Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/426944
December 2014 | Overdrive | 41 For videos of this test drive and others by Equip- ment Editor Jack Roberts, see the Drive Tests playlist at youtube.com/ OverdriveMag. Guaranteed Lowest Price on All Brands* ® **INCLUDES: TIRES, MOUNTING LABOR, VALVE STEMS, F.E.T. AND A $40 † PER TIRE TRADE-IN VALUE FOR YOUR CASINGS. Price does not include applicable state or local taxes. † Casings must meet minimum trade-in criteria. *Guaranteed lowest price available on purchase of 8 new drive tires. Present a copy of the competitors ad or written tire price quote to the service writer at the time of purchase and we will match it. Guarantee does not apply to verbal quotes. Must be the same tire product code (brand and size). Offer valid from November 1 - December 31, 2014. 8 New Drive Trailer Tires OR (GL266D & GL285) Starting at $2,679 ** The ECM effortlessly provided plen- ty of high torque needed to get my 70,000-pound load moving, and the truck easily hit 55 mpg on an interstate onramp. Once at cruising speed, the system automatically gets to the high- est gear/lowest RPM setting possible to conserve fuel. But throttle response – and cor- responding horsepower boosts – are instantaneous if you decide to jump over a lane and pass a slower vehicle. Once you're back in cruise mode, the integrat- ed drivetrain reverts to fuel economy mode, with zero driver input required. Upon hitting some hilly terrain beyond the Red River, the engine eas- ily maintained my desired cruise speed with little or no deceleration. I logged 9.5 mpg on my drive without really concentrating on fuel economy. In short, Peterbilt's Model 579 EPIQ is a highly efficient highway cruiser that doesn't sacrifice looks, prestige, comfort or power. Configuration: EPIQ Fuel Economy pack- age with integrated drivetrain and advanced vehicle aerodynamics Engine: Paccar MX-13, 13-liter diesel Horsepower: 455 Torque: 1,550-1,750 lb.-ft. Transmission: Fuller Advantage FAOM15810S-EP3 automated manual Gearing: 10-speed optimized for down- speed fuel economy Front brakes: Air disc Rear axle: Dana Spicer D40-155 Advantek40 with 40,000-lb. capacity Rear axle ratio: 2.64 MODEL 579 EPIQ SPECS