Climb every mountain
Page 13
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by Bryan Jarvis • Iveco Ford's EuroCargo 4x4 range is now available, so if you want one for Christmas place your order now.
The range was announced at the Geneva show (CM 20-26 January), but details of the new off-roaders were withheld until last week's official launch in Sicily. CM was on hand to drive some of the new models across the steep lava-strewn slopes of Mount Etna.
They're available throughout Europe in left or right-hand drive with day cabs to suit the off-road, emergency and local authority sectors.
There are four base models: the 135E18 and 135E23 13-tonners, which IFT is targeting at snowplough operators and the emergency services, with the 9.5-tonne GVW 95E15 and 95E21 for gritting operations or working in remote areas. The 9.5-tonners can be downrated to 7.5 tonnes with a choice of single or twin rear wheels.
All models come with 3.24m or 3,69m wheelbases and there's an extra-long 3.91m option for the 13.5-tonners.
The all-Iveco driveline runs in permanent 4WD, with power courtesy of the 8060 turbocharged in-line six-pot diesel. In the 95E15 and 135E21 it produces 143 and 207hp (105/130kW) respectively at 2,700rpm with 321 and 4131bft (435/560Nm) at 1,400rpm.
Air-to-air charge-cooling puts more power on tap for the 95E21 and 135E23, giving them 207 and 227hp (152/167kW) plus a lot more torque 487/5091bft (660/690Nm) and all at the same engine revs.
The aluminium engine sump is shallower and houses an extra oil pump to maintain lubrication on long steep climbs. In addition to a sturdier clutch, Iveco fits a six-speed gearbox to all bar the 95E15 which has a five-speeder as standard. The 4WD EuroCargo sports a new aluminium encased transfer box which splits the driving torque with 33% to the front axle and 67% to the rear. Double-reduction drive axles are standard and there are good load margins on the fronts which can be uprated if required,from 4.12 to 5.0 tonnes on lighter models, and from 5.20 to 5.5 tonnes on 13.5-tonners. Rear axles are rated at 6.15 and 9.5 tonnes respectively. Iveco supplies rear and inter-axle diff locks as standard.
Brake systems vary, with airover-hydraulic front discs and rear drums on 9.5-tonners; and full-air drums all round at 13.5 tonnes. The new chassis has parabolic springs (semi-elliptics are optional) that give impressive ground clearances of 300420mm depending on rear-axle wheel sizes.
Mobility angles are good too, depending on wheels and wheelbase: the departure angle can be improved by raising the retractable rear underrun bar.
The standard EuroCargo day cab stands high on this chassis and is comfortable for off-road conditions. Entry requires some care, however, as the door interferes with the line of
PRICE
climb making it a difficult step up to the drivers seat, especially for shorties. Exiting entails backing out carefully as the hinged lower step is positioned well forward of the middle step.
Iveco says its new 4x4s can climb 45° gradients: our brief drive in severe conditions gave us no reason to doubt this claim.
With all diffs-locks engaged both models romped up the steep tracks on Etna's lava fields, even when fully laden. But when the engine revs drop below 1.500 revs torque drops off dramatically.
Tendency
Some care is needed when applying the power on bends to counter the tendency to oversteer but however we drove them they kept their cool with engine coolant never rising above 75°C despite climbing constantly in temperatures around 30°C and at heights up to 2,500m.
Even more impressive was the performance of Iveco's new exhaust brake which eliminated any need to use the footbrake, even on the 30% descent. On the sharpest drop of all it held back a laden 135E23 in second gear at around 1,500rpm with the odd dab on the footbrakeand in first gear it virtually stopped the truck in its tracks.
Priced at between 137,000 and £4500, these new offroaders seem to give you much value for the money: we look forward to getting our hands on one for a full roadtest.