LOUISVILLE, Ky. Peterbilt Motors Co. unveiled a spate of new truck models and component options here at the Mid-America Trucking Show – including a brand-new, single rear axle Class 8 tractor aimed at regional, short-haul, and pickup and delivery fleets.
The new Model 382 is a 111-in. BBC day-cab designed to offer improved maneuverability for urban operation. It includes Peterbilt’s proprietary Aerodynamic Package to boost fuel efficiency for the short-haul end of the Class 8 market. The truck comes standard with a smaller-block Cummins ISL9 engine and one-piece windshield for greater visibility. Peterbilt said it will begin building the Model 382 in June.
Next is the Model 587 on-highway, long-haul Class 8 tandem rear axle tractor, which replaces Peterbilt’s Model 387. The new Model 587 has already earned the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) SmartWay certification and is available with two sleeper options or in day-cab configuration. Engine options include the new 2010-complaint Paccar MX engine rated at 380 to 485 hp or the 2010-ready 400-600 hp Cummins ISX15. Fuller Manual and Automatic transmissions are available with axle ratings up to 46,000 lbs.
The Model 587 is specifically designed for long-haul fleets and is touted to improve fuel efficiency by 1.25% over the Model 387 it replaces. Standard Bendix air disc brakes on the front axle are included. The new Model 587 also provides an over 2 ft. improvement in the driver’s forward line of sight, with new steering geometry improving curb-to-curb maneuverability by 12%.
Limited production is beginning on Peterbilt’s Model 320 Hybrid low-cab-forward Class 8 refuse truck, equipped with Eaton’s Hydraulic Launch Assist (HLA) technology to boost fuel savings in vocational stop-and-go applications.
HLA technology works by recovering up to 75% of the energy normally lost by the vehicle’s brakes in the form of pressurized hydraulic fluid, which is then stored until the driver next accelerates the vehicle, reducing fuel consumption and wear on the engine. Landon Sproull, Peterbilt’s chief engineer, said the Model 320’s hybrid configuration should increase fuel economy by 20% and reduce brake replacement by two times.
Peterbilt is also beginning full production of its natural gas-powered Models 384, 365 and 320; all of which are equipped with the Cummins Westport ISL-G engine sporting a 320 hp rating and 1,000 lbs.-ft. of torque.
Other new product offerings from Peterbilt include the new in-dash “SmartNav” system that offers truck-specific GPS-based navigation, vehicle diagnostics, communication and entertainment technologies in a touch-screen operated unit customized for the trucking industry.
The system features a high-resolution, scratch-resistant touch-screen interface, and is driven by the Microsoft Auto 4.0 Windows CE 6.0 operating system packed with eight gigabytes of memory that uses the J1939 SAE standard for vehicle communication and diagnostics. SmartNav will be standard on all Peterbilt Premium level interiors, and as an available option on other interiors beginning in September 2010.
Peterbilt is also rolling out a new all-wheel drive (AWD) option for its Model 337 and 348 Class 7 medium-duty trucks to provide vocational customers with enhanced off-road versatility and maneuverability. On top of that, a new extended day-cab option for the company’s complete lineup of current Class 8 vehicles – the Models 386, 384, 367, 365, 389 and 388 – is being introduced, adding
10 in. to its standard cab length.
Additionally, the extended cab offers 2.5 in. of additional seat travel behind the wheel, 92% more seat room to recline and 4.5 cubic feet of storage behind the driver’s seat – extra space designed to benefit vocational, regional and shorter haul applications, said Bill Jackson, Peterbilt’s GM.
Finally, Peterbilt is introducing a new “SmartSound” package, designed to reduce cab noise and driver fatigue while enhancing driver comfort and safety. Significantly reducing noise and improving in-cab comfort for day cab and sleeper equipped trucks, SmartSound can be seamlessly integrated into any interior level – reducing cab noise by up to 50%, Peterbilt’s Jackson noted.
