Chevrolet->ke199 has just announced its re-entry into the low cab forward truck market. Absent since 2009, Chevy will again offer the medium-duty truck based on the Isuzu->ke4243 N-Series for the 2016 model year.

The Chevy Low Cab will come in six weight classes and two cab configurations. Fleet customers can opt for the 3500, 3500 HD, 4500, 4500 HD, 5500 and 5500 HD – along with either a single cab or double cab. The truck also offers wheelbase lengths ranging from 109 inches up to 212 inches. Chevy says the chassis cab truck is ready for nearly any aftermarket upfit, including refrigerated boxes, stake beds, flat beds, and service bodies.

Power will come from three engine choices. The first two are Isuzu-sources turbodiesels displacing 3.0 liters and 5.2 liters. The third is General Motors’->ke1024 venerable 6.0-liter gasoline V-8 like what currently powers the Silverado->ke1787 2500 and 3500 HD trucks. Though output specs haven’t been released for the 2016 N-Series, the Silverado’s V-8 offers up 360 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque. A GM six-speed automatic will come mated to the V-8.

Despite the Chevy badge, turbodiesel trucks will be built overseas while the V-8 version will be built in Charlotte, Michigan. The V-8 model will also be the only low cab forward truck offered in the U.S., giving Isuzu and Chevrolet a unique selling point.

For fleet managers concerned with maintenance, the cab forward truck allows for easy access to the engine bay thanks to the forward-tilting cab design. Perched forward 45 degrees, the design allows for unparalleled access to the drivetrain components.

Chevy says more information and details specs will become available closer to the truck’s launch.

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Why it matters

Low Cab Forward trucks offer great benefits over traditional cab configurations, namely for companies operating in crowded urban environments. The N-Series truck offers excellent outward visibility and a tight turning radius, making it much easier to maneuver around tight streets.