International Truck is launching a new flagship line of LT Series on-highway trucks offering more driver comfort and greater operating efficiency. The company is taking orders now and will begin production in late November.
The LT Series features improved aerodynamics and provides fuel efficiency that is 7% better than the company’s most recent fuel economy leader, a 2017 ProStar with the Cummins ISX15 engine.
International says industry-leading aerodynamics is a sound basis for fuel efficiency, and the LT Series delivers 3% improvement in fuel economy due to its aerodynamic benefits alone.
Upgraded aerodynamic features on the new International LT Series include an aero-contoured hood, fender, wheel opening and chassis skirts and an aero-enhanced three-piece front bumper, while longer side extenders shorten the trailer gap.
It is available in multiple configurations for the US market, including day cab, low-roof sleeper, two hi-rise sleeper versions, and a sky-rise sleeper. It will offer customers a choice of engines.
The LT Series is launching with the new 2017 Cummins X15 engine, which has ratings of up to 500 HP in the efficiency series and up to 565 HP in the performance series.
It is also launching with the new 2017 Navistar N13 engine, which is a fuel-efficient 13-litre design that produces up to 475 HP.
“The new International LT Series reflects our vision for the future of the trucking industry, with a host of advancements that support improved driver safety and productivity, as well as fuel efficiency and uptime,” said Bill Kozek, president, Truck, and Parts, Navistar.
International undertook extensive research with truck drivers, including driver clinics that gathered input from hundreds of drivers. International used this research to design an all-new interior and identified multiple new and improved features that enhance driver appeal.
Reviewing more than 500 points where the driver and truck interact, the ergonomic interior of the LT Series includes better elbow room, hip room, and leg room. Driver input also led to a smart, well-designed mix of high-tech and traditional features that emphasize driver ease of use.
The redesigned interior features a new gauge cluster with a digital driver display that places everything within easy reach while offering drivers real-time monitoring of fuel economy and other critical alerts in clear sight. The new display also provides up to 15 customizable digital gauges. Also, the relocating the air horn back to its traditional, intuitive position over the driver door responded to driver feedback.
The same aerodynamic improvements that boosted the LT Series’ fuel efficiency also yielded a four-Sone decrease in wind noise, which eliminates noise harshness for improved driver comfort.
Multiple improvements for improved safety, include standard LED headlamps to improve night vision, a column-mounted gear shifter that allows drivers to keep their eyes on the road, and a redesigned one-piece side window that affords the driver a clearer line of sight.
The Bendix Wingman Advanced Collision Mitigation system comes standard in the LT Series.
International is designing the LT Series for best-in-class uptime, to keep the truck on the road and facilitate quick service when the need arises.
To drive improved uptime, International reviewed reliability data and other data collected from OnCommand Connection, the company’s remote diagnostics system, and made multiple enhancements to support increased reliability and serviceability.
Many of the truck’s new features were designed to improve reliability and serviceability, as well as functionality.
For example, the new single-canister after treatment system is not just 60% smaller and 40% lighter but simplified for quicker servicing.
The new LED headlamps and fog lamps deliver not only brighter light and intensity but also have tough new polycarbonate headlight lenses that protect them against breakage.
The cab wiring includes all-new harnessing and an in-cab power distribution module that is inside the truck, away from the elements.
All key service points under the hood, inside the cab and around the vehicle are readily available for servicing, and many components engineered for longer intervals between required maintenance.
