ANAHEIM, Calif. — Isuzu Commercial Truck of America and Utilimaster introduced a new commercial van at the American Truck Dealers 2010 Convention & Expo in Orlando.

The walk-in van — with a body designed by Utilimaster Corporation atop a rugged heavy-duty Isuzu NPR chassis and powered by Isuzu’s 3.0-liter diesel engine — will combine the functionality and design flexibility of a custom-built work truck with the styling and ergonomics of a cargo van.

Prototypes are scheduled to begin rolling off the line in the third quarter of this year, with full production scheduled for the second half of 2011.

“This new walk-in van will be the first vehicle to fully meet the needs of today’s fleet and vocational markets,” said Shaun Skinner, executive vice president and general manager of Isuzu Commercial Truck of America. “It will offer significantly more interior height and width than other commercial vans, and it will have multiple design options to maximize utility and driver productivity. Add to that a body design and powertrain that have been engineered for performance, durability and low cost of ownership, and the result is a vehicle that will truly revolutionize the commercial van market.”

Added John Marshall, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Utilimaster, “We have worked extensively with key customers for more than 18 months to develop this product from the ground up and the response so far has been very encouraging. This next-generation van is expected to achieve best-in-class fuel economy along with important features to support commercial van customers, including a distinctly automotive aesthetic, that will set it apart in the marketplace.”

The dramatic profile of the new van demonstrates the importance Isuzu and Utilimaster designers placed on aerodynamics. The streamlined shape improves fuel efficiency while it reduces interior noise.

The body panels will also be designed for quick removal and replacement so that owners can quickly and easily make minor body repairs.

Two wheelbases—134 and 151 inches—and three cargo area lengths—10, 12 and 14 feet—will be offered. All models will feature a 34-inch-wide by 74-inch-high cab door opening for easy driver ingress and egress. The cab will offer a choice of either swing or sliding doors.

In back, multiple rear door designs will allow the cargo area to be customized to the operator’s needs. Options will include 270-degree twin-swing doors, twin side-sliding doors, and roll-up doors.

The revolution continues inside, with a cab optimized for ergonomics and productivity and a modular cargo area of unprecedented spaciousness that will offer buyers a choice of integrated vocational packages specifically designed for their applications.

Operators will find the new commercial van to be a functional mobile office. Even a driver over six feet in height can walk in and out of the cab in an upright position, and can stand up inside the cab area. The placement and design of instruments and controls have been simplified for ease of use and made modular for easy installation of customer-specific equipment.

The cargo area, easily accessible from the driver’s seat, is perhaps the new van’s most innovative feature. The cargo area can offer up to 700 cubic feet of storage. In addition, a choice of integrated vocational modules will give buyers the opportunity to turn the cargo area into a space virtually customized to their needs.

Each of the vocational cargo-storage modules has been designed to take full advantage of the van’s impressive width and height, and engineered for quick and easy installation, with no drilling or other body modifications required. And any module can be specified as a factory- or dealer-installed option, or ordered through the dealership and installed by the final customer.

For more information visit www.isuzucv.com