Preparing for the March 2007 shipment of its new International ProStar Class 8 highway tractor, International Truck and Engine Corp. recently held its ProStar Training Camp, educating nearly 1,100 International dealer sales professionals.

The dealer education sessions in Atlanta, Dallas and Chicago focused on the features, benefits and driving characteristics of the International ProStar.
At ProStar Training Camp, dealers received guidance to help customers in determining specifications for new truck orders. Dealers also participated in a driving experience that highlighted ProStar’s maneuverability and visibility.
ProStar is designed based on input from customer and dealer advisory boards. Its four-point value proposition for customers includes aerodynamics, driver satisfaction, uptime and low cost of ownership. Styled with boldly sculpted fenders, a sloped hood to enhance visibility, and streamlined cab and roof shaping, the International ProStar cuts through air efficiently. The ProStar has an 8 percent aerodynamic advantage against International’s previous model and an improvement in fuel efficiency by up to 4 percent.
The 2007 launch of the International ProStar includes daycab and short and long sleepers in a high-rise roof configuration. Initial production will be based on 122-inch BBC (bumper-to-back-of-cab) tractors. The second phase of production will include additional BBC and sleeper configuration options. The truck will be produced at the International Assembly Plant in Chatham, Ontario, Canada.
Shipments of the new International ProStar to dealers will begin in March 2007. Once customers take ownership, they will have access to nearly 900 service locations in the U.S. and Canada and an extensive domestic parts network that offers affordable and available replacement parts.
A product overview of the company’s new MaxxForce Big Bore diesel was also part of ProStar Training Camp. Major customer benefits of this engine include fuel economy, excellent power characteristics, low noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH), and high strength without added weight. The engine will be integrated in the ProStar series beginning in 2008. The new engine goes on sale for the International 8600 regional-haul tractors and International 7000 Series severe service trucks beginning in fall 2007.