquire a stake of roughly 10% in Isuzu, according to the report. GM and Isuzu have had an alliance that has waxed and waned since 1971, when GM signed an initial capital agreement with the Japanese company. stake in Isuzu in 2006. stake, and cooperates with Isuzu in its operations in Thailand. If the talks prove fruitful, GM may become Isuzu’s largest shareholder. MORE

Group, the UK-based automotive importer and distributor for Subaru, Isuzu and Daihatsu, has signed an agreement that will see it import vehicles from Chinese auto maker, Great Wall Motor Company Limited, into Europe starting next year. Initially, the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania will be targeted. Then, from 2011, launches in Scandinavia, the UK and Ireland are planned. MORE

Isuzu Commercial Truck of America is supporting the use of B20 (20% biodiesel blend) in all of its new 2011 and forward model year diesel engines, including its four popular N-Series truck models as well as the new Isuzu Reach. Isuzu Commercial Truck is the first Asian manufacturer to approve B20 for US market spec engines. Isuzu Commercial Truck holds a 73–75% market share of the low cab-forward medium-duty truck market in the US. MORE

The Nikkei reports that Isuzu Motors Ltd. The new tie-up will likely be formalized in a meeting in the US late this month between Isuzu President Susumu Hosoi and GM Chairman Daniel F. The two firms will continue their discussions on the possibility of the American company taking a stake in Isuzu again. GM and Isuzu have had an alliance that has waxed and waned since 1971, when GM signed an initial capital agreement with the Japanese company. stake in Isuzu. MORE

Renault; Convergent Science; Cummins; Hino Motors; Isuzu; and Ford Motor Co. Sandia National Laboratories has formed an industry-funded Spray Combustion Consortium to better understand fuel injection by developing modeling tools. Control of fuel sprays is key to the development of clean, affordable fuel-efficient engines. MORE

Wrightspeed made its first conversion kit for the Isuzu NPR. Wrightspeed’s Geared Traction Drive integrates an electric motor, a two-speed gear box and an inverter. Source: Wrightspeed. Click to enlarge. MORE

Addition of 114 Reach composite-body trucks manufactured from advanced materials by Utilimaster on an Isuzu Motors chassis with an appropriately-sized engine. FedEx Express, a unit of FedEx Corp., announced that its vehicle fleet was 16.6% more fuel efficient through FY2011 than it was in 2005. The company has a goal of making the vehicle fleet 20% more efficient by 2020. MORE

Susumu Hosoi, President of Isuzu Motors Ltd., Leading global manufacturers of heavy-duty commercial trucks and engines gathering at the annual Global Commercial Vehicle Industry Meeting endorsed a harmonized global approach as an effective pathway to further improve energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions from commercial vehicles. The manufacturers have been pursuing policy cooperation for a number of years. Earlier post.). MORE

The Duramax is built by GM’s DMAX joint venture with Isuzu.). During the Advanced Powertrain forum at the CAR Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City, Steve Kiefer, GM’s vice president of global powertrain, said that GM will introduce more diesel-engined passenger vehicles in the US. For the US market, GM currently offers only a 2.0L turbo diesel for the Cruze and the 6.6L V8 Duramax for the Silverado and Sierra HD pickups. MORE

GM and Isuzu have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to start negotiations towards jointly developing a next generation pick-up truck. Moving forward, both companies will discuss specifics regarding the project, according to statements from both companies. The Nikkei had earlier reported that some agreement on pickup truck cooperation was in the works. Earlier post.). Brief MORE

and Isuzu Motors Ltd., Nikkei. SIM-Drive Corp., a spin-off from Keio University ( earlier post ), unveiled electric vehicle capable of traveling 333 km (207 miles) on a fully charged battery on the JC08 cycle. In January 2010, SIM-Drive announced that 34 companies and municipalities, including automakers Mitsubishi Motors Corp. were forming a consortium to develop a new electric car prototype, with mass-market sales being the end goal. MORE

Mazda Motor Corporation and Isuzu Motors Limited have reached a basic agreement on next-generation pick-up truck collaboration, under which Isuzu will produce next-generation pick-up trucks for Mazda, based on Isuzu’s pick-up truck model, for sale worldwide, with the exception of North America. The partners said that the deal will allow Isuzu to enhance its product competitiveness and Mazda to strengthen its product line-up and maintain own-brand market coverage. MORE

announced its XL3 Hybrid Electric Drive System is now available on the Reach commercial van from Isuzu and Utilimaster. inch wheelbase and the high efficiency 3.0L, 150 HP, Isuzu DOHC I-4 diesel engine. XL Hybrids, Inc. This marks the first diesel-powered vehicle with the XL3 powertrain. Earlier post.). MORE

Ahead of its spring launch, Isuzu will reveal the new generation D-Max at the CV Show at the end of April. Along with a fresh set of cosmetic and feat MORE

announced that Isuzu commercial vehicle dealers can now select IMPCO as a ship-through option more quickly to convert or to modify gasoline-powered NPR-HD (14,500-lb. As part of the ship-through process, Isuzu trucks built at the Charlotte, Michigan plant will be transported to IMPCO’s OEM Automotive conversion facility in Union City, Indiana for CNG system installation. IMPCO Technologies, Inc., a subsidiary of Fuel Systems Solutions, Inc., MORE

