lul* Cursor
Page 22
Page 23
Page 24
Page 25
Page 26
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
is up. an running
Confidentially, people within Iveco Ford Truck will tell you it's "make or break" time. If it's ever going to stake a decent claim in the UK heavy truck market it has to do it with the new EuroTech Cursor. But with an innovative eight-litre lump and a revised interior, it could finally have what it takes to woo UK hauliers big time. CM spills the beans on the latest Italian Job.
by Brian Weatherley • "Give us the tools—and we will finish the job." Winston Churchill's famous quote could easily have been written for Iveco Ford Truck. Despite enjoying a dominating 30% share between 7.5 and 17 tonnes, IFT has always struggled to make any kind of real impact at the heavy end of the UK truck business. Even at its best, or most attractively discounted, EuroTech only managed a 12% share of the tractor market—and lately that's fallen back to around 8%.
Officially the company says: "Iveco Ford's objective was always 15%."
That's what it's aiming at now with its new EuroTech Cursor, the name being Latin for "runner". Anything less than complete success isn't an option. EuroTech Cursor has to deliver the goods. And judging by its advanced engine technology it certainly looks to be a millennium machine. But is new technology enough? Has EuroTech changed for the better?
While the latest model may look the same from the outside Iveco insists: "We're not treating it as a relaunch, its a completely different vehicle. It's now a very competitive product." UK deliveries of the EuroTech Cursor start at the back end of October. So what's it got to offer?
ICURSOR 8 THE BABY OF THE FAMILY
IT'S BEEN ONE OF THE WORST KEPT SECRETS in the business that Iveco has been developing a highpower/medium capacity engine around the eight-litre mark. However, after months of speculation it's finally broken cover.
All new from the sump upwards, the Cursor 8 is the first-born of a new family of eight, 10 and 13-litre advanced diesel engines which will take the Italian truck maker into Euro-3 and beyond, eventually replacing its existing 9.5, 13.8 and 17.2-litre engines along the way. They should all be in place by 2001 although at present there's just the Cursor 8—an in-line six-pot available in power ratings from 245352hp. As far as the UK market is concerned, Cursor 8 will take over from the current 9.5-litre engine with
ratings from 272 to 352hpalthough a 240hp engine is offered on the Continent it won't be used on right-hookers. However, the 380hp EDC version of the 9.5-litre will remain until it's replaced by more powerful Cursor 10 engines which start arriving from next autumn.
Operators also get the choice of two versions of the Cursor 8 at 270hp, with the Cursor 270 R delivering 17% more torque than the Cursor 270 I, together with an optional economy function on the Cursor 8 350 which limits maximum engine speed to 21000rpm and peak power to 270hp when running empty or on easy terrain.
Some hauliers might well query the wisdom of introducing a 350hp 7.8-litre diesel at a time when more and more want at least 11-litres for that kind of power. But Iveco points out that the Cursor 8 is only the start of a new family, and that along with power it has the one thing bigger engines can't match—lightness. With a dry weight of 678kg (167k9 less than the equivalent 340hp 9.5-litre EuroTech engine which it replaces), it should certainly appeal to payloadhungry operators who will look at Cursor kerbweights with interest (see box, page 24). Strategically, Cursor 8 also provides a challenge to the soon-to-be relaunched 8.3-litre Cummins C-Series as well as
other mid-range diesels from Leyland Daf, Volvo and Scania. But can a 350hp eight-litre diesel really be durable? Iveco believes it is, having run a three-year, 50vehicle field test programme with operators throughout Europe, including the UK.
It's rumoured that Cursor was due to have been launched earlier, but that it was held back until Iveco's engineers were completely satisfied with its staying power. Whatever the truth, Iveco says the extended test programme "...enabled product reliability and soundness of decisions in terms of small, fast engines to be confirmed."
