The new IVECO T-WAY unveiled

NEW IVECO T-WAY: ENGINEERED FOR THE MOST EXTREME OFF-ROAD MISSIONS

IVECO has presented the new IVECO T-WAY heavy off-road vehicle to its dealer network and representatives of the international trade press via a live digital event.

IVECO took an innovative approach to the virtual launch which was specially designed for the IVECO Live Channel. It offered participants a unique experience, telling an immersive story, made up of a mix of video content and live interactions. It took the guests on a journey of discovery through IVECO’s offroad world and unveiled the latest-born in its long lineage of legendary trucks. Luca Sra, Chief Operating Officer IVECO Truck Business Unit, said: “This extra-strong vehicle, a true champion of performance, sturdiness and durability, will further consolidate IVECO’s presence in the heavy off-road sector. The IVECO T-WAY completes the renewal of our heavy IVECO WAY range, which is now one of the freshest, richest and most innovative on the market.” Thomas Hilse, IVECO Brand President, added: “The name says it all: T for Tough!” The IVECO T-WAY carries over from its predecessors the legendary robustness of the high-resistance steel chassis with a 10 mm thick frame, and with a Rail Bending Moment at the top of the segment at 177 kNm. The front axle has a maximum capacity of up to 9 tonnes. Hub reduction on the rear axle is standard to maximise strength and performance. The new heavy-duty rear suspension system for Tandem axles optimises vehicle weight and improves off-road performance with greater ground clearance and a better departure angle. The IVECO T-WAY delivers all the power needed for traction and PTO with IVECO’s reliable and efficient Cursor 13 engine (13 litres) developing up to 510 hp – exceeding the Trakker’s performance by 10 hp. For lighter-weight configurations, it is also available with the Cursor 9 engine. The engines are coupled with the proven 12- and 16-speed HI-TRONIX automated gearbox, which now also features new functions specifically intended for off-road mobility. They include a Hill Holder function to help departure on steep slopes, Rocking Mode to help recover traction in slippery conditions, and Creep Mode for ultra-low speed control at idle. For the on-road sections of the mission, the IVECO HI-CRUISE system further enhances the transmission’s efficiency. It includes predictive gear shifting, predictive cruise control and an eco-roll function that uses the vehicle’s inertia when travelling downhill.

Efficiency

The IVECO T-WAY has been designed for efficiency and productivity, with a host of features, a lower kerb weight and new telematics features and digital services. It offers a new fuel-saving solution for missions that require an occasional All Wheel Drive (AWD) capability: the HI-TRACTION hydrostatic drive system for 6x4 rigid and articulated models. It operates at speeds of up to 25 km/h and is automatically activated to provide additional hydraulic front-wheel traction when needed. It delivers significant benefits in terms of fuel consumption and payload compared to the AWD solution. The low kerb weight has been further reduced by 325 kg compared to the Trakker with the new design of the tandem support on the rear axles, which is now a single-piece casting component. The IVECO T-WAY features the best-in-class connectivity that is the hallmark of the WAY range through the standard Connectivity Box. The connectivity system provides telediagnostics and predictive maintenance. It also enables fleet managers to remotely monitor the performance of every vehicle at all times, ensuring maximum efficiency.

Flexibility

The IVECO T-WAY is set to become a favourite of body builders thanks to its extraordinary flexibility. With both rigid and articulated versions, it has the widest offering of driveline options on the market: Partial Wheel Drive on 6x4 rigid and articulated and 8x4 rigid models; as well as All Wheel Drive on 4x4 and 6x6 rigid and articulated, and on 8x8 rigid versions. The All-Wheel Drive range has been extended with new 4-, 4.2- and 4.5-metre wheelbase models, which can transport special loads with no modification to the chassis. The new HI-MUX electric and electronic architecture is fully compatible with the latest-generation control systems. The new PTO line-up includes a new high-performance sandwich PTO that delivers up to 2,300 Nm torque.

