Navistar launches new truck: The International LT Series

[kscarbel2]

Fleet Owner / September 30, 2016

OEM says it engaged in “extensive research” with truck drivers, including driver clinics, to design the LT Series interior and other features.

The International LT Series, Navistar’s new “flagship line” of Class 8 over-the-road trucks, will be unveiled today in Las Vegas today ahead of the annual American Trucking Associations (ATA) conference.

Navistar executives said the new interior design of the LT Series is based on “extensive research with truck drivers,” especially on “500 points” where the driver and truck interact.

"To ensure the new LT Series is the most driver-centric Class 8 vehicle we've ever built, we gave drivers a voice in its design," said Jeff Sass, the OEM’s senior vice president- sales and marketing, in a statement.

"Many of our customers tell us that their number-one challenge is attracting and retaining drivers which is why we put so much effort into understanding and responding to drivers' needs,” he explained. “These improvements also contribute to increased driver ease of use that will boost the vehicle's productivity.”

The truck also features “dramatically improved” aerodynamics as well, with 7% better fuel efficiency than International’s 2017 ProStar tractor model, the company said.

Navistar noted that the LT Series delivers a 3% improvement in fuel economy due to its aerodynamic benefits alone, with upgraded aerodynamic features including an aero-contoured hood, fender, wheel opening and chassis skirts and an aero-enhanced three-piece front bumper, while longer side extenders shorten the trailer gap.

Inside, the “highly ergonomic” cab space of the LT Series includes better elbow room, hip room and leg room for drivers, with a new “premium gauge cluster” that includes a “digital driver display” that offers up to 15 customizable digital gauges, while offering drivers real-time monitoring of fuel economy and other important alerts within clear line-of-sight.

Also, Navistar relocated the air horn of the LT Series back to its traditional “intuitive” position over the driver door in response to overwhelming driver feedback.

The LT Series also features “multiple safety improvements” according to the OEM, such as: standard LED [light emitting diode] headlamps to improve night vision; a column-mounted gear-shifter that allows drivers to keep their eyes on the road; a redesigned one-piece side window that provides clearer line-of-sight; and the Bendix Wingman Advanced Collision Mitigation system as a standard feature on every LT model.

Many of the truck's new features were also designed to improve reliability and serviceability, as well as functionality, Navistar noted. For example:

- The new single-canister aftertreatment system is not just 60% smaller and 40% lighter, but is also simplified for quicker servicing.
- The new LED headlamps and fog lamps not only deliver brighter light and intensity, but also have tough new polycarbonate headlight lenses that protect them against breakage.
- The cab wiring includes all-new harnessing and an in-cab power distribution module that is inside the truck, away from the elements.
- All key service points under the hood, inside the cab and around the vehicle are ergonomically designed for easy access and servicing, and many components have been engineered with longer intervals between required maintenance.
The LT Series will be offered in multiple configurations, including day cab, 56-in. low roof sleeper, 56-in. high-rise sleeper, 73-in. high-rise sleeper and 73-in. “sky-rise” sleeper.

Several engine options will be offered with the LT Series. It is being launched with the new 2017 Cummins X15 engine, which has ratings of up to 500 hp in the efficiency series and up to 565 hp in the performance series. Another option is the the new 2017 Navistar N13 engine, which will be available in the spring and has an advanced fuel-efficient 13-liter design that produces up to 475 hp and 1,750 lb.-ft. of torque from a design that is 500 to 600 pounds lighter than traditional “big bore” engines, the OEM noted.

“The new International LT Series reflects our vision for the future of the trucking industry, with a host of advancements that support improved driver safety and productivity, as well as fuel efficiency and uptime,” said Bill Kozek, president of truck and parts for Navistar said in a statement. “This new vehicle reflects our strong belief that integrating the best technology will provide customers with a significant operating advantage.”

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[kscarbel2]

International LT Launched Loudly, Described Enthusiastically

Heavy Duty Trucking / September 30, 2016

Navistar unveiled its new International LT series in Las Vegas on Sept. 30 with speeches, videos, hard rock music, and fire-and-smoke effects – a launch befitting a "Vegas" production and a vehicle range that will become the company’s flagship model and, executives hope, the most popular highway tractor on the market. 

At the event at the World Market Center, dealers and customers applauded and some trade press reporters nodded approvingly as three tractors drove onto a platform from which top executives had previously spoken. All emphasized the customer research and meticulous design and engineering work that had gone into the new model. It will begin replacing the nine-year-old ProStar series when it enters production in November.

The initial version has Cummins power, and several Navistar execs remarked that their company's strong relationship with Cummins will continue, notwithstanding the recently announced alliance with Volkswagen Truck & Bus of Germany. 

