Iveco’s venerable Eurocargo achieved its first International Truck of the Year (IToY) award way back in 1992, and went on to repeat that feat almost a quarter of a century later in 2016.
Naturally enough, the Eurocargo had come a long way since its first incarnation, receiving new Tector engines in 2000, a Bertone-styled facelift in 2003 and a further visual refresh in 2008. Over 500,000 of the trucks had been sold around the world by the time the New Eurocargo appeared in September 2015.
The New Eurocargo very much took the evolutionary road toward modernity, and whilst retaining the original ML cab shell, an extensive front-end redesign brought a more modern appearance with a large, “smiling” grille and revised corner air deflectors. The all-new bumper design incorporated a step for windscreen access, a new headlamp cluster with LED daytime running lights and AEBS radar.
The re-designed interior featured steering wheel-mounted radio and phone controls, new seats, with an optional air-suspended driver’s seat, and a new centre console designed as an “office on the move”. This afforded 20 litres of storage space when a single passenger seat was specified and could accommodate a laptop or tablet. A reading light, side storage pockets, two USB ports and an open-out work surface were also built-in.
Safety features were also high on the Eurocargo’s priorities, with a standard steering wheel airbag, lane departure warning system, advanced emergency braking system and adaptive cruise control included. Telematics were catered for with the Unified Telematics Platform which was a factory-fi]ed option pre-configured for the remote connection and supply of telematic services.
In addition to the standard range of 7.5- to 18-tonne rigid trucks, a 22-tonner was offered with a specialist convertor adding a single-wheel lifting axle, and urban tractor units spanning 18 to 35 tonnes GCW were also available. A 4×4 model for either 11.5 or 15 tonnes GVW completed the line-up.
The power for the Eurocargo came from the 4-cylinder, 4.5-litre Tector 5 engine rated at 160hp, 190hp or 210hp, or the 6-cylinder, 6.7-litre Tector 7 with ratings of 220hp, 250hp, 280hp or 320hp. These Euro-6 engines used Iveco’s Hi-eSCR system to achieve Euro-6 emission standards, without resorGng to any EGR.
The two lower-rated Tector 5 engines were new designs incorporating new pistons, injectors and turbocharging to increase the compression ratio from 17 to 18:1 with a corresponding increase in torque of 8%. A “Natural Power” CNG engine, based on the older Tector 6 design, was also offered in “super-eco” 210hp form for the most emission-conscious operators.
No fewer than 11 transmissions were offered in the form of four automated, five manual and two automatic designs, with the 12-speed automated Eurotronic gearboxes equipped with Ecoroll, which used inertia to switch to neutral on downward gradients to save fuel.
With the choice of day, sleeper, high-roof sleeper and crew cabs, the New Eurocargo was available from the Brescia factory in a remarkable 11,000 variants, preserving the appeal of the original range. In a tightly contested competition, the Iveco received 101 votes, squeezing past Renault’s Range C and K on 98, with Ford’s Turkish construction range in third place.
Words & Photos: Richard Stanier Credit: IToY
