IPC and CMC executives posing with the Isuzu NHR w/ i-VAN body option during the ceremonial photo opportunity. From left, IPC SVP Arthur Balmadrid, IPC EVP Takashi Tomita, IPC President Ryoji Yamazaki, CMC President Raphael Juan and CMC Board of Director Rommel Juan.
DURING these trying times, any business needs the most reliable of partners. One that can be counted on to move people, goods or services whenever and wherever necessary. One that will not cause any downtime at critical moments. And most importantly, one that is cost-effective and profit-generating.
Isuzu Philippines Corp. (IPC) —true to its promise to the motoring public that it is “your responsible partner”— together with Centro Manufacturing Corporation (CMC), introduce the perfect entrepreneurial ally even in the most competitive business environment. Born out of this partnership is the Centro-developed i-VAN which ingeniously transforms the best-selling N-Series light-duty truck into a more versatile, more functional tool for any service-oriented business.
Welcome the new Isuzu NHR w/ i-VAN body option, a comfortable vehicle that can seat 12 or 16 or even 18 full-sized adults and can even accommodate cargo of 1.5 tons. Powered by the proven 2.8-liter 4JB1-TC with intercooler diesel engine, the NHR commands 91 ps power and 20.0 kg-m of torque, thanks in part to Isuzu’s tried and tested direct-injection technology. A smooth five-speed manual transmission with overdrive complements the fuel-efficient 4JB1. In the 2010 Isuzu Challenge edition, the NHR yielded an impressive 12.965 kilometers for every liter under normal driving conditions. It is also Euro 2 compliant.
The Isuzu NHR already boasts 3-point emergency locking retractor seat belt; fuel lid with key lock; highly rigid frame; 2-jet nozzle with intermittent wiper; 90-degree door opening for easy ingress and egress; anti-slip aluminum step; power steering and tilting; all-around visibility, laminated green wind shield glass; and, large side view mirrors. Ride is made more passenger-friendly with the improved flex-ride suspension to swing the ride balance toward comfort.
Its body is locally fabricated and assembled by CMC, the first ISO-certified Filipino truck body builder in the country today.
Inside, its individual fabric-covered seats with assist grips and pockets have thick cushions. This is unlike the vinyl-covered, center-facing bench seats found in most shuttle vans. A factory-installed airconditioning system extends up to the rear, equally distributing cool air to the entire passenger cabin. Music is delivered by a four-speaker AM/FM stereo system with an in-dash CD player. Even the floors are fully-covered, a touch of luxury unheard of in other shuttle buses. Handsome alloy wheels with 225/70 R15 radial tires round off the exterior.
The Isuzu NHR w/ i-VAN body option maintains the same NHR gross vehicle weight of 3.8 tons. Over-all length is 5,025 mm and over-all height is 2,092 mm—still class 1 on major tollways.
The Isuzu NHR w/ i-VAN body option are available in different applications: passenger van, cargo van, school bus, and ambulance, among other variants.
“The local landscape is indeed changing, and as transport needs become more demanding, we want to be the companion that working motorists can rely on,” said IPC President Ryoji Yamazaki during the media launch last July 29 at Makati Shangri-La. “The Isuzu NHR w/ i-VAN body option is our answer to the growing requirements of Filipinos when it comes to people and cargo transport. It evolved from the Isuzu NHR platform that is known for its world- class durability, reliability, and fuel efficiency. The Isuzu N-Series light- duty trucks have been dominating global, as well as domestic, sales. In the Philippines, it has been topping the Category III, or light-duty segment, since 1999. This only proves the continued trust and confidence of Filipinos in the Isuzu brand.”
Raphael Juan, President of CMC, expressed, “We are so confident in the i-VAN that we already invested in an entirely new production line–complete with the necessary facilities dedicated solely to its production and assembly–in our Maguyam, Cavite plant. Our company’s ISO certification will ensure that our plant will produce quality Centro i-VANs. We are even raising the bar a bit more by currently pursuing a higher TS 16949 accreditation. In all of these pursuits for product excellence, I am sure that the buying public will be the ultimate beneficiaries of our company’s locally-assembled quality products like the Centro i-VAN.”
Because the Isuzu NHR w/ i-VAN body option is based on the most popular light-duty trucks in the country, count on it to change the passenger service landscape.
In Metro Manila, Isuzu dealerships can be found in EDSA Balintawak, Quezon Avenue, Commonwealth, Pasig, Manila, Makati and Alabang. In the provinces, Isuzu dealerships are located in Isabela, Pangasinan, Cabanatuan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Cavite, Batangas, San Pablo, Bacolod, Iloilo, Mandaue, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, and General Santos.
