The New Western Star 5700XE
A day-cab version is also available with all the powertrain and driver comfort and safety features the sleeper unit offers.
Behind those trademark vertical grille bars lurks the heart of the 5700 eXtreme Efficiency tractor: the Integrated Detroit power train, featuring a DD-series engine, the DT12 automated transmission and Detroit axles.
The contoured sleeper roof is not ideal for a dry vans, so enginers designed a bolt-on fairing that better covers the front of a tall van trailer.
Western Star says Transformers director Michael Bay took one look at the early sketches of the 5700XE and said, "that's Optimus Prime." The company has no plans to offer an OP version of the 5700. We'll see ...
The three-piece chassis side fairings are less expensive to repair than a full side fairing, and the optional brightworks adds a distinctive look.
Sculpted roof and upper side fairings along with a close-cropped wheelbase help mimimize the impact of the trailer gap and the wider and taller trailer profile.
The target market for Western Star's 5700XE is owner-operators and small- to medium-sized fleets wanting a unique look and brand. Large fleets could position the truck as a driver incentive or reward truck for high-performing drivers.
Halogen projector beam headlamps with LED "eyebrow" accent that doubles as a daytime running light. A three-piece design means lower repair costs and the halogen lamps are readily available at low cost.
At about 17,000 pounds, the 5700XE is lighter than it looks. The honeycomb sleeper fabrication material helps keep the weight down without sacrificing strength.
Ehgine options are exclusively Detroit and include the DD13, DD15 and DD16, in ratings from 350 to 600 horsepower with torque from 1250 all the way up to 2050 pounds-feet.
The 5700EX has the same large, roomy cab Western Star owners have come to appreciate. Sleeper configurations include 34-, 40-, 54-, 68- and 82-inch models in low-roof, high-roof Stratosphere or ultra-high-roof Stratosphere styles.
The truck-style dash looks traditional, but it's loaded with the latest safety technology. Options include lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, predictive cruise control, collision mitigation technology and multi-function controls on the steering wheel.
Western Star designers call the bumper end caps "fangs." They are integral to the truck's aerodynamics in that they guide air up and over the fender as well as around the wheel. A physically small but highly effective bit of aerodynamics, Western Star says.
The sunvisor is said to be aero-neutral, meaning it has no impact in the aero performance of the truck, but it does help direct air coming up off the hood and windshield up and over the cab roof.