From FH Aero to P700: these trucks turned heads at RTX
If you love trucks, RTX is the place to be. Every year, we pack our bags and head to England to explore this spectacular celebration of vehicles, technology and transport innovation. RTX 2026 didn’t disappoint. It attracted more than 13,000 visitors and 340 exhibitors – and gave us plenty to write about.
A show built for operators
Road Transport Expo, better known as RTX, is one of the coolest transport exhibitions on the planet. It is large enough to attract the industry’s major manufacturers and suppliers, yet relaxed enough for visitors to climb into trucks, inspect chassis and speak directly to the people behind the products. Held at NAEC Stoneleigh in Warwickshire, RTX 2026 drew a record number of visitors. They had lots to see; trucks, trailers, workshop equipment, fleet technology, compliance systems and specialist services filled the halls and outdoor areas.
The sunshine certainly helped, but the event’s energy came from its audience. Fleet operators, transport managers, business owners and purchasing decision-makers arrived with practical questions about fuel, uptime, safety, emissions and operating costs.
RTX show director Vic Bunby said the industry’s support had been “phenomenal”, adding that the visitor numbers demonstrated demand for a heavy commercial vehicle show focused squarely on operators. This is the first in a series of reports from RTX. We begin with Volvo Trucks and Isuzu Truck UK, two exhibitors that approached the show from very different angles.
Volvo displays breadth
Volvo Trucks occupied prominent positions both outside and inside the exhibition halls. Its outdoor stand was directly in front of Hall 2, while the indoor display greeted visitors just beyond the entrance. Instead of concentrating on one model, Volvo presented a cross-section of its UK portfolio. Different cabs, drivelines and customer vehicles illustrated how widely modern trucks must vary to suit long-haul, distribution and specialist operations.
A DHL-liveried Volvo FH Aero powered by liquefied natural gas attracted particular attention. It showed how some European fleets are using gas to reduce emissions without sacrificing the range and flexibility required for long-distance work. The display also underlined an important reality for transport operators: decarbonisation will not depend on one solution. Diesel, gas, electric power and efficiency improvements are developing alongside each other. The most suitable technology depends on routes, payloads, infrastructure and daily operating demands.
Naturally, there weren’t just trucks on the stand. Visitors had the opportunity to speak with Volvo specialists about the latest innovations, as well as the comprehensive range of services and support available to help maximise uptime, efficiency and overall fleet performance.
Isuzu unveils major change
Where Volvo demonstrated the depth of an established range, Isuzu used RTX to reveal a new generation of trucks. The manufacturer gave visitors their first public look at the P700 range, which it describes as the biggest transformation of its UK product line-up in 30 years.
The display included 3.5-tonne, 7.5-tonne and 13.5-tonne chassis, with narrow-cab, day-cab and crewcab versions. Although the vehicles retain Isuzu’s familiar cab-over identity, the changes to safety, comfort, connectivity and model choice are substantial.
Standard equipment includes LED lighting, air-conditioning, satellite navigation and infotainment with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. New derivatives include a 6.5-tonne crewcab, a 175hp three-litre diesel option for the 7.5-tonne range and a longer-wheelbase 13.5-tonne F-Series model.
The N-Series also gains Isuzu’s nine-speed dual-clutch transmission. It is designed to deliver additional power for more demanding applications without requiring the weight of a larger-displacement engine. Depending on the model, safety equipment includes blind-spot monitoring, distance warning, traffic sign recognition and tyre-pressure monitoring.
Pete Murphy, managing director of Isuzu Truck UK, said the new range was intended to improve safety, comfort and efficiency while giving customers greater choice through additional variants. Production of the right-hand-drive models is due to begin in August.
Two distinct strategies
Volvo and Isuzu delivered two contrasting displays. Volvo showed the scale of its portfolio and the growing role of alternative fuels. Isuzu introduced a generational overhaul aimed at broadening its appeal in lighter and medium-duty applications. Together, the stands captured what makes RTX genuinely special. Established products sit beside emerging technology, visitors can challenge manufacturers directly and transport developments become something tangible rather than theoretical. There was much more to see at Stoneleigh, including new trucks, trailers, telematics, workshop systems and fleet technology. We will unpack those discoveries in the next articles in this RTX series. Stay tuned!