The Internationl LT (for Linehaul Transport) was publicly announced Friday morning. It is the first model that stems from Navistar’s Project Horizon, a three-year effort to update and improve the ProStar. Horizon affects steel-cab models, and the WorkStar and DuraStar trucks are now being worked on for introduction in 2017.

The HX premium vocational truck, introduced eight months ago and now in production, uses an aluminum cab, so was not part of Horizon.

During development, several Navistar executives rode with fleet drivers to learn what they want in a highway tractor. Drivers' comments and the execs' experiences were chronicled in a video. Those drivers -- Kenneth Stiltner of Cowan Systems, Jose Reyes of Mesilla Valley Transportation and David Spore of J.B. Hunt -- were present at the launch in Las Vegas. 

The LT has many driver “delighter” features -- greater comfort and roominess, ergonomically laid out instruments and controls, measurable quietness, better ride, and easier handling, said Steve Gilligan, vice president, product marketing. He called the LT “driver-centric.”

Pleasing drivers to try to retain and recruit them will help fleets counteract the driver shortage, said Bill Kozak, president, Truck and Parts. “The driver shortage is the biggest barrier fleets have to uptime” because many trucks now are unmanned. So Navistar ran multiple clinics where designers and executives quizzed drivers and fleet owners on what they want in a truck and how the ProStar could be improved.

Other goals in designing the LT were improved fuel economy, accomplished through smoother aerodynamics and use of Cummins’ re-engineered X15 diesel and later, Navistar’s own improved N13 diesel; more uptime through easier servicing of carefully placed components; and improved safety.

Navistar is making Bendix’s Wingman Advanced collision mitigation system and electronic stability control standard on the LT to boost safety, said Denny Mooney, senior vice president, Global Product Development. Collision mitigation warns of slower objects ahead and will apply the brakes if the driver doesn’t; it has been proven effective in millions of miles of fleet use. Stability control will be mandated by federal rules in about a year, and standardizing on it now gets Navistar ahead of the rule.

Navistar’s "DriverFirst" slogan and the emphasis on driver-pleasing designs in the LT might seem superfluous in view of platooning tests and talk of “driverless trucks,” observed Troy Clarke, Navistars president and chief executive officer. Such developments might suggest that drivers might eventually become extinct.

But “platooning is like an airplane on autopilot,” he said. “The pilot is still needed for takeoffs, landings, and taxiing. Automation in trucks may be no different: A driver will still be needed for fueling at stations and truck stops, while on freeway ramps, for delivering freight to customers.”

The first International Linehaul Transport, the LT625, comes with Cummins’ 2017 X15. Cummins power was chosen for the initial vehicle because the current ISX15 is more popular with customers than Navistar engines. The X15 will have ratings of up to 500 hp for its Economy series and 550 hp for the Performance versions.

The ’17-model Navistar N13 will be available with up to 475 hp and 1,750 lb-ft, Gilligan said. It will be used in the LT613 that will enter production in April. Equivalent ProStar models will phase out as the new LTs go on line. All will be built at Navistar’s plant in Escobedo, Mexico.

Navistar might offer the Cummins X12 when it becomes available in North America. “We're studying it, we’re testing it,” said Gilligan. “Most intriguing is the weight. It’s 2,000 pounds. Our N13 is 2,400 pounds. To weight-conscious customers, like bulk haulers, 400 pounds means a lot. So we’re evaluating it.”

Although a goal of the recently announced “strategic alliance” with VW Truck & Bus is to focus on communizing powertrain components among International, Scania and MAN trucks, Navistar will offer Cummins engines in general “for the foreseeable future,” Gilligan said. “In fact, we just introduced the Cummins L9 on some of our vocational models.”

“Cummins is a great partner,” said Jeff Sass, senior vice president of sales and marketing. “We’ll offer Cummins engines as long as customers want them.”  

 

[kscarbel2]

International Launches Flagship LT Series Trucks

Heavy Duty Trucking / September 30, 2016

International Trucks has launched the International LT Series, a new flagship line of Class 8 over-the-road trucks developed with a driver-centric design that features new technologies and better fuel economy than previous models.

“The new International LT Series reflects our vision for the future of the trucking industry, with a host of advancements that support improved driver safety and productivity as well as fuel efficiency and uptime,” said Bill Kozek, president, truck and parts, Navistar. “This new vehicle reflects our strong belief that integrating the best technology will provide customers with a significant operating advantage.”

In keeping with the company’s DriverFirst product design focus, International undertook extensive research with truck drivers, including clinics that gathered input from hundreds of drivers. International used this research to design the LT Series’ interior and identifiy multiple new and improved features to enhance driver appeal.

The LT Series' cab design offers increased elbow, hip, and leg room and features a mix of high-tech and traditional features to emphasize driver ease of use. The gauge cluster includes a digital driver display that provides real-time monitoring of fuel economy and other important alerts.