Comfort & Safety

The cab of the IVECO T-WAY shares the driverfriendly design of the IVECO WAY range, with its sleek, aerodynamic lines. Available in two versions – AD short cab and AT long cab with standard or high roof – it is focused on functionality to facilitate the driver’s daily work. The entire driver area has been created to provide a practical and easy-to-live-in environment. The comfortable and ergonomic driver’s seat, together with the new-concept multi-function steering wheel, ensures excellent driver comfort. The vehicle is designed to provide maximum protection, with safety features which far exceed the type approval requirements. The new braking system features EBS as standard, full disc brakes are available on PWD models, and new ADAS (Advanced Driving Assistance Systems) are available across the range.

SPOTLIGHTING BPW SELF-STEERING AXLES

The BPW self-steering trailer axle contains a unique design of centring device, which is a major contributing factor in its success in the UK market place, and in particular within running gear solutions for the longer semi-trailers (LSTs).

The principle of operation is really quite simple, and is based on the principle of the castor. This relies upon lateral forces applied to the wheels when the trailer is turning. If, for example, the trailer is travelling forward and the driver turns to his right, the trailer will pivot on the effective bogie centre which, on a three-axle trailer, will be about the centre of the rear bogie. This will cause the rear of the trailer to move to the left, and the friction between the road and the tyre will create a force which pushes the wheels on the steering axle to the right with respect to the rear of the trailer. This will cause the wheels on the steering axle to turn towards the left and follow the front of the trailer around the right-hand turn. It is worth noting that, if a trailer is fitted with three rigid axles, then the effective bogie centre line is the centre axle – but when a self-steering axle is fitted to the rear position, then the effective bogie centre line is mid-way between the first and second axle. This effectively shortens the wheelbase of the trailer and increases the manoeuvrability in the forward direction. Returning to our analogy with a castor: anyone who has observed a castor moving at a steady speed across the ground will know that it exhibits a ‘shimmying’ action. This is an oscillation about the vertical centre line of the pivot. The cause of this is the constant hunting between the turning force (the wheel on the ground) and the restoring force (the forward motion in an undamped castor). Obviously, this cannot be allowed to happen in an axle system mounted to a trailer, as this will cause instability when driving and contribute towards tyre wear (the avoidance of which is one of the benefits of using a self-steering axle). You will find as many ways of preventing shimmying as you will find types of self-steering axle, but the BPW system is quite unique in its operation. It relies on ‘corrugated washers’ – two nested circular plates, each with four cam lobes formed into them. As the axle steers, the cam faces rise up against each other, similar to a rising butt door hinge. This action constantly tries to centre the steering back to the straight ahead position. The trick is to design the slope of the cam faces so that the restoring forces generated balance off the turning forces, and prevent the oscillation which causes the shimmying.

BPW Active Reverse Control System

The beauty of this system is that the restoring force increases with the load on the axle, due to the weight on the corrugated washers. The turning forces also increase with load and thus the two are always balanced. There is no need for systems of air bellows or dampers. The advantages of this system are that a 10 per cent saving on tyre wear over a tri-axle bogie can be achieved. The unique, load-sensitive anti-hunting device adds further to this saving, whilst ensuring that the axle is not encumbered with heavy and bulky damping mechanisms. Until now, the benefits of a selfsteering axle have only been available during forward travel, as the steering mechanism is locked and the axle remains rigid when reversing. However, BPW has developed a new electro-hydraulic auxiliary system, Active Reverse Control, to automatically control the steering axle when reversing. Active Reverse Control consists of control and hydraulic units, and a steering cylinder with an integrated steering angle sensor. When a driver engages with the reverse gear, the steering system is automatically activated via the reversing lights and the rotational speed and direction sensor. For precise movement, steering can be manually operated with a remote control, accurately manoeuvring a trailer into a defined area. The innovative sensor technology, mounted in the control unit, rather than the kingpin, detects the direction and angle of the steering. By utilising BPW’s Active Reverse Control, both fuel consumption and tyre wear will be reduced: at an annual mileage of 100,000 kilometres, you could save up to 1,000 litres of diesel and four tyres. The system, which can be retrofitted to an existing self-steering axle, is suitable for both commercial and agricultural purposes. Active Reverse Control can be utilised independently of the EBS system and can also be used to control two steering axles (four axles are even possible with agricultural vehicles). This easy-to-install, plug-and-play technology will help to increase the productivity and safety of your fleet. Active Reverse Control is available for both BPW drum and disc brake self-steering axles.