The commercial contenders
Page 10
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
The winner of the 2013 International Truck of the Year trophy will be revealed at next week’s IAA Show. We take a look at the shortlist
By Brian Weatherley THE WINNER OF the 2013 International Truck of the Year (IToY) award will be announced at next week’s IAA Hannover show.
This year’s shortlist, chosen by the 25 IToY jury members, is an eclectic mix. From Italy comes the latest Iveco Stralis Hi-Way and from Germany the ‘missionmatched’ Mercedes-Benz Antos. From Japan comes the middleweight Fuso Canter 4x4 and from Turkey there is the dark horse of the quartet, the new Ford Otosan Cargo, built by Ford and equallyowned with Koç Holdings.
We say ‘dark horse’ because currently the Cargo is primarily sold in Turkey and Brazil (see pp44-45). However, Ford Otosan has plans to launch its latest model into other key world markets, including Europe, hence its inclusion on the shortlist. We’re waiting to see if the UK will be one of those new export arenas. It would be fascinating to once again see the iconic blue oval badge on the front of a new heavy truck in Britain.
The Fuso Canter 4x4 is the nononsense six-tonner for operators wanting a cost-effective on/off roader without going for an ‘extreme’ mud-plugger such as Merc’s Zetros or Unimog. Having driven the 3.0-litre Canter, we can conirm it’s a classic ‘does-what-it says-on-the-tin’ truck, handling itself well through ield and stream and looking like an attractive option for power companies and utilities that need to carry cargo and crews to remote sites in all weathers. However, its niche appeal could count against it.
From the same Daimler-Benz truck stable we have the Antos, the rigid and tractor range for Euro-6 (there are no Euro-5 versions) aimed
speciically at ‘heavy-duty short-radius’ distribution. With its all-new 2.3m wide cab that picks up the design and styling baton from big-brother New Actros, Antos will ultimately replace the current Axor range. It has an impressive speciication, with no less than three engine options from 7.7 litres to12.7 litres, all with an automatic PowerShift box behind them as standard. The Germans have paid particular attention to making Antos ‘ultra-friendly’ to body builders in terms of its chassis layout and wheelbase options, and there are special payload and volume-tailored models (CM 6 September). Finally, there’s the Stralis HiWay, Iveco’s latest heavy line-up that builds upon the Stralis legacy. While, from the outside, the changes are more evolutionary than revolutionary, under the hood there’s the option of all-new 9-litre, 11-litre and 13-litre Hi-eSCR engines that clear the forthcoming Euro-6 emissions hurdle with, uniquely, SCR only (CM 17 May 2012). Inside, the Stralis cabin has been made even more driverfriendly. Iveco’s overall focus with Hi-Way, however, has been to further reduce total cost of ownership, not least through its ‘Iveconnect’
leet management system and extended service intervals.
We reckon it will ultimately be a straight ight between Antos and Stralis Hi-Way, although we won’t know until all the votes have been counted – and there have been plenty of surprises in the past.
Many of the new trucks due to debut at the IAA Show will have arrived too late to be considered for the 2013 award, but their makers will doubtless be hoping they’ll be shortlisted for the 2014 trophy.
HOW IToY WORKS
Every year, the International Truck of the Year jury (made up of senior trucking journalists from 25 coun tries across Europe) draws up a shortlist, then votes for their favourite. The main criterion for choosing the winning truck is its contribution “to the standards of effi ciency of the transport of goods by road in the countries involved in the IToY organisation”. CM is the official UK magazine (and jury member) for both International Truck of the Year and Van of the Year. The IToY winner is traditionally announced at a major European truck show in the autumn. This year it’s the IAA show at Hannover, being held next week. The IToY trophy is awarded for the following year, so votes cast this year will determine the 2013 winner. The 2012 IToY holder is Mercedes-Benz’s New Actros.