I CURSOR 8
ENGINE DETAILS
THE CURSOR 8 IS BRISTLING with new technology, from a four-valve, overhead-cam cylinder head, to Bosch electronically controlled unit injectors. However, the big news is that Iveco is the first European truck manufacturer to fit a "variable geometry" turbocharger on a productionline engine (see next page).
Despite previously warning that Euro-2 might lead to a deterioration in fuel economy, Iveco is claiming improvements in the Cursor's fuel consumption at high speeds or when running partially laden. It cites the Cursor 8 350 as having a 6% lower consumption than an equivalent 8460 engine in a EuroTech. More importantly the electronically controlled Cursor engine looks like having an extremely forgiving nature with the "high economy area" extending from 1,300 to 1,900rpm.
To meet forthcoming Euro-3 standards, Iveco has turned down unit line pumps and common rail injection systems in favour of unit injectors on the Cursor 8. Injection pressures into the chamber run at around 1,500bar. Electrically operated solenoid valves in the pump-injectors control fuel flow and timing. The overhead camshaft is gear-driven from the rear of the engine and secured to the cylinder head by seven bearings.
While other engine makers have adopted articulated piston designs, the Cursor 8 uses one-piece all-aluminium pistons because they disperse heat better into the engine's wet liners and piston cooling oil is subject to less thermal stress_ The seven main bearing caps supporting the crank are combined into a single element, forming the lower section of the two-piece cylinder block. Overall the bare engine looks extremely clean and uncluttered.
Stiffer block
The Cursor engine runs much more quietly than its predecessor, thanks to the stiffer block and head and rear valve gear design. The switch from a conventional in-line pump has also helped cut noise, As a result of the changes Iveco has been able to take off some the engine soundproofing used on the old EuroTech.
As the variable geometry turbocharger is electronically operated, the Cursor 8 engine is self-monitoring so if performance parameters are exceeded to the point where engine damage could occur, fuel and turbocharger pressures are reduced. The engine ECU regulates maximum engine speed, limits maximum vehicle speed and also pro vides cruise control.
allows the engine brake to he operated by the service brake pedal or throttle.
EUROTECH CURSOR 8 SERVICING
Following the trend among manufacturers for longer oil-change intervals, Iveco says that by using a semi-synthetic class 3 oil a EuroTech Cursor can run up to 80,000km before a lube change. Compared to the old 9.5-litre 8460 engine the Cursor 8 consumes 50% less oil so only one top-up is required at 40,000km. if you run it with a class E2 mineral oil the change interval is 40,000km.
Low oil consumption means drivers don't even have to get out of the cab to dip the oil—on the new EuroTech Cursor there's a level indicator in the dash along with an oil-filter clogged warning light. Modus and IWT diagnostics will also speed up faultfinding and routine servicing. 41 EUROTECH CURSOR I CHASSIS AND CAB "TWEAKING" IS PROBABLY the best way to describe what Iveco has done to the EuroTech chassis and cab. Unlike the previous range, all Cursor models now have a common chassis. Starting at the front, the Cursor has new dual-leaf cantilever springs and dampers while the cab suspension has been upgraded and the antiroil bar reinforced. Early EuroTechs suffered from front disc cracking until Iveco introduced a fix. However, for Cursor it has adopted the latest Knorr SB7000 discs (first used on the Actros) which should provide even more resistance to thermal stress thanks to a thicker ventilated rotor. The latest brakes also save 22kg over their predecessor.
At the back the previous Rockwell U180 axle has been replaced by the Mentor U177E single-reduction axle which shaves a further 70-80kg off the EuroTech Cursor's kerbweight.
