Kevin Swallow
Page 33
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It is fair to conclude that Iveco has indeed put the Eco into the Stralis. This tractor unit not only proved more fuel efficient than the common-or-garden Stralis – albeit not by a huge margin – but it also compares well with much of the opposition. Despite our best efforts to the contrary, most of the time the transmission shifted gears dependably and delivered a solid drive.
We spotted several occasions when manual gear-shifting could have done a touch better, but we understand why Iveco’s EcoSwitch function prevents unlimited use of manual override.
EcoSwitch enables operators and transport managers to modify driver behaviour and trim the fuel bill without having to drum home best-practice techniques through driver training. It’s unclear if operators would be happier to dictate the level of input a driver makes at source or if it is cheaper to schedule driver training across the fleet. It will not please drivers and operators eager to upskill, but it is a pragmatic approach.
The performance of the Cursor 10 is all the more credible when one considers this engine is in the twilight of its career. For Euro-6 it will be replaced by the 11.1-litre Cursor 11. It keeps the variable geometry turbocharging but switches from unit injectors to common-rail fuel injection.