NTEA Report: Navistar, Nissan, FCCC shine

ST. LOUIS, Mo. — Never-seen-before vehicles from Navistar, Nissan, and Freightliner Custom Chassis were key highlights amongst the 70 new products at The Work Truck Show, part of the 46th annual National Truck Equipment Association convention.

As well, both the new 2011 Ford Super Duty and 2011 GMC Sierra 3500HD chassis cab trucks were put in front of commercial users for the first time. 

Nissan’s introduction, attended by a huge crowd of excited dealers as well as the press, was perhaps the most significant because it marks the company’s first foray into the commercial market.

The new NV2500 van aims at both the Mercedes Sprinter and the more traditional full-size offerings from Ford and General Motors. With a body-on-frame design with big V6 or V8 gasoline engines – no diesel is contemplated – it comes in normal or raised-roof versions, making it a serious contender for tradesman and parts-van use.

Significantly, Nissan is not offering its van through every dealership. A seemingly rigorous application process – including the requirement of a detailed business plan – means that there are only about 18 qualified outlets in Canada right now, with about 30 anticipated when the roster is full.

The new International truck is the class 4-5 TerraStar, which could well find serious favor in a market that’s not really full of competition any longer after the departures of both Sterling and GM. Ford leads the fray in that weight class.

The TerraStar is powered by the all-new 300-hp, 6.4-litre MaxxForce 7 V-8 engine delivering 660 lb ft torque. Features include a compacted graphite iron block and “Advanced EGR” emissions control. It’s matched with an Allison 1000 transmission.

FCCC’s offering was an all-electric walk-in van chassis developed in partnership with Enova Systems, which specializes in electric and hybrid-electric drive systems for OEMs. It’s built on the FCCC MT-45 platform and uses lithium ion batteries from Tesla Motors. It’s 100 percent electric — HVAC system included — and custom-built from the ground up. Shown with the typically boxy body, it will sport a more modern, curve-laden look later this year.

Nissan’s entrance to the commercial van market, the NV2500

Over at Ford, show visitors saw the 2011 F-Series Super Duty and its all-new powertrains, led by the Ford-designed/built 6.7-litre Power Stroke V-8 turbocharged diesel engine. It puts out 735 lb ft of torque at just 1600 rpm, plus 390 hp at 2800 – 85 lb ft and 40 hp more than its predecessor. A new 6.2-litre V-8 gas engine is its running mate, replacing the current 5.4-litre V-8. Both new engines are mated to the new 6R140 TorqShift six-speed automatic transmission. Towing capability is 24,400 lb, payload 6,520 lb.

GMC’s 2011 Sierra 3500HD chassis cab trucks sport an increased gross vehicle weight rating of up to 13,200 lb and a gross combined weight rating of up to 27,500 lb on dual-rear-wheel models. They go on sale this summer, along with commercial 2500HD- and 3500HD-based box-delete models.

All models feature a new front suspension with a 25 percent better axle weight rating that expands the range of upfit capabilities – including a new ambulance prep package – and enables snow plow use on all 4WD models. Also new for chassis cabs are 2WD and 4WD crew-cab configurations.

See more Work Truck Show news in the March 24th edition of the Lockwood’s Product Watch e-newsletter and the May issue of Today’s Trucking.