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IVECO STRALIS zawamo

28th September 2006
Page 48
Page 48, 28th September 2006 — IVECO STRALIS zawamo
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TRYING TO GET IvecoS demo driver to apologise for the metallic-like dark green cab was like trying to get blood out of a stone, but the exercise served to underline something the Iveco Stralis has had to battle with since its launch operators judging a book by its cover.

Stralis has proved a dark horse in terms of meeting operators' requirements and the specification here looked underwhelming at first sight Once inside the cab, the colour a distant memory until the next tea stop, the narrower Active Time Cab proved noticeably more claustrophobic two-up, even with a high roof. If you're away all week and have a say in which version you drive, go for the wider Active Space option With the amount of note taking required for this test we were bound to pay close attention to handling and comfort and the Stralis proved incredibly smooth, considering 4x2s tend to lurch more than three-axle tractors because as well as an extra axle the tri-axles put more weight through the kingpin.

Over more than 60 miles of winding A-road the Stralis offered as smooth a trip as the thoroughfare would allow. With a two-pedal set-up driving the Stralis is essentially a point-and-steer exercise with the driver taking control of the transmission for some of the hill climbs and nearly all the entries into roundabouts.

There was a strange ritual of using transmission control switches mounted on the dash, normally found on a stalk on the steering wheel, and this proved to be the only time we knew the driver was intervening.

The driveline spec was ideal for the driver looking to get a move on. 450hp at 40 Ovemadeuengine's [-ived lack of grunt against bigger capacity engines offering a similar number of horses.

The direct-top transmission offers enioug grind out shallow hill rd a change, when required pth for longer hill climbs. With the lorrior ton single track A-roads,

pulling its r-Jui r rouble became something of a fo for rafis.

e Stralis was the first to arrive at the Gretna Greyhound Stadium in Scotland, having coped admirably with everything in its path.

Underwhelming this truck may have appeared at first glance, but it served as an ideal example of how to spec a vehicle for long-distance operations. The Stralis 450hp was testament to the benefits of a subtle exterior and close working environment combined with a lively driveline.

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