The first low-cab forward medium-duty trucks in the U.S. market to meet stringent new 2010 emissions regulations returned Nov. 17, 2010 from their nationwide introductory tour. Isuzu Commercial Truck of America, Inc., (ICTA) originally announced the ECO-Advantage Tour - a coast-to-coast showcase for the fuel-sipping, emissions-reducing technology found on the 2011 Isuzu NPR ECO-MAX - when the trucks departed Santa Ana, Calif., Sept. 7, 2010.

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Two upfitted versions of the Isuzu NPR ECO-MAX visited more than 200 Isuzu truck dealers during the tour. The lightweight ECO-MAX Tool Pro was upfitted with a recyclable aluminum utility body engineered by The Reading Group, LLC. The streamlined ECO-MAX Aero Body featured an aerodynamic van body designed by Supreme Corporation.

Both ECO-MAX trucks are powered by Isuzu's clean, efficient, and powerful 3.0L dual overhead camshaft (DOHC) turbocharged diesel engine, engineered to achieve 20-percent better fuel economy than the engine it replaces. This engine meets the strict EPA 2010 and CARB HD-OBD emission standards.

Real-world fuel mileage from the tour resulted in the Isuzu NPR ECO-MAX Tool Pro truck achieving 15-21 mpg. The Isuzu NPR ECO-MAX Aero Body truck achieved 15-23 mpg. Each vehicle used less than 10 gallons of diesel exhaust fluid (DEF). DEF is the diesel engine fuel additive used in all 2010 and later EPA-compliant diesel engines.

Working with Customers

At each stop on the ECO-Advantage Tour, representatives of ICTA delivered product presentations and conducted training for local dealership sales, service, and parts personnel. Representatives of Reading and Supreme were also available to answer questions at select locations. Static displays with additional product information supported the live presentations.

"Whether you're a fleet manager, a small business owner, or just an interested member of the public, we wanted everyone with an interest in environmentally friendly truck design to see the state of the art in the industry and to experience the fuel economy these vehicles provide," said Shaun Skinner, executive vice president and general manager of ICTA.

Photos and videos from the tour were uploaded regularly as the tour progressed. This information and information about the complete line of 2011 Isuzu N-Series Trucks can be found on ICTA's website.