International upgrades LoneStar

[kscarbel2]

Heavy Duty Trucking  /  September 11, 2017

International Trucks will be rolling into the inaugural North American Commercial Vehicle Show later this month with a seriously-overhauled LoneStar. In a teleconference Monday morning to outline the various enhancements and new features on retro-styled Class 8 tractor, Dave Majors, vice president, product development, Navistar, said the new LoneStar is yet another signal to the industry that International Truck is focused on uptime and delivering the best trucks in the industry that drivers want to drive.

According to Majors, the Lonestar’s “striking” aerodynamic appearance and “breakthrough” functional innovations inside and out are the results of International DriverFirst and Advanced Classics design philosophies, in which technology and innovative styling converge with next-generation aerodynamic design to deliver superior fuel efficiency. Majors said the new LoneStar also sets a higher standard for comfort through improved driver ergonomics and a quieter cab.

"Over the past decade drivers have come to love the iconic status of the LoneStar tractor's exterior styling and appearance with the distinctive grille and sloped hood that were inspired by International's D-Series trucks," said Majors. "Based on this feedback, we wanted to incorporate much of what we've recently learned from drivers and focus our engineering on an all new driver-centric interior while maintaining the iconic exterior look of the truck. As a result, we've made major improvements to the LoneStar in vehicle uptime performance and multiple new and improved features that enhance driver appeal."

Among the new features that International has added to the LoneStar are:

• A new, single-canister aftertreatment system, Majors said is now 60% smaller and 40% lighter than its predecessor and has also been simplified for quicker servicing.
• All new cab wiring and an in-cab power distribution module that is inside the truck, for better protection from the elements.
• International has moved 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.
• A completely revamped HVAC system, that Majors said now delivers outstanding comfort and visibility. It is not only more robust and reliable, drivers will be impressed by the quick defrost functionality. During testing at a frigid 0°F, Majors said the LoneStar's bMAX defrost cleared 100% of the windshield in under 30 minutes from start-up time.

Additionally, Majors noted, International’s DriverFirst design philosophy actively asked for driver input on how to improve the interior design of our trucks. As a result, the LoneStar features an all new, ergonomically designed interior with new digital information display, a new integrated stalk shifter integrating transmission and engine brake functionality, durable and easy to clean soft touch vinyl interior, and stylish diamond interior is standard. Majors said drivers will notice that the doors, side glass, and cab mirrors have all been redesigned to enhance visibility and ultimately helping to reduce neck strain and fatigue over the long haul. Additionally, International redesigned the fuse panel in the passenger-side dash. “Drivers told us they needed a flat area to write on,” Majors said. “This redesign does just that. But we also added deep channeling around the electronics to keep any spilled drinks out of the electronic components housed in that compartment.”

Other in-cab improvements, Majors said, focused on safety and reducing driver fatigue. These include vastly reduced sound levels inside the cab, improved front, and side, visibility, redesigned and repositioned pedestal mirrors and an all-new instrument cluster with improved graphics and easier-to-read dial faces.

Another major upgrade is the addition of the Cummins X15 engine as an option with ratings ranging from 485 to 605 horsepower. When combined with the Lonestar’s contoured hood, fenders and new aerodynamic pedestal mirrors, Majors said the new X15 option is up to 3% more fuel efficient than the previous generation of the tractor, and noted that the truck will be offered in specialized ratings that will allow customers to dial in the ideal balance of performance and efficiency required for any on-highway operation.

International will unveil upgraded Lonestar tractor later this month at the NACV Show in Atlanta. The new models will begin appearing at International dealerships nationwide in early January.

Related reading - https://www.internationaltrucks.com/trucks/lonestar

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[kscarbel2]

International gives LoneStar an upgrade

Truck News  /  September 11, 2017

LISLE, Ill. — International Truck on Sept. 11 announced major enhancements to its LoneStar truck, which combines maximum uptime and driver features with bold styling.

The announcement was made during National Truck Driver Appreciation Week that ran Sept. 10-16, for a specific reason. International said the new truck was created with drivers in mind as a result of the company’s DriverFirst design philosophy, which actively asked for driver input on how to improve the interior design of trucks to better meet the needs of drivers themselves.

“As we honor the more than 3.5 million professional truck drivers across America during National Driver Appreciation Week, it is fitting that we are unveiling the beloved American classic, the LoneStar with interior updates that maximize driver productivity and improve driver ergonomics and visibility,” said Michael Cancelliere, president, Truck and Parts, Navistar.

Direct results of the driver input include an ergonomically designed interior with new digital information display, a new integrated stalk shifter integrating transmission and engine brake functionality, durable and easy to clean soft touch vinyl interior, and a stylish Diamond interior is standard. Doors, side glass, and cab mirrors were also redesigned to enhance visibility and reduce neck strain. The truck also features the classic, recognizable grille design.

