New Iveco range to sway truck buyers

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For more than a few years, the heavy-duty sector hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for Iveco Trucks Australia. There are, however, now signs of an eager confidence in the camp as the company prepares to formally introduce its fully imported S-Way range at the Brisbane Truck Show

Despite an initial and somewhat expected reluctance to confirm if his appointment as managing director of Iveco Trucks Australia marked the beginning of the end for the historic Dandenong (Vic) truck manufacturing plant, few doubted Michael May had indeed been handed the hatchet which would sever 70 years of local assembly in favour of a fully imported operation.

And that, of course, is exactly what has happened with clinically crafted corporate efficiency. The final nail came earlier this year with the reported $95 million sale of most of the 12.2 hectare (30 acre) Dandenong site which since 1952 had been assembling and manufacturing trucks for International Harvester and from 1992, produced International and Iveco models after the European conglomerate came to the plant’s rescue in the wake of International’s implosion.

A shrewd and experienced executive, May’s appointment at the end of 2019 followed a 20-year career in Daimler’s truck and bus business, finishing as director of Mercedes-Benz for Australia and New Zealand. Unsurprisingly to those who have worked closely with him, he wasted no time making his mark, forging a new and largely predictable path for Iveco.

True, there’s a definite sadness about the Dandenong plant’s demise after generations as a local producer of trucks, but given Iveco’s consistently sagging sales volumes in the mainstream truck business, both before and after May’s appointment, the facility’s end came as no surprise. It was, as most industry analysts anticipated, simply a matter of time before Dandenong’s doors closed for good. A tad surprising, however, was the decision to retain a 1.7ha (four acre) portion of the property for what will become a new head office and what Iveco calls a ‘customisation and innovation centre’ for the brand’s products.

More surprising still, particularly considering Iveco’s healthy bounty from the Dandenong sale, the Victorian Government last year handed Iveco a $500,000 grant towards the innovation centre’s construction, apparently to proffer the introduction of zero-emission vehicles and the training of technicians.

In a nutshell, May has almost certainly done exactly what he was appointed to do by Iveco HQ in Turin, Italy, and moreover, laid the foundation for an entirely new future for Iveco Trucks Australia starting with the arrival of the new, fully imported S-Way heavy-duty line-up.

Target markets. Iveco is aiming to capture bigger slices of popular applications, from three-axle rigids to single trailer and B-double roles

But now the heavy lifting starts and while the brand’s light-duty business with the versatile Daily range continues to march comfortably along, taking Iveco to a higher plane on the heavy-duty table will be a Herculean task. For starters, overseas supply lines are still erratic in this post-COVID era but more to the point, Iveco has lost valuable ground in the continental cab-over class and snatching sales back from the ultra-competitive likes of Volvo, Scania, Mercedes-Benz and DAF, will demand much of the company and its latest heavy-duty contender. In short, there will be no free kicks and given his commercial background, Michael May probably knows this as well as anyone. As he put it, “We need to reignite our network and our customers.”

Last year, for instance, Iveco’s share of the heavy-duty sector in a booming market was a scanty 2.5 per cent. Yet while there’s no question the company will expect a better return from the S-Way line-up, it was a cautious Michael May who declined to predict a prospective figure during a recent preview of S-Way models at the Australian Automotive Research Centre (AARC) at Anglesea in Victoria – a comprehensive proving ground progressively developed by International Harvester from the early ’60s and since 1991, owned by transport giant Linfox.

In fact, the Iveco message at Anglesea was more about the benefits derived from the move to a fully imported operation than any public prediction for future sales volumes. As a press release stated, ‘The new Iveco S-Way sees Iveco Australia and New Zealand transition to a dedicated range of fully imported heavy-duty commercial vehicles – it’s a move that will benefit local buyers by providing them with the company’s latest models and innovations almost in lock-step timing with European releases.’

Iveco Trucks Australia chief, Michael May has forged Iveco’s transition to a fully imported operation. S-Way marks the start of a new era for the brand

However, the company equally insists local testing and validation remain critical to its new model programs. ‘Although Iveco’s latest heavy-duty offering is no longer assembled in Australia, ANZ (Australia-New Zealand) has still played a significant role in shaping the final specification … along with pre-launch testing and validation programs.

