A decade on from the Eurotech’s 1993 award, Iveco was back on winning form with a new generation of heavy trucks.
Having achieved the monumental task of replacing the entire range over 1991-1992, the shortcomings of the Single Product Range, as it was known, were used by Iveco’s engineers to inform the development of the Stralis. The earlier range had been launched with the lighter EuroCargo models and moved up the scale, whereas the Stralis was effectively the replacement for the top-tier Eurostar and more powerful Eurotech models.
At a time when speculation was rife about the sale of the Iveco business, and it being “make or break time” (again), Iveco delivered the goods with a combination of a proven driveline, CAN-bus electronic architecture and innovative cab design.
The Cursor 10 and 13 Euro-3 engines featured unit pump injectors and a single overhead camshaft with variable-geometry turbocharging and were already proven designs in the preceding model range. With the Stralis, the radiator area was increased by 23% and the intercooler by 21% and a new 540hp rating of the 13-litre was offered alongside the existing 480hp variant. The 10-litre maintained its 400hp and 430hp ratings.
Iveco’s version of the ZF AS-Tronic automated gearbox – marketed as EuroTronic 2 – was the standard transmission, with the 12-speed version behind the 10-litre engine and the 16-speed behind the 13-litre. ZF’s 16-speed manual Ecosplit, fitted with servo-shift assistance, was retained as an alternative for traditionalists.
Despite retaining the cab frame from the Eurostar, 80% of the panels on the Stralis were new, giving the truck a much more assertive look to its predecessor. Surprisingly, only one size cab was offered – the 2.5m wide, high roof model, with a tapered roof-line for improved aerodynamics mounted on a new four-point air and damper suspension system.
Whilst the roof line reduced headroom at the front of the cab, there was still 1.96m of standing room in front of the bunk, and the Iveco designers incorporated some innovative interior features with the deletion of the passenger seat.
Designated the “Active Space” design, there were three interior concepts; The Enhanced Single Driver version featured an armchair-style seat against the nearside of the backwall which could be angled at 90 degrees. The Long-Distance Single Driver layout featured a larger lower bunk, or a larger upper bunk with a chair and table beneath it, and a Two-Driver cab was offered with an air-suspended passenger seat to give extra leg room with 90 degrees of rotation.
Features like these, and the rotating gear console which could be swung out of the way, together with the multi-coloured LCD dashboard display particularly appealed to the 19-country strong panel of judges who regarded the focus on driver amenity and the well-developed driveline to be a combination worthy of their 102-point score. Second place went to the DAF XF95 with 50 points, with the Volvo FM in third place on 44.
Words & Pics supplied by Richard Stanier. Credit IToY
