The first Class 5 gasoline cabover on the market – and part of the Fuso FE GAS Series that debuted last year – is exclusive to North America. It is powered by General Motors’ 6-liter V8 engine, featuring a power output of 297 hp and 361 lb.-ft. of torque.
“The gasoline truck is the new standard for our medium duty market,” says Bill Lyons, Fuso Truck of America vice president of sales and operations.
Lyons notes users of medium-duty trucks are not truck drivers by trade and often are turned off by the complexities of a diesel powertrain.
“They’re landscapers, plumbers and electricians,” he says. “They want more simplified solutions. You don’t have the SCR [with a gas engine]… and those type of things.”
“Customers want gasoline,” adds Fuso Truck of America President and CEO Justin Palmer, who notes many other medium duty OEMs have also begun to incorporate gas engines into their lineups.
“Gasoline is gaining [medium duty] market share every year,” Lyons adds.
Fuso’s GM engine is matched to a commercial-grade, PTO capable Allison 1000 Series transmission. The powertrain includes Allison’s FuelSense 2.0 with DynActive shifting, which can deliver up between 2 and 6 percent improvement in fuel economy.
The Gaffney, S.C.-assembled FE180 GAS was designed with larger 19.5-in. tires versus the standard 17.5-in. found in international markets, which allows for more parts commonality for larger fleet customers. The truck, expected to hit dealership lots by year’s end, features an estimated payload capacity of 11,185 lb.
