Seddon trio on starting blocks
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by Brian Weatherley • A light eight-legger, a concept municipal truck and a high-roof "Strato Cruiser" tractor are just three of the new products that Oldham-based truck maker Seddon Atkinson intends to launch this year.
The light four-axle rigid will appear before the end of the summer and will be developed from its existing six-wheeler chassis frame and narrow cab currently offered to mixer operators. It will have Cummins CSeries engines rated at up to 305hp (227kW), ZF's 9S-109 synchro box and steel-sprung rear bogie. Tare weight on the slimline 8x4 will be around 8,500kg According to commercial operations director Lin Sumner, a narrow cab, light eight-wheel tipper will further boost Seddon's current attack on the aggregates market.
It would also give the company an eight-wheeler with which to compete against the likes of Volvo's uprated FI,7-285 and Foden's 3000 Series 8x4. Seddon is also planning to launch a narrow cab n-actor using the same driveline.
The long-awaited high-roof Strato Cruiser flagship tractor is also under development with Seddon aiming to complete the first one in time for Truckfest South West. First reported in 1993 (CM 20-26 May) it will have the same cab as the recently launched 'yew Ford EuroStar.
Unlike the 520hp Ulm-built product, the Strato Cruiser will be powered by ,a Cummins Celect Euro-2 14-litre engine pushing out 525hp (391kW) and coupled to Eaton's latest 5Series synchromesh manual gearbox in place of SAMT. In this top power rating there will also be a line-built 6x2 twinsteer version whereas the EuroStar is a ,1x2 only with an optional retrofit pusher. As Seddon has a 6x4 option in its Strato range it is possible that this option could be offered.
Sumner reports that Seddon. is working on what he describes as a "concept" municipal truck, codenamed LEM, which will be unveiled at the Institute of Waste Management Show.