Autoblog

Click image for 5 more shots of the LoneStar

Big rigs are awesome. We freely admit that this isn't our area of expertise, but when something particularly cool and truck-related comes along, we're more than happy to share. Thanks to an Autoblog reader named Johnny, who sent in the photos you see here, something cool indeed came along.

We don't know if the pair of rigs you see are concepts or a new production model that's set to debut sometime soon. The Mid-America Trucking Show -- the biggest show in the industry -- is coming up in March, so these might be headed there. Our submitter at first thought that they might just be show vehicles, but some details lead him to believe that this could be a new production model sporting a nifty new hood design. The thing that has our tipster thinking "production" is that different sleeper configs are shown. The silver rig's is taller and incorporates a large fairing, while the black one's is less pronounced. Aside from the swoopy front end, the layout seems conventional, with exposed fuel tanks and the like. The final clue that these may be upcoming production trucks is on the rear mud flap of the black rig, which has something like "LongStar" or "LoadStar" emblazoned on it. (It's LoneStar -- see update below.) Most of International's trucks have "Star" nomenclature, and the "Star" moniker on the pictured vehicle is not one currently in use. We'll have to wait and see what plays out in the coming weeks, but one thing's certain: these things are bitchin'.

Thanks for the photos, Johnny!

UPDATE: According to commenter FC, the trucks are examples of International's new Class 8 flagship tractor, the LoneStar, will will be officially premiered at the Chicago Auto Show next month. Sadly, we don't think one of these will fit in the Autoblog Garage. Thanks, FC!

You may recall that Navistar supplies Ford with diesel engines for its Super Duty trucks. You may also recall that the last two diesel engines used in Ford's Super Duty pickups (the current 6.4L Power Stroke and last generation's 6.0L) have had some quality problems. The 6.0L Power Stroke was known for problems stemming from defective fuel injectors, while the newer 6.4L has had one recall related to high exhaust temperatures that could ignite diesel fuel in the particulate filter, causing an impressive light show out the tailpipe. Because of their strained relationship on account of these engines, Ford and Navistar are likely to part ways in the near future.

So what do you do when your biggest client dumps you? You walk across town and strike a deal with its competitor. General Motors announced this morning that it has entered into a "non-binding memorandum of understanding" (read: gentleman's handshake) with International Truck and Engine Corporation to sell its medium-duty truck business to the Navistar owned-and-operated subsidiary. Thus, Navistar will eventually take over building and selling the GMC TopKick and Chevy Kodiak trucks. That's right, while Ironhide will remain a GMC vehicle, he'll no longer be owned by GM.

To be fair, Navistar was undoubtedly forced to produce the last two Power Stroke diesels for Ford in a hurry to meet rising emissions standards, which likely contributed to the problems that both engines have had. Apparently that doesn't bother GM, as we expect the TopKick and Kodiak will likely eschew their Duramax turbodiesels for International diesel engines after the deal is done.

[Source: GM]

This week in Washington, the EPA pulled the wraps off of the hydraulic hybrid vehicle we reported it was developing back in December of 2005.

The result of the cooperative effort between the EPA, UPS, Eaton, and International Truck is a familiar-looking brown UPS delivery van. The only clue that this is no standard UPS truck is the fairly subtle "Low Emission Hydraulic Hybrid"  label it sports on its side panels. The Hydraulic Hybrid eschews batteries and electric motors, instead mating the truck's diesel engine to a hydraulic propulsion system, made up of a series of hydraulic storage tanks and pumps. This system replaces the conventional drivetrain completely, and offers similar benefits to gas/diesel-electric hybrids such as regenerative braking. The hydraulic system's ability to store and deliver larger amounts of power also can be used to provide launch assistance to the tune of 100 horsepower for 20 seconds.

The benefits of using a hydraulic hybrid system, according to EPA claims, are a 60%-70% increase in fuel economy (based on lab tests), a 40% reduction in CO2 emissions, and a lower "hybrid penalty" costwise, which can be recovered in as little as three years due to fuel savings (1,000 gallons of diesel/year) and reduction in brake maintenance costs.

The UPS demonstrator truck displayed will begin working daily routes in the Detroit area this summer. Presumably, data will be collected and analyzed based on this real-world application of the technology.

The system is currently seen as potentially being a boon to urban commercial/industrial vehicle applications such as delivery vehicles, school buses, and garbage trucks, all of which operate in a mostly stop-and-go environment that would optimze the use of the hybrid system. The Army is also testing a truck equipped with a similar powertrain.

Update: AutoblogGreen did an informative post on Hydraulic Hybrid technology earlier this month. Check it out for more background info.

(Joint press release, EPA info and links after the jump.)

[Source: New York Times]