Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/818577
36 | Overdrive | May 2017 I nternational Truck's new RH Series tractor replaces the ProStar 113-inch BBC model and the TranStar 107. The regional-haul tractor, introduced last month at ExpoCam in Montreal, will be offered in a 56-inch low- roof sleeper, 56-inch high-rise sleeper, day cab with roof fairing and 56-inch high-rise sleeper with roof fairing. Bendix's Wingman Advanced Collision Mitigation system comes standard. The RH Series is the first to get International's new 12.4-liter A26 engine as stan- dard equipment. The A26 outputs up to 475 hp and 1,750 lb.-ft. of torque. International says the A26 is the quietest, most efficient engine in its on-highway line- up. At 2,299 pounds, it's the lightest engine in its class and is 55 pounds lighter than the N13 engine it will replace at the end of the year. Aerodynamic and drive- line improvements make the RH Series up to 6 percent more fuel-efficient than the trucks it replaces. The same aerodynamic improvements also reduce wind noise. Engineers with International's parent Navistar redesigned side win- dows and mirrors to provide enhanced side visibility. The truck has an inside wheel cut of up to 50 degrees, deliver- ing a curb-to-curb turning radius of 27 feet and 10 inches. The interior design was based on a study of inter- action points between the driver and the truck, Navistar says. Features such as a large swept-back windshield, opti- mized mirror placement and an aerodynamic sloped hood contribute to greater visibility. "We drew upon the exper- tise of drivers to ensure that the RH Series is the most driver-centric Class 8 region- al-haul vehicle we've ever built," says Denny Mooney, senior vice president of glob- al product development for Navistar. "Many of our cus- tomers tell us that their num- ber-one challenge is attract- ing and retaining drivers." The cab wiring includes all-new harnessing and an in-cab power distribution module that is inside the truck, tucked away from the elements. All key ser- vice points under the hood, inside the cab and around the vehicle are designed for easy access and servicing, and many components have been engineered with longer intervals between required maintenance. The new single-canister aftertreatment system is 60 percent smaller and 40 per- cent lighter than the prior system and also offers faster servicing. International debuts regional-haul tractor RH Series improvements include fuel economy, turning radius, dash design, visibility and noise reduction. Navistar will begin taking orders this month. BY JASON CANNON The redesigned interior features a new premium gauge cluster with a digital driv- er display. Real-time monitoring of fuel economy and other important alerts are in clear sight. The new display also offers up to 15 customizable digital gauges.