‘The S-Way program also showcases the high levels of co-operation within Iveco’s design, engineering, manufacturing and validation centres,’ the company says, adding that local S-Way units feature ‘some unique content and specification choices not offered in other markets. As an example, on the AS B-double model, variances include revised battery box and air tank positioning, the addition of a heavy-duty cross-member to provide extra rigidity, along with fitment of an additional fuel tank, specific air and electrical trailer connections, a trailer brake hand control and flat glass side mirrors.’

But of course, these so-called ‘unique content and specification choices’ are effectively nothing more than the basic requirements for any brand contesting the Australian heavy-duty market.

Significantly though, Iveco states, ‘Prior to launch, S-Way underwent extensive validation programs in Europe as well as in Australia. In local testing, three units in a variety of specifications operated at full loads amassing thousands of kilometres on routes from Melbourne to Brisbane with considerable time also spent travelling through outback NSW.’ Notably, the S-Way B-double demonstrator at Anglesea had more than 100,000 km on the clock and according to the company, S-Way drivetrains were further tested in the company’s previous X-Way models.

There’s nothing radically different on the inside but there’s no hiding a strong emphasis on practicality for the driver

Designed in Germany and Italy, and assembled in Iveco’s Madrid (Spain) factory with Cursor engines from the company’s factory in France, S-Way’s most apparent feature is unquestionably the redesigned cab with its striking, almost smiling, grille and new panel treatments. It is, in effect, a reworked design over an existing cab structure but further ahead, according to sources within Iveco, an entirely new cab and model range are under development in preparation for a European debut in two to three years.

Yet while S-Way may be the final evolution of Iveco’s current heavy-duty lineage, it is certainly not without the modern updates which take it a step above its X-Way predecessor.

Range change

First launched in Europe in 2019, S-Way is said to have significantly bolstered Iveco sales in many markets since then.

Locally though, Iveco insiders admit the line-up won’t cover all bases in Australia’s heavy-duty market but it will certainly be capable of tackling the majority of tasks from three and four-axle (6×2, 6×4, 8×4) rigid roles to two and three-axle (4×2 and 6×4) prime mover work at gross combination weights up to 70 tonnes.

Short stints on Anglesea test tracks pointed to good road manners but build quality in pre-production static trucks wasn’t particularly positive

Like its X-Way predecessor, there are three cab types starting with the short AD ‘Active Day’ low roof cab, the AT ‘Active Time’ shed with low or medium roof heights, and the premium AS ‘Active Space’ cab with low or high roof heights.

In prime mover layout, there are four wheelbases from 3200 to 3300, 3500 and 3650mm while rigid configurations have up to 10 wheelbases ranging from 3500 to 6050mm.

As Iveco puts it, ‘This spread of options and specification choices sees S-Way well positioned to cater for a broad array of applications including general freight and refrigeration work, and tipper and dog duties and more specialised applications.’

Meantime, power in all models obviously comes from Iveco’s Cursor engine family, starting with the 8.7 litre Cursor 9 at 360hp for the 6×2 rigid model, the 11.1 litre Cursor 11 at 460hp for some rigid roles and prime mover combinations up to 60 tonnes GCM, and at the top of the tree, the 12.9 litre Cursor 13 with a standard 530hp or optional 550hp for heavier eight-wheeler work and prime movers at gross weights up to 70 tonnes. Cursor 13 torque outputs are 2400Nm (1770lb-ft) for the 530 rating and 2500Nm (1844lb-ft) for the 550hp version.

Asked if the absence of a bigger bore engine is a drawback to Iveco’s bid for stronger sales figures, a forthright Michael May said simply, “Sure, a 15 or 16 litre would be nice but we can only concentrate on what we have.”

All models come with ample locker space on both sides of the cab

However, Iveco says the significant difference with these Cursor engines is their compliance with what’s known as the Euro 6 ‘Step E’ emissions requirement; currently Europe’s most stringent standard which places severe limits on cold start performance. What’s more, Iveco points out this latest crop of Cursors is also fully compatible with the latest generation of biofuels, or in technical terms, synthetically produced paraffinic diesel fuel.

At its Anglesea preview of the new models, the company was similarly intent on highlighting that all engines use its patented Hi-eSCR emission control technology with no EGR input. As Iveco describes it, Hi-eSCR is a single after-treatment system featuring a passive DPF (diesel particulate filter) which does not require driver intervention for DPF regeneration.

‘Other benefits of the technology,’ the company claims, ‘are that it’s uncomplicated and efficient, providing many advantages compared to EGR and SCR equivalents, including reduced fuel consumption, lower tare weight and there’s no requirement for additional cooling as passive DPF regeneration occurs at a lower temperature.’

