International is back!

It's official – International has begun its Australian comeback, with the Navistar-owned brand displaying some stunning hardware at the 2015 Brisbane Truck Show.

While the heavily customised LoneStar Blade was grabbing plenty of attention with its striking paint job, gleaming chrome and high-tech lighting, for curious prospective buyers it was all eyes on the ProStar, the model with which the brand will spearhead its return to the Australian market.

Navistar says it has no firm plans at this early stage to bring the uniquely styled LoneStar to our shores, but it will be using the show truck to help gauge public interest in the model.

The Managing Director of Navistar Auspac, Tim Quinlan, said the Brisbane Truck Show marked the beginning of a new era for Navistar and the Australian truck market.

"The [International] brand has a tremendous affinity in this part of the world but this is certainly no random attempt to simply resurrect International from the ashes of yesteryear," he said.

"This is an entirely new beginning and a great deal of careful planning and analysis preceded the decision to return the International brand to Australia and the Pacific region. There were many considerations, particularly in product plans for the future.

“The launch of ProStar in Brisbane is the first of many initiatives which will evolve over coming months and years."

The ProStar is powered by the 15-litre Cummins ISXe5 engine with initial power ratings of 475 to 550hp and 1850ftlb of torque, while Navistar says it's also considering the introduction of the new Cummins ISGe5 12-litre engine.

The power is fed to the ground via Eaton's 18-speed manual or AMT transmissions, while the ProStar rides on Meritor axles – an MFS wide-track front rated at 6500kg and the RT46-160GP tandem-drive rear rated at 46,000kg, the latter featuring power divider and cross locks.

Suspension is handled by Hendrickson's Primaax-EX air suspension set-up.

The ProStar comes with a 90-tonne GCM and a GVM of 25.5 tonnes, and International says the model will hold appeal for applications ranging from truck and dog combinations to road train doubles.

Cab options include a day cab and two sleepers – an integrated extended cab and an opulent high-rise sleeper – with both sleeper variants suited to 34-pallet B-double work. The red and white ProStar on show in Brisbane was also sporting an innovative slide-out sleeper extension.

Navistar Auspac Director of Sales, Marketing and Business Development, Glen Sharman, said the buzz surrounding International's return was rightly justified.

"There's a great deal of excitement about the return of International to the Australian market and ProStar is the ideal platform for what is effectively the start of an entirely new era in the brand's history," he said.

"But as Tim Quinlan said, this is just the start. Our plans and our future are being built on the strength and resources of Navistar, one of the world's great truck manufacturing corporations, which is committed to growing International's presence in markets around the world.

"ProStar's high-profile launch at the Brisbane Truck Show leaves no doubt that Australia is high on Navistar's agenda – no doubt at all."

While Navistar Auspac is yet to confirm when International product will go on sale, further details will be given at a media event in Brisbane scheduled for Friday, May 15.

Check back at trucksales.com.au soon for comprehensive coverage of International's return to Australia and full details of the International ProStar.