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Apr 1, 2004 12:00 PM

International Truck and Engine Corp and the United States Army unveiled the next generation of military and commercial vehicles at the Society of Automotive Engineers 2004 World Congress. The two new concept vehicles — the SmarTruck III and a new International Commercial Utility Vehicle — are both built from an International High Performance four-wheel-drive medium truck platform.

A collaboration of the Army's National Automotive Center and International Truck and Engine, SmarTruck III will offer the military advanced capabilities in communications and detection systems along with improved fuel economy and increased armor protection. A commercial version of the SmarTruck III, the International Commercial Utility Vehicle, can be modified to serve the applications including the US Border Patrol, the Department of Homeland Security, or the construction industry.

SmarTruck III can be outfitted with advanced telematics technology that will allow military command centers to know in real time where vehicles are located, and with remote diagnostics, how they are performing.

With a new International VT275 diesel engine, which is a 4.5-liter V-6, and a hybrid hydraulic launch assist for power at startup, the technologies used in the concept vehicles also permit better fuel economy.