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BOOK REVIEW – TATRA IMMORTAL

– by Milan Olšansky

with the inclusion of East European countries to the European Member States, more knowledge and information on the automotive industry in the regions has been waiting to be discovered. One significant car and truck builder is Tatra, which according to Milan Olšansky, author of Tatra Immortal – ‘has been contributing for one hundred and twenty years to the treasury of global automotive design by doggedly solving the challenges of transportation’. Tatra’s story is similar in many ways to the evolution of another Czech Republic brand, Škoda, which also boasts a rich history in automobile innovation and invention for over twelve decades. Milan’s hardback, consisting of 544 pages, is more than a biography; it’s a veritable history book, full of detail and photos. Taking years to collate, it was undertaken with great dedication and passion for the subject matter, with Olšansky delving into a comprehensive analysis from the very early days of the Koprivnice based manufacturer’s inception and how the founder’s dreams turned into reality.

While some readers may recall that Tatra Trucks won the Dakar Rally six times and that current models feature DAF Trucks cabs and powertrains, Tatra is much more that a race or hybrid manufacturer. Originally named after a mountain range close to the CzechPoland border, Tatra became a wagon and carriage in 1897 and produced its first motor car in 1918. During World War II, it became known foremost as a military tank and defence truck producer.

Having ceased car manufacturing in 1999, today’s heavy duty Tatra Trucks feature all-wheel drive with axle configurations ranging from 4x4 to 18x18, serving the construction, fire service and military sectors primarily. Before the DAF Trucks involvement, Renault Trucks cabs were used as were Tatra’s own cab designs. Unique engineering elements, such as its axle and suspension developments hold Tatra true to its robustness and durability pedigree. This book is a fabulous record of the past life and current times of Tatra Trucks.

Milan Olšansky is the editor of Trucker magazine and a member of the International Truck, Van & Pick-up awards juries.

Jarlath Sweeney

Evolution of the Pick-up – The SUT: Sport Utility Truck

The MILITEM FERŌX-T represents the maximum evolution of the pick-up as we know it. It also reinvents the current concept of the SUV, transforming it into an SUT: Sport Utility Truck.

This vehicle, based on the Jeep Gladiator is suited to daily use as well as off-road adventures. It combines the abilities of an SUV and pick-up into one unit, harmonising and enhancing the characteristics of each.

A new arrival for the European market, it is powered by a 285bhp 3.6L V6 engine, producing 353 Nm of torque.