INTERNATIONAL Truck and Engine Corporation, Warrenville, Illinois, showcased a complete line of 2008 Star series trucks along with its new MaxxForce engines at the Mid-America Trucking Show March 22-24 in Louisville, Kentucky.
The integrated products for the coming year include the ProStar that has a 113-inch bumper-to-back-of-cab (BBC) offering. The daycab offers a shorter wheel base for better maneuverability and a lighter weight to maximize fuel economy and payload for regional customers.
ProStar sleepers come with a choice of four cab roof heights: 56-inch low-rise, 56-inch hi-rise, or a 73-inch hi-rise and a 73-inch sky-rise configuration with a built-in air faring, which helps drive aerodynamic performance. Additional driver satisfaction and fuel economy amenities will also be available.
Also new to the International ProStar is a feature that will help save fuel, the Cummins ICON idle management system that automatically starts the truck based on a pre-set desired interior temperature. In addition, the MeritorWabco antilock braking system with roll-stability and automatic traction control is available on the International ProStar.
Adding to the updates to the International ProStar for 2008, the truck manufacturer has been announcing throughout the last year the re-branding of individual models across its entire product line with Star badges. Initiated with the reintroduction of the PayStar and ProStar launch last year, the additional Star badges go into production with the 2008 model year and include TranStar, DuraStar, WorkStar, and CityStar. Each name corresponds to a previous product in the International thousand series.
New for 2008 are International's MaxxForce 11 and MaxxForce 13 engines. The big bore design provides up to 1,700 lb-ft of torque at 1,000 rpm. The efficiency and power characteristics of the MaxxForce 11 and MaxxForce 13 are made possible by innovative technologies, including a high-pressure common-rail fuel system, twin-series turbochargers with interstage cooler, and Eco-Therm heat-management system.
The big bore offering rounds out the MaxxForce product line already meeting the needs of International's Class 4 through 7 customers.
In addition, the ProStar Class 8 tractor is available with Caterpillar's new C13 engine beginning this summer. The Caterpillar C13 joins International MaxxForce engine offerings. The 12.5-liter Caterpillar C13 engine boasts clean-diesel ACERT Technology. It features a refined combustion process called clean gas induction and a self-regenerating diesel particulate filter. The new technology meets 2007 EPA regulations while still providing power and reliability.
The Cummins ISX and the International MaxxForce 11 and MaxxForce 13 engines also are compatible with the International ProStar, and all are 2007 emissions compliant.
New to the ProStar this summer is the Cummins 600-hp ISX, the top horsepower rating offered by the Indiana-based engine manufacturer. It is intended for those ProStar customers seeking the higher-performance engine as well as the tractor's fuel-efficient, aerodynamic features. The Cummins 600-hp ISX engine is important to drivers who face severe operating difficulties such as in mountainous regions, or who haul non-diminishing loads.