“One of the things we spent a lot of time on is the egress of the vehicle,” said David Majors, vice-president, product development. “We opened up the door four degrees, and we also placed the steps so that it makes perfect sense for when you’re entering and egressing the vehicle. We’ve also added the three points of contact to make sure there are no accidents getting in and out of the vehicle.”

The new LoneStar was also built for maximum uptime, the company said. It contains a new single-canister aftertreatment system that is 60% smaller and 40% lighter and simplified for quicker servicing.

As well, 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 truck also has an upgraded HVAC system with a max air-conditioning feature that can cool the cab more quickly. The company also claims the new vehicle has best in class defrost performance, which allows drivers to spend less time waiting for the windshield to clear, and more time driving to deliver their load.

The new LoneStar is also up to 3% more fuel efficient than the previous generation thanks to a combination of the Cummins X15 engine, contoured hood, fenders and pedestal mirrors. As well, every LoneStar can be equipped as an option with OnCommand Connection, the company said.

“Now more than ever, driver retention is one of the top concerns among fleets both large and small,” said Majors. “Therefore, enhancing the LoneStar at this time with critical driver-centric updates gives fleet operators and owners an additional tool to reward and retain drivers.”

International confirmed the new Lonestar will be available as a day cab, 56-inch low-roof sleeper, 56-inch hi-rise sleeper, 73-inch hi-rise sleeper, and 73-inch sky-rise sleeper. The company is taking orders now and will begin market availability of the trucks at the beginning of 2018. For more information visit https://www.internationaltrucks.com/LoneStar.

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[kscarbel2]

Navistar makes enhancements to LoneStar tractor

Sean Kilcarr, Fleet Owner  /  September 11, 2017

OEM upgrades tractor’s interior to improve driver ergonomics, visibility, and ultimately productivity. It will be available in early 2018.

The International Truck division of Navistar is rolling out what it calls “major enhancements” to its LoneStar highway tractor; deliberately dovetailing the announcement with the start of National Truck Driver Appreciation Week to highlight the “driver-focused” upgrades to its LoneStar family of trucks, originally introduced back in 2008.

“These benefits move the needle in this ‘advanced classic’ segment,” David Majors, Navistar’s vice president of product development, noted in a conference call with reporters regarding the LoneStar upgrades, which will become available in January 2018.

“This vehicle is really like a Porsche; it has a very distinctive style when it comes down the road. It’s always had iconic style but now we’re refining it,” he explained. “We’re combining form and function better to provide an outstanding environment for the driver while making aerodynamic improvements to boost fuel economy.”

Majors said hood design changes and new seven-pound-lighter pedestal mirrors when combined with the new Cummins X15 engine models available for the LoneStar improve fuel efficiency by 3% versus previous iterations of the vehicle.

He pointed out, however, that Navistar’s new A26 engine will not be available for the company’s retooled LoneStar model.

Some examples of the LoneStar upgrades include:

• A new single-canister aftertreatment system provided by Cummins, the LoneStar’s engine supplier, that is 60% smaller and 40% lighter than the previous two-part system and is also simplified for quicker servicing.

• An all-new cab wiring harness package and in-cab power distribution module that is inside the truck, away from the elements.

• An all-new HVAC [heating, ventilation and air conditioning] system delivers outstanding comfort and visibility with faster defrosting capabilities. During testing at 0°F, the company said the LoneStar’s “MAX” defrosting setting cleared 100% of the windshield in under 30 minutes from start-up.

• The doors on the LoneStar now open 4% wider, are two-times as stiff, and feature more seal compression to help reduce cab noise, Majors noted. “Lower NVH [noise, vibration, harmonics] reduces driver fatigue for long haul,” he said.

• Door handles are wider and deeper to accommodate use when wearing gloves. Indeed, Majors said most of the rocker switches on the LoneStar’s redesigned dashboard can now be operated when wearing gloves.

• The steering wheel buttons now feature laser-etched descriptions and are backlighted as well. “We had complaints about the markings wearing off over time and being hard to see as well – drivers were taking their eyes off the road to find the right switch,” Majors said.

The revamped LoneStar will also feature an all new ergonomically designed interior with new digital information display, a new integrated stalk shifter integrating transmission and engine brake functionality, durable and easy to clean soft touch vinyl interior, and stylish diamond interior is standard, said Majors

Drivers will notice that the doors, side glass and cab mirrors have all been redesigned to enhance visibility and ultimately helping to reduce neck strain and fatigue over the long haul, he added – with 15% less head turning needed to the left and 5% less to the right for maximum side-window visibility.

The LoneStar is available in several configurations, Navistar noted: Daycab, 56-in. low roof sleeper, 56-in. high-rise sleeper, 73-in. high-rise sleeper, and a 73-in. “Sky-Rise” sleeper package. The LoneStar is not typically spec’d for vocational applications, though Majors noted some are being sold into the heavy-wrecker segment.

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[kscarbel2]

[Bullheaded]

I always liked the Lonestar.