Iveco has announced another iteration for what many consider is the longest-standing commercial vehicle nameplate in Australian road transport, the famous Acco.
The company says that the second rebirth of the Acco nameplate, since it closed down production of the longstanding locally designed and built models in 2018 is set to make its return , with Iveco Australia engineers currently testing and validating the latest model prior to release.
Iveco claims the new Acco range shares its fundamental architecture with the recently launched S-Way, but says it is being developed to target specialist vocational applications, namely refuse work, and will include locally engineered dual control variants.
At this stage there is no indication of what the ‘new’ Acco models will weight and whether Iveco engineers have overcome the high tare weights that prevented the previous Acco iteration from capturing the sales success of the original Australian designed Accos once had.
Iveco says the range will be available in both 6×4 and 8×4 configurations and will feature Iveco’s 8.7L, Euro6 (Step E) Cursor 9 engine, with buyers able to select from three output ratings spanning from 310hp and 1,300Nm to 360hp and 1,650Nm. The company says the standard transmission across all models will be the Allison 3200 six-speed full automatic.
The company addd that the new Acco will be available with a day cab only, and says that the interior\ has been refined to provide more usable space and accommodate dual control hardware for those relevant models. Driver storage solutions have also been amplified according to Iveco, with additional areas allocated for PPE and stowage of personal belongings.
Iveco claims the previous generation Acco models were a favourite for bodybuilders owing to their clean chassis rails and mounting options, and said that this is a legacy that will be continued in the new Acco, which has a chassis layout that according to Iveco has been honed to ‘closely align with requirements of waste industry bodies in consultation with popular body manufacturers and leading companies within the waste sector’. It also claims that new systems for improved integration between the cab chassis and bodies will also be featured.
As we said earlier there is no indication it weight concerns have been addressed with the new Acco.
The company says that other waste industry-specific adjustments include redesigned steps that provide extra ground clearance, an engine hour meter and three-blade windscreen wiper system.
Iveco says the latest Acco will also receive the advanced safety equipment featured in the new S-Way including Advanced Emergency Braking System, Brake Assistance System, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Departure Warning System, Electronic Stability Program with ABS (disc brakes all round) and ASR (Anti-Slip Regulation). For added visibility on the road, the new Acco will also be equipped with full LED lighting.
Emiliano Foieri, Iveco Trucks Australia;’s Heavy Vehicles manager, said preparation for the introduction of the new Acco range were progressing well.
“Development of the new Acco has been an involved process, particularly the design of the dual control system, which has been engineered locally specifically to meet the preferences of Australian and New Zealand customers,” Foieri said.
“The overall model line-up is heavily geared towards the waste industry and will closely meet the needs of operators using side and rear loading compactors, overhead front lift trucks and skip bin vehicles.
“Given the long heritage and strong reputation that Acco boasts particularly in the waste market, we’re working hard to ensure its standing as an industry favourite continues with this new generation model.”
Iveco says that more detailed information and specifications of the new Acco will be made available closer to its release date.