Another design goal was keeping the truck running on the road and facilitating quick service when needed. Features to improve reliability and serviceability include:

- A new single-canister aftertreatment system that is 60% smaller and 40% lighter and is simplified for quicker servicing.
- LED headlamps and fog lamps to deliver brighter light and intensity with polycarbonate headlight lenses that protect from breakage.
- The cab wiring includes all-new harnessing and an in-cab power distribution module that is inside the truck, away from the elements.
- All key service points under the hood, inside the cab, and around the vehicle are ergonomically designed for easy access and servicing. Also, many components have been engineered with longer required service intervals.

“We pored over reliability data to evaluate nearly every single system on our on-highway platform to look for ways to get better,” said Denny Mooney, senior vice president, Global Product Development, Navistar. “In some cases, we completely redesigned the entire system to reach our goals. We are proud of the integrated, data-driven approach we used to assure improved reliability, serviceability, and productivity.”

The LT Series also boasts improved aerodynamics and fuel efficiency that Navistar said is 7% better than the company’s most recent fuel economy leader, a 2017 ProStar powered by the Cummins ISX15 engine.

The LT Series delivers 3% improvement in fuel economy due to its aerodynamic benefits alone, according to Navistar. Upgraded aerodynamic features on the International LT Series include an aero-contoured hood, fender, and wheel opening along with chassis skirts and an aero-enhanced three-piece front bumper, while longer side extenders shorten the trailer gap.

Several advanced driver assistance systems are available standard and there are additional customer-selected options.

The Bendix Wingman Advanced Collision Mitigation system comes standard on every model in the LT Series. The trucks are also available with the optional Bendix Wingman Fusion and Meritor Wabco OnGuardActive systems.

International’s own predictive cruise control looks ahead of the vehicle and recognizes the terrain and continuously calculates the most efficient speed and gear for optimal fuel economy in real time. The system uses preinstalled GPS maps and the latest commercial route data to make adjustments to cruising speed without the need to pre-drive the route.

The truck’s electronic control systems also use programmable parameters to optimize efficiency. Driver controls and instrumentation are based on industry-standard SAE J1939 electrical architecture, with a new cluster and switches designed to keep drivers focused and to maximize uptime.

The LT Series will be offered in multiple configurations, including day cab, 56-inch low roof sleeper, 56-inch hi-rise sleeper, 73-inch hi-rise sleeper, and 73-inch sky-rise sleeper. It will offer customers a choice of engines that provide the preferred performance for the application.

The LT Series is being launched with the new 2017 Cummins X15 engine, which offers horsepower ratings of up to 500 horsepower in the Efficiency series and up to 565 horsepower in the Performance series. It is also being launched with the new 2017 Navistar N13 engine, which will be available in the spring. Navistar said this engine has an advanced fuel-efficient 13L design that produces up to 475 horsepower and 1,750 lb.-ft. of torque yet is 500 to 600 pounds lighter than traditional big bore engines.

The company is taking orders today and will begin production in late November. For more information, click here.

[kscarbel2]

Navistar names SAF-Holland fifth wheel partner for International LT truck

Fleet Owner / October 3, 2016

SAF-Holland, a global manufacturer of fifth wheels, trailer suspension and axle systems, truck suspensions, landing gear, and coupling products, announced that Navistar has named it as its standard position fifth wheel partner. And the FW17 has been awarded the position as the standard fifth wheel on Navistar’s International LT Series truck.

The Holland FW17, manufactured from cast-steel, is the lowest weight steel fifth wheel available; designed as a durable, yet weight reduced choice for on-highway fleets, according to the company.

“SAF-Holland is honored that Navistar chose Holland as its standard fifth wheel on International trucks,’” said Jeff Talaga, vice president of sales & strategic development, Americas. “This is another milestone that strengthens our relationship with Navistar and allows us to expand our fifth wheel product offering to International dealers and their customers.”

An optional air release feature allows in-cab air release of the fifth wheel locking mechanism. The FW17 is backed by the company’s 5-year/500,000 Mile Performance Guarantee.

“The FW35, with a NoLube option, is the most versatile and proven fifth wheel. Its strong and durable Twin-Lock mechanism design immediately captures the kingpin for a quick, reliable couple.

Saving up to 100 pounds over competitive fifth wheels, the FWAL is made with ALCOA forged aluminum, making it the world’s lightest weight and only aluminum standard-duty fifth wheel,” the company said.

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[Red Horse]

Kevin-no pix??  Went to Navistar's website and nothing.

[kscarbel2]

 

[kscarbel2]

7 hours ago, Red Horse said:

Kevin-no pix??  Went to Navistar's website and nothing.

http://media.navistar.com/index.php?s=43&item=813

https://www.internationaltrucks.com/lt-series

[kscarbel2]

Navistar Unveils International LT to Replace ProStar

Transport Topics  /  October 3, 2016

Navistar Inc. turned its product renewal strategy toward Class 8 highway tractors, unveiling its new International LT Series of trucks here Sept. 30 in front of more than 400 customers, dealers, employees and journalists.

