New Stralis on real-world test

IVECO’s new Euro 6 Stralis development vehicles are amassing kilometres with selected fleets around Australia, providing real world performance information.

CEVA Logistics sub-contractor Mark Schipper has been punting the latest Euro 6 4x2 prime mover in a single trailer application transporting vehicles throughout country New South Wales and as far afield as Queensland, Victoria and South Australia.

Now over a year on the job, the Stralis has already clocked around 240,000 kilometres of trouble-free running.

The latest Stralis introduces a completely new driveline, delivering a significant reduction in total cost of ownership and CO2 emissions as it moves from a Euro 5 to a Euro 6 powerplant.

The Euro 6 model features an 11-litre common-rail engine, up from the 10-litre displacement of the previous generation engine and also benefits from a new unit injection set-up.

Power remains the same at 460hp but torque in the new engine is up 50Nm to 2150Nm.

IVECO says that improved fuel efficiency is a result of the larger torque figure with a less stressed duty cycle.

“Fuel consumption in the new model is noticeably lower and fueling costs are several hundred dollars lower per month than with the previous model,” Schipper said.

The engine has been developed from IVECO’s European Euro 6 (Step C) platform, which has already been successfully used in the company’s European-spec Stralis models for several years.

“The new Stralis is quiet, there’s barely any engine noise, it’s comfortable and as easy to drive as a car,” Schipper said.

“Combined with the AMT, it’s a great mix – why would you want to change gears if you don’t have to. I can be in this truck for as long as 14 hours a day, yet when I get out at the end of the day I still feel fresh.

“Big improvements have also been made in recent years to the safety and technology featured in these trucks – this one has adaptive cruise control and a lane departure warning system, there’s now also a touchscreen multimedia system with Bluetooth and steering wheel-mounted controls,” he added.

With drive routes often seeing Mark many kilometres from home, he sleeps in the truck three or four nights a week but still manages to get good rest thanks to the Stralis cabin’s generous dimensions.

“I’ve got the high roof option which allows me to stand fully upright inside the cabin and access to the sleeping area is very good,” he said.

“The bunk area has all the space I need to have a good sleep, I’ve also fitted a cabin cooler for the warmer months.

“I really like the IVECO Stralis range and this is easily the best one I’ve owned – the Stralis has really come of age.”