International transforms its medium-duty trucks

International Truck and Engine Corp. has renamed its Next Generation Vehicle prototype and brought it to production as the “industry's first high-performance truck,” its first new product in nearly 25 years.

In a marketing ploy that has the automotive industry written all over it, International Truck and Engine Corp. unveiled its new generation of “high performance” trucks amidst fireworks, fog machines, and neon in Las Vegas in mid-February. But International believes more than its introduction of the new 4000, 7000, and 8000 trucks to be reminiscent of the automotive industry. According to the company, truck drivers will feel like they are pressing on the accelerator of an automobile when they get behind the wheel.

“Our goal was to develop a truck that not only performs beyond owners’ expectations in all driving environments, but also one that is fun to drive,” said Dan Ustian, President, Engine Group, International. “The integrated powertrain plays a huge part in that, giving these new medium-duty trucks the feel, handling, and responsiveness that is much more automotive-like.”