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ON ACTIVE SERVICE
Page 63
Page 64
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lveco's Stalls Active Space cabs are a familiar sight. Now they're joinec
by the smaller Active Time and Active Day, as Emma Penny reports.
It's a well worn ritual.Tell a driver they're off to pilot an Iveco artic,and they're hardly likely to thank you for it. Even some of the team within the company admit it was often difficult to persuade operators and drivers to consider an Iveco tractor unit, other than for the potential fuel economy benefits. But that could all change with the arrival of the complete Stralis range which will cover everything from urban use to international longhaul operations.
The biggest Stralis the Active Space or AS has become a common sight on Britain's roads in the last year, and it seems that many companies are at least now willing to give the marque a go.
Now, though. the AS has two smaller brothers:the Active Time ( AT) and Active Day
is ve easy,
(AD).The Active Time, which has a sleeper cab, is designed for medium or long-haul domestic and international routes, but only those with a few nights out.The AD is specced as a fleet truck for distribution and urban use.
We drove the 430hp and 350hp AT models earlier this month, and first impressions on climbing into the cab were good. Plenty of space,a bright interiorhelped by the red-based colour scheme, which is far more subtle than it sounds and not too much grey.
The steering wheel adjusts for comfort, as well as to ease cab access, by a small, foot-operated button, while the seat is adjustable in almost all permutations. as well.The radio/CD is above the windscreen, while the controls are on the steering wheel.
The display on the dashboard is similar to a computer screen (albeit a very small °tit and provides all sorts of useful informatio from average speed and fuel consumptioi fluid levels.
Behind the driver's seat, the bunk, with firm and thick (120mm) three-piece math has three storage lockers underneath, whi there are four small storage cupboards ab the windscreen.A single panel beside the controls almost anything you'd want to ad while settling down for the night.
Driving impressions
But on to the most important part on the road. In the Stralis, it's a pleasure. Key to it popularity is ease of driving, thanks to its 12-speed Eurollonic gearbox, which can I used in fully or semi-automatic mode. The gearboxes come as standard; opt for manu and you'll pay about £1,000 more.
Used in fully automatic, driving is very e particularly in heavy traffic, and on most occasions it changes gear at about the same time as a driver would choose to in a manual truck. If you want a bit more control,simply switch to semi-auto and you can change gear when you like.
The gear paddle has two additional -and very useful functions, too. Come to a roundabout, press the button on the side of the paddle while pushing it forward and the box will drop to the most appropriate gear for taking off again.
Secondly, with engine braking on. push the button while pulling the paddle back and you'll get maximum revs for better stopping power. The engines in the Stralis aren't new: Iveco's Cursor 8. available at 270,310, and 350hp; and the Cursor 10, at 400 or 430hp. Versions up to 350hp are fitted with rear drum brakes, while rear discs are available on the bigger units ABS is standard across the range, while vehicles with discs all round also come with EBS, which interacts with the service brake, engine brake, cruise control and any auxiliary braking to reduce stopping distances by as much as 16 metres at 85km/h, claims the manufacturer.
In all, it's a good package. designed to challenge the most ardent anti-Iveco views.We haven't yet seen the AD in the UK, but we'd hope it would live up to the same standard& Otherwise, as our review of the Stralis at its Italian launch suggested (CM 24 April),put a driver in a blindfold behind the wheel and he wouldn't know there wasn't a Scandinavian badge on the front. II