Lisle, Illinois-based Navistar is using a three-pronged approach to sell the five versions of LT: driver appeal, fuel economy and vehicle connectivity.

Company executives said they already have orders for 2,000 LTs to be built at the Navistar plant in Escobedo, Mexico, starting in November, and the first vehicle will be delivered in December.

“The new International LT Series reflects our vision for the future of the trucking industry, with a host of advancements that support improved driver safety and productivity, as well as fuel efficiency and uptime,” said Bill Kozek, Navistar president for Truck and Parts. “This new vehicle reflects our strong belief that integrating the best technology will provide customers with a significant operating advantage,” he added. LT — for linehaul transportation— will replace the 10-year-old ProStar models, which are being phased out in the United States and Canada.

LT’s five body types are a day cab and four sleepers: 56 inches deep, low-roof or high-roof; and 73 inches, high-rise or sky-rise.

LT engines will come with 15 or 13 liters of displacement.

The first engine option for LT is the new Cummins X15 made in Jamestown, New York. This is the replacement for the ISX engine series and it is designed to comply with the federal government’s Jan. 1, 2017, greenhouse-gas emission standards.

In April, Navistar will add its in-house N13 engine as an option. Also coming that month will be LT’s smaller sibling, the International RH for regional hauling.

Jeff Sass, Navistar senior vice president for sales and marketing, said all of the RH trucks will be day cabs and will be aimed at private fleets for distribution work, drayage carriers and petroleum haulers, among others.

LT is the offspring of Navistar’s 2014 concept truck, Project Horizon, that was built to explore fuel economy and advanced technologies.

LT also benefitted from the Department of Energy’s SuperTruck research and development program.

Shortly before the LT event, Navistar said it completed its SuperTruck for DOE known as CatalIST.

Company engineering vice presidents Stephen Gilligan and David Majors said several elements from CatalIST are present in LT: the aerodynamic sculpting of the cab, including the slope of the windshield; roof fairings; the dashboard; and lightweight materials such as aluminum and carbon-fiber panels.

Combining benefits from aerodynamic improvement, weight reduction and the new engines, Navistar said LT will get 7% better mileage than the final ProStars now being made, and that three of those seven percentage points come from aerodynamics. Gilligan said the changes were incorporated with a consideration for return on investment.

“Resoundingly, yes, this does pay out,” Gilligan said of the price increase for LT over ProStar. He said fuel-economy savings should recoup the roughly $2,000 price hike during the first year of operation.

CEO Troy Clarke said vehicle connectivity is a crucial part of the company’s strategy, including telematics for maintenance, active safety systems and multi-truck platoons.

“Companies that will win will be those who embrace this change. It will be a disruptive force for good,” Clarke said.

He expects connectivity rates to soar over the next 10 years and said LT was designed as “a springboard to where trucking is going next.”

While fleet owners will write the checks for the trucks, drivers were a crucial constituency to be pleased. A marketing video featured Clarke, Sass and another executive riding with drivers in their ProStars and talking about what would make a good truck. Navistar counted 500 ways in which a driver touches a truck, and made improvements where possible, including the return of air horn lanyards, more storage space — including cup holders and improved road visibility so a driver doesn’t have to turn his or her head so far. Majors, the engineer, said the design process included comments from 100 drivers and fleet managers. Because of that, the truck runs more quietly, making it easier for occupants to talk. He said there are multiple changes on technology attachments, control buttons and heating/air conditioning units, making it easier for drivers to do paperwork, rest and, of course, drive.
 

[Red Horse]

Thx Kevin-  "Lanyard on the roof"-and here I thought the horns were going back on roof!  Column mounted shifter?-obviously Allisons ??

RH- regional? Petroleum haulers?  Would have thought they would be pushing the aluminum cab HX series for the bulk industry.

In any case looks like it will be a real dogfight with F-Liner and the new Cascadia.  

So with these being built at Escobedo, looks like the two big volume OTR tractors will all be from south of the border.

[kscarbel2]

The LT is a major upgrade to the ProStar, no doubt about it.

But that said, I still prefer the appearance of the now discontinued ProStar-based Australian market Caterpillar truck range......and the CAT C15 engine it was available with.

(B-doubles, aka. B-trains and interlinks...........why can't the US government see the light?)

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[Maxidyne]

B-Doubles are the safest high productivity trucks on the road, bur we won't see them in the U.S. because the poorly trained "steering wheel holders" can't even handle one trailer...

[james j neiweem]

Hopefully IH will knock down Freightliner a peg or two.