INDIANAPOLIS — Focused on capturing a tight grip of the light-duty truck market, Navistar unveiled its new Class 4 and 5 TerraStar – a large 4X4 that will be sold purely as a commercial work truck.

The truck, which was on display at the National Truck Equipment Association’s Work Truck Show in Indianapolis, will be standard with a redesigned MaxxForce 7 V-8 diesel mated to a 5-speed Allison 1000 automatic transmission.

The TerraStar, which was first rolled out last year with a 4×2 powertrain, will use the same heavy duty-based cab as other International medium-duty trucks.

The frame, which is based on the former CF low-cab-forward model, sits about 4 inches lower than the next-biggest model, the DuraStar 4100.  electric 

The TerraStar is now a 4×4 on a
newly designed 7-liter EGR diesel

The bigger base and the 4×4 variant will deliver additional commercial duty capability for a wider range of customer needs in construction, utility, landscape, and other off-highway applications, the company says.

The TerraStar features a "best-in-class visibility" of 38 percent more than the next leading truck, says Navistar. And, with 107-inch BBC length, it offers outstanding maneuverability in even tight work environments.

The new EGR-based MaxxForce 7 is now cast in compacted graphite iron for greater durability and lighter weight. It has new ratings of 240, 260, 280 and 300 hp with 560, 600 or 660 pounds-feet of torque.

Company executives feel the new TerraStar rounds out a light to medium-duty lineup that will battle for supremacy in the class 4-7 segment, which saw several players – namely GM and Sterling bow out last year.

Specifically, the TerraStar wil take on market leader Ford in the growing class 4-5 sector.

WAVING THE GREEN FLAG

Long an industry leader in the medium-duty and vocational applications, International wants to make a name for itself as a green pioneer, too.

To its stellar lineup of ‘Star" badges, Navistar has added the inevitable: The eStar, all-electric class 2-3 commercial truck.

electric star

The eStar (along with a hybrid DuraStar and a natural-gas-powered WorkStar) appeared at this week’s Work Truck Show in Indianapolis.

"Work-truck customers have diverse business needs and are looking for a wide range of truck features to help perform their jobs," said Jim Hebe, senior vice president, North American sales operations, Navistar.

The little eStar has a range of 100 miles per charge and can get a full day’s worth of driving after a six-to-eight-hour recharge. Among the traits that distinguish it from the competition are its low center of gravity (the battery is between the frame rails, not mounted on top) and a 36-foot turning circle.

It comes with a walk-through cab, a battery that can be swapped out in about 20 minutes and a host of features including a windshield with nearly 180-degree visibility, a low-floor design provides easy loading/unloading and an almost-zero noise level.

Its bigger brother, the hybrid DuraStar, looks like an ordinary work truck but offers up to 60 percent fuel savings.

Finally, Navistar also demonstrated a natural-gas powered WorkStar at the show. It features a DT-466-based natural-gas engine developed in conjunction with Emissions Solutions Incorporated (ESI) of McKinney, Texas. ESI offers engine ratings from 175-300 horsepower with 460-860 lb.-ft. torque.

The engines are capable of supporting both liquefied and compressed natural gas.