International Trucks has launched the International LT Series, a new flagship line of Class 8 over-the-road trucks developed with a driver-centric design that features new technologies and better fuel economy than previous models.

“The new International LT Series reflects our vision for the future of the trucking industry, with a host of advancements that support improved driver safety and productivity as well as fuel efficiency and uptime,” said Bill Kozek, president, truck and parts, Navistar. “This new vehicle reflects our strong belief that integrating the best technology will provide customers with a significant operating advantage.”

In keeping with the company’s DriverFirst product design focus, International undertook extensive research with truck drivers, including clinics that gathered input from hundreds of drivers. International used this research to design the LT Series’ interior and identifiy multiple new and improved features to enhance driver appeal.

The LT Series' cab design offers increased elbow, hip, and leg room and features a mix of high-tech and traditional features to emphasize driver ease of use. The gauge cluster includes a digital driver display that provides real-time monitoring of fuel economy and other important alerts.

Another design goal was keeping the truck running on the road and facilitating quick service when needed. Features to improve reliability and serviceability include:

• A new single-canister aftertreatment system that is 60% smaller and 40% lighter and is simplified for quicker servicing.

• LED headlamps and fog lamps to deliver brighter light and intensity with polycarbonate headlight lenses that protect from breakage.

• The cab wiring includes all-new harnessing and an in-cab power distribution module that is inside the truck, away from the elements.

• All key service points under the hood, inside the cab, and around the vehicle are ergonomically designed for easy access and servicing. Also, many components have been engineered with longer required service intervals.

“We pored over reliability data to evaluate nearly every single system on our on-highway platform to look for ways to get better,” said Denny Mooney, senior vice president, Global Product Development, Navistar. “In some cases, we completely redesigned the entire system to reach our goals. We are proud of the integrated, data-driven approach we used to assure improved reliability, serviceability, and productivity.”

The LT Series also boasts improved aerodynamics and fuel efficiency that Navistar said is 7% better than the company’s most recent fuel economy leader, a 2017 ProStar powered by the Cummins ISX15 engine.

The LT Series delivers 3% improvement in fuel economy due to its aerodynamic benefits alone, according to Navistar. Upgraded aerodynamic features on the International LT Series include an aero-contoured hood, fender, and wheel opening along with chassis skirts and an aero-enhanced three-piece front bumper, while longer side extenders shorten the trailer gap.

Several advanced driver assistance systems are available standard and there are additional customer-selected options.

The Bendix Wingman Advanced Collision Mitigation system comes standard on every model in the LT Series. The trucks are also available with the optional Bendix Wingman Fusion and Meritor Wabco OnGuardActive systems.

International’s own predictive cruise control looks ahead of the vehicle and recognizes the terrain and continuously calculates the most efficient speed and gear for optimal fuel economy in real time. The system uses preinstalled GPS maps and the latest commercial route data to make adjustments to cruising speed without the need to pre-drive the route.

The truck’s electronic control systems also use programmable parameters to optimize efficiency. Driver controls and instrumentation are based on industry-standard SAE J1939 electrical architecture, with a new cluster and switches designed to keep drivers focused and to maximize uptime.

The LT Series will be offered in multiple configurations, including day cab, 56-inch low roof sleeper, 56-inch hi-rise sleeper, 73-inch hi-rise sleeper, and 73-inch sky-rise sleeper. It will offer customers a choice of engines that provide the preferred performance for the application.

The LT Series is being launched with the new 2017 Cummins X15 engine, which offers horsepower ratings of up to 500 horsepower in the Efficiency series and up to 565 horsepower in the Performance series. It is also being launched with the new 2017 Navistar N13 engine, which will be available in the spring. Navistar said this engine has an advanced fuel-efficient 13L design that produces up to 475 horsepower and 1,750 lb.-ft. of torque yet is 500 to 600 pounds lighter than traditional big bore engines.

The company is taking orders today and will begin production in late November. For more information, click here.