Nifty: Cab tilt control comes from a neat hand-held unit clipped into the passenger side firewall under the lift-up grille

But if the emissions system operates on SCR only, how much AdBlue does it consume? “Between seven and eight per cent of fuel consumption,” answered Iveco product manager for Australia and New Zealand, Emilio Foieri.

In the box

Behind the Cursor 9 and Cursor 11 engines is the 12-speed Hi-Tronix (ZF) automated manual transmission whereas Cursor 13 models use the 16-speed Hi-Tronix. Both transmissions run a direct-drive top gear.

Iveco was also keen to highlight its Eco-Switch function which allows the driver to swap from the transmission’s normal fully automated operation to an ‘Eco-Fleet’ manual mode for 60 seconds ‘if traffic or road conditions temporarily require the driver to manually override the auto mode.’ However, as Iveco further explains, ‘If Eco-Fleet is activated, the available engine power and torque is limited.’

Additional efficiencies, the company continues, are achieved through Hi-Cruise which uses GPS to maximise on-road performance and efficiency, and engages the Eco-roll free-wheeling (neutral) function where possible.

Peak power from Iveco’s Cursor 13 remains at 550hp. Down the scale are 460hp from the Cursor 11 and 360hp from the Cursor 9

Like its continental contemporaries, all S-Way models contain an impressive array of standard safety systems, not least disc brakes all-round providing the stopping power for an advanced emergency braking system. Other safety and operational features include adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, an electronic stability program with ABS anti-lock and ASR anti-skid functions, hill hold and what Iveco calls ‘Driver Style Evaluation plus Driver Attention Support (DSE and DAS).

As the company’s press release states, ‘DAS checks the driver’s level of attention by analysing steering wheel movements. If a state of drowsiness is detected, a message on the screen and an audible signal prompt the driver to stop for a rest.’ Similarly, DSE analyses data and provides driving advice in real time through the instrument cluster or via an Iveco smart phone app.

Standard auxiliary braking in all models is a three-stage engine brake but Cursor 13 models have the added bonus of ZF’s highly effective Intarder hydraulic retarder as standard equipment; optionally available on other models. Likewise, a tyre pressure monitoring system is standard on some models and optional on others.

Back on the cab, refashioned panels on most quarters and the availability of an optional aerodynamic kit comprising an adjustable roof spoiler and side spoilers are said to achieve reduced drag and therefore, ‘fuel efficiency increases of up to three per cent on long haul routes’.

Meantime, on the inside there are several notable advances including a lower floor height which obviously delivers more space and in the case of high-roof models, greater standing room. A quality Isri suspension seat is standard on both sides of the cab.

In place of a key, ignition is now controlled by a stopstart button on the revised dash layout while the driver sits behind a new multi-function steering wheel which provides finger-tip control of many functions. Maintaining modern trends, there’s a seven-inch LCD ‘infotainment’ screen in easy reach on the driver’s left which also displays satellite navigation and is compatible with reverse and side camera installations. Short stints behind the wheel of the various models highlighted a functional gauge and switchgear layout.

Importantly for drivers, overall storage space has been significantly increased in S-Way with what the company describes as ‘a myriad of storage solutions.’ Likewise, there’s said to be ‘a wide selection of refrigerators with capacities up to 100 litres, some also include a freezer’ and on the outside, there are amply sized lockers on each side of the cab on all models.

Sleepers on AT and AS models have conveniently located light, heater and door lock controls, and can be specified with extensive storage above the bunk or for two-up work, an upper bunk.

An area of concern, however, was the build quality of a couple of pre-production models on static display at Anglesea, notably in paint matching and some external panel fittings. Typically, pre-production units generally show where improvements need to be made before full production starts, but it’s four years since S-Way’s European release and given the shortcomings evident at Anglesea, the task for Iveco’s local leaders will be to keep a close eye on quality standards from overseas.

On road though, demo units performed well on Anglesea’s familiar circuits. Still, brief runs on a test track provided little more than a snapshot of S-Way’s features and over the next few months it’s hoped a longer drive in real world conditions will deliver a more detailed appraisal.

So for now, stay tuned!

To view the new S-Way range, visit Iveco at stand 58 at the 2023 Brisbane Truck Show.

Video: Greg Bush and Iveco Trucks Australia