Iveco Australia New Zealand and CNH Industrial have launched the new Stralis X-Way truck.
TransportTalk was hosted by Iveco at the unveiling of the all-new Stralis X-Way prime mover and heavy rigid range, being made in the company’s Dandenong factory, Melbourne.
The new X-Way truck range will have a strong safety focus, with electronic braking assistance, autonomous emergency braking (AEBS), stability control and adaptive cruise control (ACC) as standard.
Iveco managing director Bruce Healy says this is a “pivotal point” for the company employing 600 people directly.
“This is our commitment to suppliers, our staff, Australian manufacturing and our customers,” he says.
“Effectively this company has been manufacturing for 80 years in Australia next year, and the closure of passenger car manufacturing these last few years has given Iveco even greater resolve to increase our local product mix and continue building trucks at home,” Healy says.
“We’ve taken on board customer comments in terms of locally manufactured trucks, particularly in the heavy vehicle segment.”
Healy says the transition from importer to manufacturer of the Stralis AT has been leading to the heavy rigid production milestone. That transition began in 2017 and included tooling, training and software upgrades at the factory.
“This truck combines the best of local development and input, and also the latest European technology, resulting in a safer, more fuel efficient and environmentally sensitive truck coupled with robust underpinnings and enhancements,” he explains.
“We believe this is a recipe for success, that will appeal to our customers and attract a new range of people to the Iveco brand.”
The AEBS and ACC systems will keep drivers as far as 120 metres from preceding vehicles, and optional lane departure warning will ensure drivers stay between the lines, with a windscreen mounted camera able to detect road markings.
Other options include a driver attention system which will detect any lax steering wheel applications, signalling rest stop warnings when fatigue is detected. Tyre-pressure monitoring will alert drivers to punctures or under-inflated rubber.
The Stralis X-Way will be powered by three common-rail Euro 6 engine combinations. These are a “Cursor 9” 310hp/1300Nm nine-litre unit available only in the rigid, or a “Cursor 11” 460hp/2150Nm 11-litre unit, or the 13-litre Cursor 13 engine with 510hp and 3200Nm, both available in prime mover.
The Euro 6 engines come with fuel injection designed with a more efficient combustion process, helped by an injection pressure increase of 2200 bar. It is fitted to a “Hi-eSCR” single after-treatment emissions reduction system, using a passive DPF with intervention-free regeneration. The Cursor 11 and 13 also receive a new Garrett Variable Geometry Turbo with electronic actuators directly controlled by the ECU to offer immediate, low engine speed response. The Euro 6 powerplant claims a 50% particulate matter reduction and an 80% reduction in oxides of nitrogen (NOx).
A 12-speed Hi-Tronix direct drive automatic unit delivers quicker gear changes which can also be manually selected for unusual conditions. It has an extended life by up to 80% compared to other transmissions, according to Iveco. Along with offering ‘rocking’ and ‘creeping’ functions, plus four reverse gears, the company stands by a 1.6 million kilometre durability lifecycle.
The X-Way prime mover comes in day-sleeper or active-space sleeper body shapes, with a 25t GVM and 45t GCM, while the rigid truck ranges from 22-30t GVM depending on 6×4 or 8×4 configuration, and from 40-45t GCM in either 6×4 or 8×4 respectively.
The Stralis X-Way goes into full-scale production before Christmas, with orders taken by Iveco Australia/New Zealand in the meantime.
The new heavy rigid Stralis will also be joined on the production line – and share the basic architecture of the X-Way – by the incoming new Acco, also featuring Euro 6 Cursor engines in 6×4 and 8×4 configurations and with ACC and AEBS standard.
