At the National Truck Equipment Association Work Truck Show in Indianapolis, Navistar on Tuesday, March 8, unveiled the International TerraStar 4Ă—4 commercial truck. The truck was launched last year with a 4Ă—2 powertrain standard, and the new 4Ă—4 variant is designed to deliver additional commercial-duty capability for a wide range of customer needs, including construction, utility, landscape and other off-highway applications.
“With the addition of a 4×4 model, simply put, the International TerraStar is unmatched in the industry,” says Jim Hebe, Navistar’s senior vice president of North American sales operations. “The design and durability of TerraStar is influenced by our entire lineup of commercial trucks, sharing the same rugged, durable and hardworking DNA that’s made us an industry leader.”
Navistar says that since its introduction in March 2010 and production launch in October 2010, the International TerraStar has generated significant interest from work truck buyers; to date, the company has received more than 2,000 orders. At the heart of the new International TerraStar is its 300 hp 6.4-liter MaxxForce 7 V-8 engine, delivering 660 lb.-ft. torque. The engine features a compacted graphite iron (CGI) block designed to offer high strength without added weight. The TerraStar also features MaxxForce Advanced EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) emissions technology.
Navistar says the TerraStar features premium driver visibility and a 107-inch bumper to back-of-cab (BBC) length for added maneuverability in tight work environments. The interior is designed to allow room for three adults to fit comfortably in the front seat. The TerraStar also is available with optional extended cab or crew cab configurations, and an appearance package also is available with chrome grille and headlight bezel, as well as painted modesty panel and fender extension. The TerraStar also is designed with a commercial-style tilt-away hood to offer unobstructed access to the engine compartment, easing routine and scheduled maintenance.
In addition, the International TerraStar features the International Diamond Logic electrical multiplexing system, which is designed to maximize ease of body integration and help deliver a number of smart, customizable features for added convenience and safety, such as automated pretrip inspections, headlights on with wipers, interlocks, programmable switches and more depending on the application.
The MaxxForce 7 is matched with a commercial-duty Allison Optimized 1000 Series transmission to optimize its power output. Navistar says the close ratio, fully automatic transmission features:
• Shift Energy Management designed to provide better engine/transmission integration to achieve optimum shift quality, greater powertrain durability and improved vehicle performance;
• Load-Based Shift Scheduling (LBSS), which automatically selects between “economy” and “performance” shift schedules based on the vehicle’s actual payload and the grade on which it is operating;
• Prognostics to eliminate unnecessary oil and filter changes and make routine maintenance easier;
• Automatic “neutral” that simplifies operation and improves efficiency by automatically shifting to neutral for improved performance; and
• Optional “input/output” packages.
Navistar also showcased a number of alternative-fueled vehicles for the work truck market at the Green Truck Summit at NTEA’s Work Truck Show, including the Class 2-3c all-electric eStar truck, an International DuraStar Hybrid and an International WorkStar equipped with a compressed natural gas (CNG) powertrain.
“Work truck customers have diverse business needs and are looking for a wide range of truck features to help perform their jobs,” Hebe says. “We’re proud to offer the broadest, most energy-efficient line of trucks in the industry, helping deliver real-world savings to the bottom line.”
The natural gas-powered International WorkStar vehicle features a DT-466 based natural gas engine developed in conjunction with Emissions Solutions Inc. (ESI) of McKinney, Texas. ESI offers engine ratings from 175-300 hp with 460-860 lb.-ft. if torque. The engines are capable of supporting both liquefied and compressed natural gas. The natural gas-powered WorkStar model with either frame-mounted or back-of-cab-mounted natural gas tanks is available for customer ordering through International truck dealers and will be built at Navistar’s Garland Assembly Plant and Truck Specialty Center in Garland, Texas. Like the other vehicles in Navistar’s portfolio, the natural gas-powered WorkStar will be fully certified to meet 2010 emissions.