All these changes have meant that a 350hp EuroTech MB 440 E35 tractor has a weight advantage of 370kg compared with the previous MP 440 E34 EuroTech. Iveco quotes a kerbweight of "just over 6,500kg" for a road-ready 3.8m wheelbase EuroTech Cursor with a 350hp engine and raised roof sleeper. And for tanker work, that can be trimmed back to 6,200kg with a standard height sleeper cab and alloy wheels and air tanks. Other exterior improvements include: • New wheel studs and nuts • Bumper and side fairings in cab colours • Revised rear mudwings • Updated wiring system and front master connection unit • A sun visor with hand grip 0 Pollen filter The EuroTech cabin has had a full trim makeover with seats, bunk and panels covered in a different material. There are new mats, a smaller steering wheel, a deeper bunk mattress (by 115mm) and thicker curtains. Operators speccing a cab night heater system can now choose between air or water heating while the dash has new controls. EuroTech Cursor cabs also come with CB and phone wiring pre-installed. The gear linkage has also been reworked to aid shift quality. You can even order your model with an electronic keycontrol anti-theft device which blocks the engine's ECU. (For full details of cab changes see driving impressions on page 24.) UK operators can order two or three-axle rigids and a 4x2 and 6x2 twin-steer tractor. The latter attic wasn't originally planned hut the advent of 41-tonnes has forced a re-think. Three cabs are available (see box below).
EUROTECH CURSOR CAB AND CHASSIS LINE-UP Cab options: Day cab; Standard height sleeper; • Raised roof sleeper; UK EUROTECH CURSOR CHASSIS LINE-UP RIGIDS
• 4x2 119-tonnes design GVW): SEVEN wheelbases available from 4.2 to 6.3m with optional rear air suspension and engine ratings from 270-350hp.
• 6x2 126-tonnes design GVVV): FIVE wheelbases from 3.8 to 5.7m offered with various steel/air suspension combinations including an hydraulically steered and lifting third axle, available with engines from 270-350hp.
TRACTORS
4x2 (44-tonnes design GON): TWO wheelbases at 3.65 and 3.8m with steel/air rear suspension and ratings from 310-350hp • 6x2 !win-steer (4.4-tonnes design GCW): ONE wheelbase twin-steer with steel/air suspension and 350hp engine rating.
I CURSOR 8 THE VARIABLE TURBO
DIESEL ENGINE MAKERS have tong been fighting to overcome the biggest drawback of turbocharging—"turbo lag"—where the turbocharger performs poorly at low revs. Turbo lag also exacerbates emission levels. Manufacturers have tried various ways to overcome the problem from injecting compressed air into the inlet manifold (a la MAN), to fitting a secondary supercharger which cuts out when the turbo gets going (like Volvo). Recently the focus has been on mechanically varying the angle of blades within the turbocharger in a system called "variable vane" turbocharging. But as Ken Moore, heavy product manager at Iveco Ford, points out: "That's a bugger of a solution. There's too many moving parts and the environment inside a turbine housing is very hostile, not least in terms of heat."
Iveco's solution, what it calls "variable geometry" tur bocharging, is infinitely simpler and more likely to appeal to operators sceptical of hi-tech solutions. Within the exhaust gas side of the Cursor engine's turbine housing is an annu lar ring (see right) which slides back and forth along the axis of the turbine shaft creating a restriction in the exhaust gas inlet. The restriction causes the exhaust gases entering
the turbocharger to speed up, increasing boost pressure,
while a series of patented vanes on the face of the ring
smoothes out the gas flow onto the turbine blades. The ring functions via an airoperated slide and is controlled by the engine ECU which monitors fuel flow, engine load and acceleration in order to determine when to speed up the air entering into the turbo. The bottom line is that even when engine revs
Ho!set turbo technology on Cursor.
I CURSOR 8 SELLING IN THE UK
IVECO FORD TRUCK IS PARTICULARLY BULLISH about the sales prospects for its new baby. Duncan Blake, IFT's heavy product business unit director, says the company is planning to sell some 350 EuroTech Cursors in the UK in its first full year with the majority being sold into the distribution tractor market: "That's double our share in that sector, which is a very competitive one," reports Blake. UK operators can order right-hand drive models for delivery in late October/early November.
