September 2008, Work Truck - Cover Story

What's New in Medium-Duty Trucks for 2009-MY

By Lauren Fletcher, Grace Lauron, Lisajoyce Vergara

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Kenwort h T170, T270, & T370

Kenworth’s lineup of medium-duty trucks for 2009 include the T170 (Class 5), T270 (Class 6), and T370 (Class 7). Kenworth will also enter production on new fuel-efficient, diesel-electric medium-duty hybrids (T370 and T270 models) this year.

The Kenworth hybrids use an integral transmission-mounted motor/generator; frame-mounted 340-volt, lithium-ion battery pack; and dedicated power management system. Advanced powertrain controls monitor driving conditions and automatically select the ideal power mode, switching among electric-only, combined diesel and electric, and diesel-only power modes. Regenerative braking stores electricity and uses it for acceleration, assisting the diesel engine. The hybrid system is monitored through a dash display, with constant screen updates on system status.

The Kenworth T270 and T370 hybrids use a PACCAR PX-6 engine rated from 200 to 300 hp and 520 to 620 lb.-ft. of torque and an Eaton 6-speed Ultra-Shift transmission. Halogen projector low-beam headlamps provide 30-percent more light down the road and three times longer life than sealed beam headlamps.

The hood is made of sheet-molded composite (SMC) for enhanced fit and finish, with a hood assist device and 90-degree hood tilt opening. A one-piece chrome or painted bumper and Metton quarter fenders provide additional durability and impact resistance.

Interior features include an ergonomically- friendly, wrap-around  instrument panel with large, easy-to-read, glarefree gauges.

New front and rear suspensions are available on Kenworth’s medium-duty truck models. The latest addition to Kenworth’s suspension family, the 21,000-lb. AG210L single-axle rear suspension is an economical choice for Kenworth’s Class 6 and Class 7 conventional models. 

IMAGE]Kenworth-170-box-L.jpg[/IMAGE]

 Mitsubishi Fuso

For 2009, Mitsubishi Fuso Truck of America’s medium-duty trucks’ looks and features remain unchanged from MY-2008.

Introduced earlier this year, the Class 3 FE125 — a medium-duty vehicle in the Fuso lineup — offers a 12,500-lb. GVWR. The FE125 uses the same basic chassis and same cab configuration as its heavy-duty Class 4 and Class 5 siblings. Made from steel with 51,200 psi yield strength, it is built to last in tough work conditions.

Additional features include vacuum-serve assist, hydraulic-type, dual-caliper disc brakes at all wheels, plus nodular cast-iron spring brackets, sintered bronze bushing, and laminated leaf springs with shock absorbers, and front and rear stabilizer bar.

Both the FE125 (12,500 lb. GVWR/Class 3) and FE145 (14,500 lb. GVWR/Class 4) now come with an Aisin electronic 6-speed overdrive (OD) automatic transmission (AT) as standard equipment. The FE180 (17,995 lb. GVWR/Class 5) also features the Aisin electronic 6-speed OD automatic as standard, but also offers a Mitsubishi 6-speed overdrive manual transmission as an option.

On all FE models, the shift lever is mounted on the dash, and the parking brake is mounted between the seats, so the floor is free of obstacles, providing more center-seat leg room and allowing the driver to easily exit from the curbside door.

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