Iveco EUROCARGO RANGE

With A Massively Varied Model Line-Up, Ivecos

Eurocargo Has The Potential To Be Most Things
To Most Medium-Duty Operators. Steve Walker
Looks At The Latest Model.

Iveco took an interesting tack in developing their

latest Eurocargo medium-duty truck. Instead of
whipping the covers off a thoroughly new model
with all the traditional flourish and fanfare, they
chose to trial the vehicles drive train in the
outgoing Eurocargo. Once any mechanical teething problems had been ironed out, this
vehicle was then knocked firmly on the head to make way for an heir sporting a smart
new look both inside and out. Operators have been using the current Eurocargos engine
and transmission system since 2001 but it took until mid 2003 for the remainder of the
truck to put in an appearance.

Build
Comfort
Depreciation
Economy
Equipment
Handling
Insurance
Performance
Styling
Value
This might be a roundabout way of approaching the problem of product development but
it seems to work for Iveco.

The Iveco Eurocargo, in one form or another, has featured prominently on the fleets of
British businesses since it first hit the showrooms in 1991 picking up quite a few choice
industry accolades along the way. The 2003 model must continue this success by
catching the eye of the people who sign the cheques at the rental companies, couriers and
medium volume delivery firms who make the majority of the purchases in this sector. In
truth, though, the Eurocargo has been designed to cover a far wider range of
requirements, with inherent versatility high on the designers list of prerequisites. Thanks
to gross vehicle weights ranging from 6 to 18 tonnes, numerous bodystyles and a
collection of cab options, everyone, from a self-employed builder to a national company
employing hundreds, should be able to find a use for a Eurocargo - or two.

What about this plethora of options then? Well, the basic cab is available in three forms.
The Day Cab seats two or three without the sleeping accommodation of the Sleeper Cab,
which comes with one or two bunks as well as the seats. Then youve got the Crew Cab
that adds a row of seats behind those in the front, providing room for driver and up to six
passengers. Crew Cabs would be suitable for use as roadside recovery vehicles or as
transport for a team of workers and their equipment.

Finally, the Sleeper Cab can be specified with the medium roof an extension to the top of
the cab, which takes the overall height to two meters. Further to this, theres the 7.5 to 26
tonne payload capacities and various wheelbase lengths, not to mention the specialist
modifications that are offered factory built by the manufacturer. Right from the off, this
Eurocargo has the potential to be supplied in over 3,000 configurations - everything from
a flat-bed truck to a big refrigerated lorry.

"The Iveco Eurocargo is a genuinely durable working vehicle.."

Power comes from Ivecos own Tector family of diesel engines with two distinct versions
on offer. the 3.9-litre 4-cylinder unit can be specified in 130, 150 or 170bhp form, while
the 6-cylinder 5.9-litre unit weighs in with one of the 180, 210, 240 and 275bhp power
outputs.

The smaller engine is only offered with the lighter models and its these well concentrate
on here. In 130bhp form it gives the driver 430Nm of torque at 1,200 rpm, making for
impressive flexibility and fewer gear changes. Anyone wanting to move heavier loads
might prefer the 170bhp version with its 560Nm at the same 1,200rpm. All engines up to
180bhp come with a five or six-speed gearbox but there is an HGV-style nine-speeder
available for models of 8 tonnes and over.

Shifts are agreeably smooth and a pneumatic servo-shift system reduces the amount of
force needed to operate the clutch. The Eurocargos styling is the work of Bertone, the
Italian design house more usually tasked with penning the rakish lines of expensive
sports cars, and theyve done a commendable job. A series of differently shaped vents and
apertures dominate the front end with the two running down the vehicles corners looking
like giant-sized grab handles. Apparently, theyre designed to direct airflow away from the
cab so that door handles and windows stay cleaner now that is thoughtful.

The shape itself is a move away from the flat, slab-fronted design common amongst
trucks of this type as the windscreen angles back from the grill to give a more pleasing
frontal aspect. Aerodynamics obviously played an influential role in the design process
and operators should reap the benefits of this in the shape of improved fuel consumption.
When behind the wheel wind noise is well suppressed and visibility via the large
windows and mirrors is excellent. Storage space is always important in commercial
vehicles.
Over the course of the working day its easy for paperwork, stationery, bits of lunch and
whatever else you have lying around, to merge together into one supremely awful mess.
To keep the chaos under control, cubby-holes, draws and pockets should be plentiful and
in the Eurocargo, they are. There are all sorts of clever storage solutions dotted around
the cabin so you can keep appropriate items close at hand while stowing others out of
sight and forgetting about them. The dash is neatly presented too.

There might be a slight question mark over some of the plastic used but the switches feel
durable and the information displays are suitably unambiguous. Another big plus is that
the smaller Eurocargo models now only have one step up to gain access to the cab. They
used to have two large steps and halving the amount of clambering that an employee has
to do in a working week has got to be a good thing. All models get ABS with brakeforce
distribution as standard and theres an engine brake with three different modes to lessen
the likelihood of the vehicle running away with you.

The Iveco Eurocargo is a genuinely durable working vehicle. It has always been popular
and in the latest version, the manufacturers have taken steps to improve the little things
that can make all the difference over a period of sustained use. Its now a better package
all-round in almost all the respects that matter and even the new Bertone styling seems a
likely sales winner. The smaller 7.

5 tonne models should have the quality to draw buyers up from smaller flatbed trucks and
panel van conversions while the big top end load-carriers have the strong mechanicals
and well conceived design to compete fiercely in their respective markets.

FACTS AT A GLANCE
VAN: Iveco Eurocargo Range
PRICES: from £27,290 ENGINES: 3.9-litre 4-cylinder (130, 150 or 170bhp) / 5.9-litre 6-
cyliner (180, 210, 240 or 275bhp) SERVICE INTERVALS: 80,000km (oil and filters) /
2-years (coolant). GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT: 6t 18t