Although many EuroTech Cursor features could be applied to other Iveco models, IFT is maintaining a fairly selective approach to any carry-over. Blake says the new Cursor engine and interior will be applied to the heavy-duty EuroTrakker eight-legger produced in Madrid, but for the time being, the light "UK-spec" EuroTrakker 8x4 built at Seddon Atkinson in Oldham will continue to use the existing 9.5-litre engine. Likewise the Super Cargo six-wheeler chassis and Super Cargo 17-tanners will retain their current drivetrains and interiors not least, says Blake, "because they're different fall back, VGT ensures that the Cursor 8 still provides high torque, coupled with strong acceleration and pick-up performance.
"What you have in the end is a constant-speed turbo, where you're varying the size of the aperture in the manifold," says Moore. "There's no turbo lag—all you do is move the slide across when the engine's lugging down or under heavy acceleration, or when the engine brake is used.
"It's a very effective way of providing lots of boost." The variable geometry turbo (VGT) has been developed jointly by Iveco and Holset and while used in cars, !yea) claims it's never before been applied to large size-diesels. With VGT, Cursor 8 can provide constant torque over a range of more than 700rpm—a quick look at the 350hp version's torque curve shows just how impressively flat it is.
models to EuroTech and most of the 6x4s are sold with 230hp engines". 'FT boss Roger Phillips says the decison not to offer the 240hp Cursor engine in the UK is because it is too close to the six-litre 230hp engine already used in Super Cargo.
Phillips is optimistic about Cursor's prospects in the UK particularly with big fleet users: "UK operators have traditionally specced the most fuel-efficient light vehicles consistent with the job, none more so than those engaged in logistics and distribution. Cursor's all round specification is ideally suited to this highly influential, cost-conscious group of operators."
While reluctant to say who Iveco Ford is looking to win business from, Phillips is clear about EuroTech Cursor's target market: "It's about food distribution, it's about fuel and parcels—the people that require a high payload and a very fuel-efficient truck. So whoever's strong in those sectors we will compete for that business." Phillips acknowledges that some hauliers may be reticent to accept a smaller capacity engine like the Cursor, but he says operators will find it hard to ignore its payload advantages. With the arrival of Cursor, IFT is likely to continue to rationalise its UK dealer network, replacing weaker sales points with more cost-effective, revenue generating satellite service points, run by bigger distributors. CURSOR 8 SPEC CHECK
Type: In-line, charge-cooled, six-cylinder diesel. Features: Rear, gear-driven overhead camshaft, four-valves-per cylinder head, variable geometry turbocharger, electronic engine control and standard compression engine brake. Two-part block. Capacity: 7.8-litres.
Bore/stroke: 115x125mm.
Fuel system: Bosch, camshaft-driven, electronically controlled unit injectors.
Dry weight: 678 kg.
EUROTECH CURSOR ENGINES AT A GLANCE Model Power Torque • Cursor 240 245hp (180kW) 950Nm (7011bft)* • Cursor 2701 272hp (200kW) 950Nm (70114t) • Cursor 270R 272hp (200kW) 1,115Nm (822Ib1t) • Cursor 310 310hp (228kW) 1,115Nm (822114t) • Cursor 350 352hp (259kW) 1,280Nm (9441bfr) (Nominal horsepower quoted. Peak torque delivered at 1,600rpm). ' Not available in the UK.
