International Truck & Engine
International Truck & Engine Co. dealers are taking orders for its 8500 model, the class-8 regional distribution tractor in its High Performance Truck platform. The 8500, which replaces the current
S-cab models, was introduced in February along with the 4000 medium-duty truck and 7500 construction chassis.
The tractor has gross combination ratings to 80,000 pounds and axle ratings to 12,000 pounds front and 23,000 or 40,000 pounds rear, depending on single or tandem drive specifications. With its 107-inch BBC, the truck is intended for regional applications such as grocery chain-store delivery, fuel distribution, beverage, and general freight distribution.
The truck’s International 530 HT engine is the high-torque version of International’s 8.7-litre in-line six cylinder. Ratings run from 280 to 340 horsepower in 20-horsepower increments with torque from 950 to 1200 pounds-feet. Initially, vendor engines will not be available, but closer to October 2002 (the deadline for tighter engine emissions standards) other engines will be offered, with the model designation changing to the 8600.
The 8500 cab has the same high level of driver amenity as the 4000, and shares the good visibility and excellent 50-degree wheel-cut manoeuvrability. The 8500’s cab sits four inches higher on the frame than the 4000, to accommodate a larger cooling package and vendor engines.
Cab accessibility is significantly improved over the S-cab models, as is the heating, ventilation and air conditioning. Like the 4000, the new 8500 has fully multiplexed wiring throughout the cab and the superior diagnostics enabled by the electronic controller for the wiring system. The 8500, though, gets an additional wing dash for extra instrumentation and the air valves for the all-air-braked truck range.
The 4000 is in production today. The 8500 is due to start in October, with the construction-chassis 7500 due shortly after. Ultimately, the steel cab will migrate to all International trucks, eventually replacing the aluminum cabs on the over-the-highway 9000 and the heavy-construction 5000 models.