LOUISVILLE, Ky. (March 29) — Paccar Inc. stablemates Kenworth and Peterbilt will soon re-enter the mid-range cabover market with a new truck to be built at Kenworth’s plant in Ste-Therese, Que., near Montreal.

The facility was closed three years ago following a lengthy strike, but is slated to re-open this summer after extensive renovations. It will build only medium-duty trucks under both Kenworth and Peterbilt nameplates, but is capable of building class-8 Kenworth vehicles if necessary.

Both companies previously sold a North Americanized version of a Brazilian Volkswagen cabover truck, which was quietly dropped from the lineup two years ago.

The new class-7 machine, which Peterbilt hasn’t yet named but Kenworth calls the “K37,” is based on a Leyland-DAF vehicle popular in Europe. Paccar bought DAF, headquartered in the Netherlands, a year ago. Kenworth and Peterbilt will use both the chassis and steel cab of the DAF truck while adding a North American engine and drivetrain.

Both versions of the new truck were launched at the Mid-America Trucking Show, though Peterbilt referred to the example on the show floor as a “concept vehicle.” Pete’s general manager Nick Panza said sales would begin late this year as production ramps up in the fourth quarter. Kenworth’s plans are the same. Class-5 and -6 versions of the new truck will follow next year.

Ed Caudill, Kenworth’s general manager, said the K37 straight truck “will complement our T300 medium-duty conventional — and we expect to significantly increase our penetration in the class-7 marketplace.”

The new truck has four wheelbase options (between 169 and 236 inches) and a very tight turning radius with a wheel cut of 50 degrees.

The 5.9-litre Cummins ISB will be the standard engine, with ratings from 175 to 230 horsepower, matched to an Eaton six-speed synchronized transmission. Eaton Spicer front and rear axles will be standard, as will Eaton brakes and a Meritor WABCO four-channel, anti-lock braking system. It will come with a two-year, unlimited-mileage warranty.