Iveco Euro Cargo |
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With A Massively Varied Model Line-Up, Iveco's Eurocargo Has The Potential To Be Most Things To Most Medium-Duty Operators. Steve Walker Looks At The Latest Model.
Iveco took an interesting tack in developing their latest Eurocargo medium-duty truck. Instead of whipping the covers off a thoroughly new model with all the traditional flourish and fanfare, they chose to trial the vehicle's drive train in the outgoing Eurocargo. Once any mechanical teething problems had been ironed out, this vehicle was then knocked firmly on the head to make way for an heir sporting a smart new look both inside and out. Operators have been using the current Eurocargo's engine and transmission system since 2001 but it took until mid 2003 for the remainder of the truck to put in an appearance. This might be a roundabout way of approaching the problem of product development but it seems to work for Iveco.
The Iveco Eurocargo, in one form or another, has featured prominently on the fleets of British businesses since it first hit the showrooms in 1991 ? picking up quite a few choice industry accolades along the way. The 2003 model must continue this success by catching the eye of the people who sign the cheques at the rental companies, couriers and medium volume delivery firms who make the majority of the purchases in this sector. In truth, though, the Eurocargo has been designed to cover a far wider Range of requirements, with inherent versatility high on the designers' list of prerequisites. Thanks to gross vehicle weights ranging from 6 to 18 tonnes, numerous bodystyles and a collection of cab options, everyone, from a self-employed builder to a national company employing hundreds, should be able to find a use for a Eurocargo - or two.
What about this plethora of options then? Well, the basic cab is available in three forms. The Day Cab seats two or three without the sleeping accommodation of the Sleeper Cab, which comes with one or two bunks as well as the seats. Then you've got the Crew Cab that adds a row of seats behind those in the front, providing room for driver and up to six passengers. Crew Cabs would be suitable for use as roadside recovery vehicles or as transport for a team of workers and their equipment. Finally, the Sleeper Cab can be specified with the 'medium roof' ? an extension to the top of the cab, which takes the overall height to two meters. Further to this, there's the 7.5 to 26 tonne payload capacities and various wheelbase lengths, not to mention the specialist modifications that are offered factory built by the manufacturer. Right from the off, this Eurocargo has the potential to be supplied in over 3,000 configurations - everything from a flat-bed truck to a big refrigerated lorry.
"The Iveco Eurocargo is a genuinely durable working vehicle.."
Power comes from Iveco's own Tector family of diesel engines with two distinct versions on offer. the 3.9-litre 4-cylinder unit can be specified in 130, 150 or 170bhp form, while the 6-cylinder 5.9-litre unit weighs in with one of the 180, 210, 240 and 275bhp power outputs. The smaller engine is only offered with the lighter models and it's these we'll concentrate on here. In 130bhp form it gives the driver 430Nm of torque at 1,200 rpm, making for impressive flexibility and fewer gear changes. Anyone wanting to move heavier loads might prefer the 170bhp version with its 560Nm at the same 1,200rpm. All engines up to 180bhp come with a five or six-speed gearbox but there is an HGV-style nine-speeder available for models of 8 tonnes and over. Shifts are agreeably smooth and a pneumatic servo-shift system reduces the amount of force needed to operate the clutch.
The Eurocargo's styling is the work of Bertone, the Italian design house more usually tasked with penning the rakish lines of expensive sports cars, and they've done a commendable job. A series of differently shaped vents and apertures dominate the front end with the two running down the vehicle's corners looking like giant-sized grab handles. Apparently, they're designed to direct airflow away from the cab so that door handles and windows stay cleaner ? now that is thoughtful. The shape itself is a move away from the flat, slab-fronted design common amongst trucks of this type as the windscreen angles back from the grill to give a more pleasing frontal aspect. Aerodynamics obviously played an influential role in the design process and operators should reap the benefits of this in the shape of improved fuel consumption. When behind the wheel wind noise is well suppressed and visibility via the large windows and mirrors is excellent.
Storage space is always important in commercial vehicles. Over the course of the working day it's easy for paperwork, stationery, bits of lunch and whatever else you have lying around, to merge together into one supremely awful mess. To keep the chaos under control, cubby-holes, draws and pockets should be plentiful and in the Eurocargo, they are. There are all sorts of clever storage solutions dotted around the cabin so you can keep appropriate items close at hand while stowing others out of sight and forgetting about them.
The dash is neatly presented too. There might be a slight question mark over some of the plastic used but the switches feel durable and the information displays are suitably unambiguous. Another big Plus is that the smaller Eurocargo models now only have one step up to gain access to the cab. They used to have two large steps and halving the amount of clambering that an employee has to do in a working week has got to be a good thing. All models get ABS with brakeforce distribution as standard and there's an engine brake with three different modes to lessen the likelihood of the vehicle running away with you.
The Iveco Eurocargo is a genuinely durable working vehicle. It has always been popular and in the latest version, the manufacturers have taken steps to improve the little things that can make all the difference over a period of sustained use. It's now a better package all-round in almost all the respects that matter and even the new Bertone styling seems a likely sales winner. The smaller 7.5 tonne models should have the quality to draw buyers up from smaller flatbed trucks and panel van conversions while the big top end load-carriers have the strong mechanicals and well conceived design to compete fiercely in their respective markets.
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