EUROTECH CURSOR GEARBOX OPTIONS • Cursor 240
• Cursor 270 I
• Cursor 270 R • Cursor 310 • Cursor 350 • Cursor 270/300 Iveco 2895.9 nine-speed synchro RC Iveco 2895.9 nine-speed synchro RC ZF 1 65-1 09 16-speed synchro RCS ZF 16S-109 16-speed synchro RCS ZF 165-151 16-speed synchro RCS Allison WT MD automatic (on 4x2 and 6x2 municipal chassis)
ICURSOR 8 ON THE ROAD
LAST WEEK CM HAD THE CHANCE to try both left and right-hand drive Cursor tractors at Iveco's Balocco test track, starting with a 350hp version hauling a triaxle dry freight trailer of 40 tonnes GCW. The first thing that strikes you as you get into the new EuroTech is how the cab has been tidied up. The dark trim is practical without being funerial. Iveco has decided that the EuroTech should now come without the previously standard centre console box—as a result cross-cab access is better although the box can still be ordered as an option. Fitting locker doors to the open shelves in the headlining on the raised roof sleeper is a good move too, as it stops things failing out on the driver. The left-hand drive tractor had a neat hinged pedal over the engine brake button on the left of the footwell which makes it easier to find and use. We hope that will appear on UK models-although on the right-hooker we drove the engine compression brake was activated as before by a button in front of the steering column which is less user-friendly.
Moving off from rest with 40-tonnes up we were seriously impressed by the Cursor 8's pulling power. It doesn't drive like an eight-litre—it feels more like a 380hp accelerating up through the gears. The VGT engine might not quite have the lugging power that the Iveco press release suggests—but it will recover from 1,000rprn given time. Watching the speedo confirms that your momentum is being clawed back and there's no hint of engine strain or vibration when lugging • right down.
The Cursor 8 certainly doesn't object to low revs but its best performance by far is delivered From 1,500rpm onwards where it pulls very hard—something drivers will hove to adjust to, Get the 350 up to 56mph on the lim iter and it's also very quite with just the muted turbo whine. We next tried a 310hp version pulling a curtainsider. It had to work harder shifting 40 tonnes but managed to accelerate up to 80km/h within 60 seconds even it if did mean revving the engine to 2,500rpm before shifting whole gears. As a result it wasn't as quiet as the 350hp. While the 350 feels like a 380p the 310 feels closer to a 340hp. Both left and right-hand drive tractors had a double-H pattern ZF box. However, even with the latest gear linkage, the Ecosplit can't match the new VT box for Volvo for lightness. On a flat test track it was hard to judge the overall effectiveness of the new compression brake but get the revs up and it checks a fully freighted artic well enough. Equally we can't say whether the changes to the EuroTech's cab and chassis suspension have totally paid off—it felt comfortable but we'll wait until we take a Cursor around our Scottish route before delivering our final verdict. However, after our brief drive we're certainly impressed with the EuroTech Cursor's engine and what it can offer UK operators. We look forward to giving it a real workout back in Britain.
IIveco is already aiming to meet even tougher emission standards right up to a projected Euro4 standard around 2005. Unveiling Cursor 8 in Milan last week, Iveco's engine business unit vice-president Tiziano Torricini declared that future technical developments to the Cursor range will include compound-turbochorging, exhaust gas recirculation (EG4 De-NOx catalysts and pilot fuel injection. Looking at Euro-4, Iveco is predicting an engine delivering less than 39m/kWhr on NOx. "It's an engine range designed to give us a competitive edge,' says Tiziano.
CURSOR ENGINES THE FUTURE
Iveco's engine guru Giovanni Biaginni confirmed to Commercial Motor that the future Cursor range would span 240hp to close to 600hp. After Cursor 8 the next to appear will be the 10.5-litre Cursor 10 in 1999. It will deliver up to 430hp, while the base engine Cursor 13, at 12.9-litres, comes in at 540hp. A 600hp version of the Cursor 13 is planned with compound turbocharging, but according to Biaginni it will be a "post Euro-3 engine,"
EUROTECH CURSOR 8 KERB WEIGHTS
Iveco Ford quotes the following kerbweights for typical tractors
• 3.8m w/b high-roof EuroTech Cursor 350 4x2 tractor with spare wheel and carrier, fifth wheel, 3001itres of fuel and driver: 6,500kg 3.65m w/b day cab EuroTech Cursor 350 4x2 tractor with no spare wheel or carrier, but fifth wheel and alloy wheels, 300 litres of fuel and driver: 6,040kg