The quietest truck ever?
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By Will Shiers
AFTER SPENDING 30 minutes behind the wheel of a Cursor-11-powered 473hp 4x2 artic in Madrid last week, CM couldn't ignore that the Euro-6 Iveco Stralis Hi-Way is probably the quietest diesel-powered truck that it has ever driven.
At tickover it was whisper quiet and, even at 40 tonnes, the engine failed to make its presence known. Ivecos used to make more noise than this with their engines turned off! So where have these stealth-like qualities come from? The greatest improvements occurred with the launch of the Euro-5 Hi-Way last year. Better sound-deadening ensured that engine noise was kept to a minimum, while a redesigned air kit and new sidewind deflectors reduced the cab's drag co-efficient by 3%, slashing wind noise in the process. And the cab has been improved too. If the original Stralis had an Achilles heel, it was definitely its interior. The use of cheap plastics resulted in some squeaking, creaking and rattling from the dashboard whenever you hit a bump. The latest cab has been finished with new materials, and
everything gives the impression of having been screwed and glued together with care and attention. Even Madrid's potholes, which have the ability to shake the fillings from your head, failed to trigger a response from the Hi-Way's dashboard.
The common-rail injection technology used in all the Euro-6 HI-eSCR (SCR-only) trucks has also helped to lower noise levels, and it enhances the driving experience too.
It's not just about the noise
But there is more to the Euro-6 Stralis Hi-Way than just a quieter ride. The new 11.1-litre Cursor engine (which replaces the Cursor 10), pulled effortlessly from low revs. And with maximum torque available between such a wide band (95Orpm-1,500rpm), it proved to be extremely lively. The Eurotronic (aka ZF AS-Tronic) gearbox has been enhanced too, a consequence of software remapping for Euro-6.We discovered changes to be quicker than before, and flawless gear selections. Low-speed manoeuvring was precise, and the transmission instantly changed from forward to reverse. Although we can't
draw too many conclusions from such a short drive, our first impression is that Eurotronic has closed the gap between it and Volvo's I-Shift.
We took the opportunity to have a play with the Hi-Way's Iveconnect system, which is standard in the UK at Euro-6. As well as using the 180mm colour screen to access audio, sat-nay and Bluetooth functions, drivers can monitor their driving style in real-time. They receive a percentage score at the end of every journey, and Iveco hopes drivers will challenge themselves to beat their previous score — improving fuel economy in the process.
We achieved a final score of 74% — which we would like to think would have been higher were it not for the Spanish demo driver in the passenger seat, who had a habit for saying right while pointing left. It did little for our anticipation score! So from a Stralis Hi-Way driver's point of view, Euro-6 is something to be embraced rather than feared. But with the usual Euro-6 price hike, UK operators are likely to have a slightly different view, and we can't see too many finding buyers this side of the 31 December deadline. •