International Truck has launched the International HV Series—the first severe service truck available with the International A26 12.4L big bore engine and designed to be the replacement for the WorkStar steel-cab vocational model.
The HV—which stands for heavy vocational—has the same hood and grille as the current WorkStar but comes with an upgraded cab with new instruments, controls, dashboard, and sealing that make the HV easier and more comfortable to drive.
Orders are being taken, with market availability in March.
“We focused on re-energizing and re-invigorating our existing product line and have been hard at work reshaping our steel-cab vocational product,” said Darin Vehlewald, product manager of the vocational product line. “We’re all excited to announce our HV series. We’ve had our engineers work pretty closely with customers as well as body equipment manufacturers during our design process to make sure we’re upgrading. What we’ve created is what we believe is the most productive work truck environment possible. The HV series was built with productivity as its primary mission.”
Some highlights: heavy-duty, double-sided galvanized steel cab for long-term durability; huck bolt chassis fasteners provide superior clamping force and will not come loose even in extreme environments; also available with a clean Cab-to-Axle (CA) configuration to minimize costly post-production modifications; integral 20” and 27” frame extensions (not bolt-on) for superior strength and reliability; available stainless-steel oil pan for reduced corrosion in highly corrosive applications; new industry-standard J1939 electrical system architecture and improved harnessing to maximize uptime.
Built from the proven MAN D26 engine crankcase, the A26 produces up to 475 horsepower and 1700 lb-ft of torque from a design that is 600-700 lbs lighter than a traditional 15L big bore engine. The A26 is also the first engine to meet the B10 standard that requires 90% of delivered engines to travel 1.2 million miles before a major repair. The HV Series is also available with the Cummins B6.7 and Cummins L9 engines.
Every HV can be equipped as an option with OnCommand Connection, the remote diagnostics system and Over-the-air (OTA) programming. With the International HV Series, customers can order the specific chassis configuration needed for any application upfront, which substantially reduces the time and expense involved to upfit the vehicle in post-production.
To further improve driver productivity and safety, the HV Series features the best-in-class Diamond Logic, an advanced electrical system that streamlines chassis and body equipment integration and allows customers to program automated tasks.
DriverFirst enhancements that contribute to productivity include:
• Redesigned cab doors with a lower bottom glass edge and removed the vent window, giving the driver a single large piece of glass to look through, greatly improving side visibility and reducing blind spots.
• By reshaping the doors and side glass, the position of the optional pedestal mirrors was optimized so drivers turn their heads 15% less on the left side and 5% less on the passenger side, making it easier to keep their eyes on the road while reducing neck strain over the long haul.
• An all-new dash designed for the driver with more space for additional rocker switches.
• An available premium gauge cluster designed with driver input that is customizable with virtual gauges.
• An easy-access column-mounted stalk shifter integrated with engine braking to help keep hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.
• Introduced the “wing panel dash” tailored for the vocational truck and driver. The new stalk shifter placement and the lower instrument panel design greatly improve leg room for the driver, especially at the knee. An additional vent has been added to help keep the middle front passenger comfortable.
• The dash contains space for up to 30 customizable switches ensuring functionality of any type of body that is mounted on the back. Switches offer large easy-to-read text and recognizable ISO symbols, are back-lit for easy viewing at night, and offer seven unique color options for the indicator lights. For complex body applications like ambulance, fire or high-railers, the multi-color lights allow for a higher level of customization and functionality.
• A new fuse panel is much easier to service with no exposed wires. The panel has a new spill-proof design allowing liquids to flow into a gutter around the panel and drain to the outside of the vehicle without damaging any electronics.
• With an inside wheel cut of up to 50 degrees, the HV Series can easily navigate tight city streets or construction sites, saving driver time, reducing work-site collisions and boosting productivity.
Vehlewald also gave some severe service updates:
• The WorkStar 7400/7500 AWD series will feature the Fabco FSD model, rated at 20,000 lbs. It allows a lower ride height than 20,000-lb center bowl. Front drive axle options are 8k, 10k, 12k, 13k, 14k, 16k, and 18k.
• A super single frame rail—3.35 million RBM-rated and ½-inch thick and 11¼” high—is now available.
• Standard in all WorkStar models are manual-reset circuit breakers.
Ramses Banda, senior manager of the medium-duty product line, said the International MV and HV will be launched in January, and the Class 4-5 CV truck will be launched in June and available in 2019.
“The CV series is a new concept for International,” he said. “It will be the first true Class 4-5 commercial duty truck and will have all the attributes that our commercial trucks have. All the DNA is going to be in our CV series: durability, endurance, functionality, ease of service.”
Vocational engineer Paul Nieuwlandt, addressing medium-duty products, said that Navistar will cease production of the N9 engine and offer the L9 and B6.7.
He also elaborated on future options and features for medium-duty trucks:
• Low cab with 04VGA air dryer location and forward-located AT device offerings.
“We’re looking at moving the aftertreatment system forward from its normal location to achieve the 152” wheelbase. This will open up the right-hand side so it can have either a 50-gallon fuel tank or 70-gallon fuel tank. The feature code of 04VGA typically forces you to a mid-high cab. We’re trying to redesign that to continue to keep it at a low cab. We’ll get the air dryer out of the way, and that allows for the battery box and redesigned air tank sizes to accommodate the volume if there is a volume need for that third air tank. It will hang below, so you still have a clean back of cab.”
• The clean CA step package.
“We’re improving the vertical step height. Today, it’s at about 18 inches from step to step. We’re closing that gap to be more conducive to complaints we’ve had on the entry and egress. It’s going to be 16.6. We’re also increasing the lateral step offset. Today, it’s about 2 inches from the first step to second step. It’ll be about 3 inches now. So it will be more of a stair-step style. We’re also extending that step to the rear part. To do that, we had to basically redesign the battery box and DEF tank location. We are forcing them inboard so the step can extend to the front side of those components.”
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