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In the group of smaller producers, Isuzu showed a noticeable improvement. Sustainable Value Margin—the ratio of Sustainable Value to sales—for each of the evaluated manufacturers. BMW and Toyota are consistent leaders in sustainable value. Click to enlarge. MORE

inch wheelbase and the high efficiency 3.0L, 150 hp, Isuzu DOHC I-4 diesel engine. XL Hybrids, Inc. has been awarded test funding from the US Department of Energy (DOE) Small Business Vouchers Pilot (SBV). MORE

Isuzu’s range of pick-up trucks have long had a reputation for toughness and durability, and with a new D-Max arriving in Spring drivers will get to e. Isuzu D-Max Pick-ups MORE

Not to mention more than Mazda, Mitsubishi, Suzuki, and Isuzu--the last two of which no longer sell cars in the U.S.? Is startup electric-car maker Tesla really worth more than century-old Italian carmaker Fiat? The Italian maker sells roughly 2 million cars a year globally (plus 1.6 million more from Chrysler, which it controls). Tesla hopes to MORE

Millions of this type of injector have been used since the mid 1990s by Navistar, Ford, Caterpillar, and Isuzu.). Alternative Fuel Technology, LLC has been awarded a Phase 1 SBIR contract (W56HZV-10-C-0200) from the US Army to concept design and demonstrate an ultra-high pressure, intensified fuel injection system for use with jet propellant (JP-8) fuel. The goal of this Phase 1 project is to demonstrate an injection system that can produce 40,000 psi (2750 bar). MORE

Fujitsu Limited and Isuzu Motors reached an agreement to conduct joint research on future technologies with regard to safety, comfort and the environment, to be applied to the commercial vehicles Isuzu markets worldwide. Fujitsu and Isuzu have a relationship that goes back to 1990 when they formed the joint venture, TRANSTRON Inc., MORE

Compatible models include Chevy Express/GMC Savana vans, Ford Transit vans, Ford and GM Cutaway/Stripped Chassis including low floor shuttle bus modified chassis, Class 5-6 Ford F59 Stripped Chassis, and the Reach commercial diesel van by Isuzu and Utilimaster. XL Hybrids , Inc., MORE

Isuzu Motors and All Nippon Airways (ANA). The company has been investigating the production of biojet from the microalgae Euglena since May 2010 ( earlier post ) and has also partnered with Isuzu in research on next-generation (i.e. Isuzu will evaluate the renewable diesel, and ANA will evaluate the biojet. Japan-based euglena Co. MORE

The Nikkei reports that Isuzu Motors Ltd., Isuzu will halt development of a next-generation diesel for Opel AG. Isuzu is currently in talks with GM to pull out of their Polish joint venture, in which it owns a roughly 40% stake, according to the report. Mitsubishi Motors Corp. and Mazda Motor Corp. are calling off joint development projects and procurement deals with partners in Europe as a result of the region’s debt problems. MORE

GM and Honda earlier collaborated in a powertrain cross-supply arrangement in 1999 under which Honda manufactured 50,000 V-6 engines for the Saturn VUE and Honda received diesel engines from GM’s Isuzu affiliate for use in Europe. MORE

Global Automakers, the trade association representing the US divisions of 12 international automakers (Aston Martin, Ferrari, Honda, Hyundai, Isuzu, Kia, Maserati, McLaren, Nissan, Subaru, Suzuki and Toyota), has called on the EPA either to withdraw its proposed determination on MY 2022-2025 light duty vehicle greenhouse gas standards or to extend the comment period. MORE

GM owns 60 percent and Isuzu owns 40 percent of the joint venture. The 2 millionth Duramax 6.6L V-8 turbo-diesel engine has rolled off the line at the DMAX plant in Moraine, Ohio. Groundbreaking for the DMAX, Ltd. plant began in 1998, with the first engine rolling off the line July 17, 2000. DMAX, Ltd. was established in 1998. DMAX makes the Duramax diesel engines for heavy-duty Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickup trucks. MORE

General Motors and Isuzu Motors reached an agreement on a US commercial vehicle collaboration, allowing Isuzu to strengthen its product lineup and GM to expand its commercial vehicle portfolio. Isuzu will produce low cab forward (LCF) models for GM, based off of the Isuzu N-Series. MORE

Alliance AutoGas is also developing a Ford Explorer police vehicle, a Ford Transit (close to EPA certification) and an Isuzu NPR with the same Bi Fuel Autogas System warranty and efficient plug and play system installation. MORE

Telogis also builds its technologies into vehicles and equipment from leading manufacturers including Ford, GM, Hino, Isuzu, Mack, Volvo and Manitowoc Cranes, eliminating the need for hardware installations. Verizon Communications Inc. signed an agreement to purchase Telogis, Inc. MORE

The GM-Isuzu joint venture DMAX, Ltd. GM owns 60% and Isuzu owns 40% of the venture that makes the Duramax diesel for heavy-duty trucks. will invest $60 million in its Ohio diesel engine plant to make design changes that meet future emissions requirements. Established in 1998, DMAX has produced almost 1.6 million engines since opening in 2000. DMAX, Ltd. has invested $760 million in the DMAX facility since 2000. DMAX is home to the Duramax 6.6L MORE