It’s a case of goodbye to the uniquely Aussie Acco and ‘benevento’ to a new and different type of Acco, with a distinctive Italian/European heritage.
The new ACCO is built on the Stralis platform alongside a new locally assembled and adapted Stralis,to be called X-Way.
Iveco hosted a lavish dinner in Melbourne’ s convention centre last night to launch not only the new version of the ACCO but also the new Euro 6-rated X-Way range.
In the space of two months each of the three local truck manufacturers have announced major commitments to expanding local manufacturing operations and it was Iveco’s turn last night after PACCAR and Volvo Group both announced $AUD 30 million investments.
The X-Way range will be built at the company’s venerable Dandenong facility alongside current generation Euro 5 Stralis AS-L models, the new ACCO and Delta and Graduate bus chassis.
Iveco says that the Stralis X-Way project is the culmination of a four year engineering program between Iveco Australia and the company’s global engineering centre, resulting in models that combine extensive local development with the latest technologies from Europe. The program represents an investment which is believed to be around $AUD23 million and was signed off by the late Sergio Marchione, as Iveco is a part of the giant Fiat empire that he controlled prior to his death earlier this year .
The company also says that the new models have undergone extensive on-road testing in Australia and in Europe over a three-year period.
The new ACCO will also be built at Iveco in Melbourne and unlike the model it replaces it will share the ‘;architecture’ with the new Stralis X-Way, however while the new ACCO is in reality a version of the European designed Stralis, Iveco says it will also include some of the best features of the previous generation ACCOs, which is the favoured truck for a number of rugged vocational applications in Australia such as waste, agitator and tipper work.
Iveco’s Australia business director, Bruce Healy said the ACCO was an Australian transport industry legend, and that given its status in the market, Iveco was working tirelessly to ensure a new ACCO would do the iconic nameplate proud.
“Developed for the Australian army in the years following World War II, the ACCO is Australia’s first locally-designed and manufactured truck,” Mr Healy said.
“Following its inception, the model quickly made the transition from army to civilian life and found a home in all manner of applications, from vocational work to line-haul and everything in between.
“With extensive development over the years, the ACCO still continues to hold its own in today’s ultracompetitive truck market, attracting a strong legion of followers who appreciate its rugged Australian design, lean architecture and reputation for durability,” he added.
“To replace a transport legend is no mean feat, so extensive local development has been undertaken in preparation for the next chapter of the ACCO’s product life.
“In developing the new ACCO, Iveco has combined many of the much-loved attributes of the previous model with cutting-edge technology borrowed from the Stralis X-Way platform – it’s been a joint effort between our local engineering department and the design team at Iveco’s European headquarters,” said Healey.
Its clear the rationale for switching the ACCO nameplate to the Stralis platform was made to ensure Iveco could meet potential vehicle safety rules in the next few years, which the old chassis and cab had little hope of meeting.
The new ACCO range is a long way ahead of the current ACCO particularly in safety terms with standard is Adaptive Cruise Control, ABS Anti-lock Braking, Electronic Braking System, Advanced Emergency Braking System, Electronic Stability Program, axle load indicator, electronic battery cut-out and L.E.D daytime running lamps and rear L.E.D lights.
Iveco says that operators will also benefit from the new cabin design that offers additional visibility and comfort combined with the easy access the previous generation ACCOs were regarded for.
One major ‘carryover’ is the familiar three-piece steel front bumper with headlight mesh protection providing added durability and lower maintenance costs for rough and tumble applications
The new Stralis based ACCO will be available in 6×4 and 8×4 configurations, using Iveco front axles, tapered two-leaf parabolic suspension and rear Iveco 8 bag electronically controlled air suspension, with Meritor tandem drive axles with active traction control and driver controlled diff locks.
The new Stralis X-Way range will comprise 6×4 AD/AT and 6×4 AS prime mover models as well as 6×4 AD/AT, 8×4 AD/AT and 8×4 AS rigids.
Cabin options include a ‘Day’, ‘Sleeper’ and ‘Active Space Sleeper’ for prime movers and rigid models while wheelbase options are 3900 and 4200mm for the prime movers and 5720, 5800, 6300 and 6500mm depending on the rigid model selected.
“The release of the Stralis X-Way will significantly strengthen Iveco’s heavy market product offerings in Australia, opening the brand for consideration by a whole range of new customers,” said MarcoQuaranta, product managerfor Australia and New Zealand
“The launch of this new model will provide Iveco with greater coverage in some existing market segments while also allowing us to compete in several new applications where our previous trucks may not have had the ideal specifications.
The Stralis X-Way will be powered by Iveco’s own Cursor 9, 11 and 13litre engines with outputs range from 310 hp and 1300 Nm of torque for the entry level Cursor 9litre up to 510 hp and 2300 Nm for the Cursor 13 litre.
Iveco says the Cursor 11 and 13 engines benefit from a new turbocharger providing immediate response at low engine speeds and superior engine braking.
The company says its engines meet Euro 6 emissions levels through the use of its own Hi-eSCR system as used in the latest Eurocargo launched in Australia last year.
“The addition of a Euro 6 8×4 at 460 hp with extensive safety equipment will see Iveco build sales in general freight applications, as will a smaller Euro6 6×4 rigid at 360 hp. We also see the revised model mix doing well in single trailer applications as well as in vocational work,” said Marco Quaranta.
“More broadly, the combination of cleaner, more efficient Euro 6-rated engines, the clever new HitroniX transmission and a full suite of advanced safety equipment, will appeal to government fleets and safety and environmentally conscious companies,” Mr. Quaranta added.
The new locally assembled Ivecos all use the excellent ZF 12 speed, which Iveco renames as the HiTroniX automated transmission. The new ACCO will also have the option of an Allison automatic to meet customer demands in waste and agitator work especially.
The HitroniX comes equipped with ‘Rocking’ and ‘Creeping’ modes for recovering traction in slippery conditions and for slow maneuvering as well as high load take off and as well it comes with four reverse gears.
With ACCO for the most important refuse collection applications, Iveco says it will continue to offer a factory dual control system and says it is consulting extensively with the waste industry to develop a variety of body mounting and chassis layout options to suit a variety of bodies. The model is also available with a Parker Chelsea PTO, a favourite for waste collection work.
ACCO models will use SCR Euro 6, Cursor 9 engines with between 310 and 360hp and 1300 and 1650 Nm of torque with emission control using the Hi-eSCR system. AS mentioned earlier, in a bid to continue the appeal for the waste industry, it will be matched to the Allison Generation Five 3200 Series, 6-speed full automatic transmission. The new ACCO will not be available with a Cummins engine
