Iveco unveils new Cursor

The Brisbane Truck Show saw Iveco Australia debut its optimised 13-litre Cursor Series II engine, while also showcasing the brand's broad array of commercial vehicles spanning everything from LCVs to road-train-rated prime movers.

The new engine could be found in a Powerstar 6400 tipper and a Stralis cab-over prime mover (pictured) at the show, and is now available in all 560hp Powerstar and Stralis models.

While peak output essentially remains unchanged the new Cursor has been optimised for Australian conditions, with a new engine calibration said to deliver enhanced torque and boosted fan operation, resulting in lower running temperatures and improved engine life.

Peak torque of 2300Nm is delivered from 1000rpm all the way to 1700rpm, while the engine now benefits from aluminium pistons (for reduced friction and improved heat dissipation), a higher-capacity oil pump, a new camshaft design, and an improved turbocharger and exhaust manifold design.

Developed specifically to suit demanding B-double applications, Iveco says the Cursor Series II has undergone extensive bench, dyno and on-road testing in the lead up to its Australian release, with the unit covering over 1,000,000 kilometres in real-world conditions.

Such is Iveco's confidence in the new engine that it's offering extended warranty packages of three, four or five years.

According to Joel Read, Iveco Product Manager, the engine will quickly find its place in Australia.

"The engine requirements for the Australian market are very particular," he said.

"There are many and varied road and climatic conditions to contend with and the best-performing engines are going to be those that have undergone thorough development to meet our local requirements.

"In this regard Iveco has invested heavily in time and resources to enhance the Cursor engine offering to even better suit Australian requirements, especially in demanding B-double applications.

"The extensive real-world testing undertaken locally by Iveco engineers has returned very pleasing results, with the new Cursor Series II recording a significant drop in engine operating temperatures, an important factor in engine durability. Data also indicates some fuel efficiency gains – an excellent outcome considering the Cursor was already a frugal engine."

The Iveco Australia stand at the Brisbane Truck Show served up a smorgasbord of commercial vehicles across a broad range of GVMs. Also on show was the new Daily van (click here to read the recent trucksales.com.au launch and video reviews), a 4x4 single-cab Daily, the recently revised ACCO vocational truck (in an 8x4 agitator format and now with electronic stability control), plus a medium-duty Eurocargo and a stunning 600hp Powerstar 7800 prime mover in highway trim.

Also drawing plenty of attention was Michael Schumacher's 2006 Ferrari F1 race car, underlining the fact that Iveco is Ferrari's chosen carrier in Europe, in addition to serving as the official transporter of Red Bull Racing here in Australia.