Navistar Redesigns Flagship LoneStar Model

Sep 11, 2017 | Bad Credit Loans, Bank Lending, Business Loans, Finance, Working Capital

Roger W. Gilroy | Staff Reporter

International Truck, a unit of Navistar International Corp., announced redesigns and updates to its flagship, almost decade-old, LoneStar model to emphasize new ergonomic, stylistic and fuel-efficiency features while maintaining the truck’s classic appearance.

“Dealers will get them in January,” and they are available for ordering now, Dave Majors, vice president of product development, said during a teleconference. It comes in a day cab and four different sleeper configurations.

“This truck was targeted at owner-operators to start with. But one of the things we have come to realize is fleets have been using this truck to reward drivers for their outstanding performance,” he said. “It’s like arriving in a Porsche. It’s just a very distinctive style.”

The Sept. 11 announcement came at the beginning of National Truck Driver Appreciation Week.

The LoneStar’s standard engine is the Cummins X15; it will not be available with International’s own recently launched A26 engine, Majors said, and is not intended for vocational applications except wreckers, but special requests could be granted.

Among the new features are the new single-canister aftertreatment system that is 60% smaller, 40% lighter and simplified for quicker servicing. The cab wiring includes all-new harnessing and an in-cab power distribution module that is inside the truck, away from the elements. Other features include backlighting in the cab; an air horn lanyard; wider-opening doors and three points of contact for getting in an out of the cab, which was designed to lower the noise, vibration and harshness level; and a door window, where the vent line has been removed.

“One of the comments we got back from many of the drivers, was the new windows and the placement of pedestal mirrors gives the feel of a larger more spacious cab, which helps the driver in day-to-day-operations,” Majors said.