Iveco Eurocargo
Italian Tactical Truck (1991-today)
A light Tactical Truck: Eurocargo
About Iveco
IVECO (industral vehicles corp.) was funded in Turin, Italy in 1975 from a consortium grouping FIAT Veicoli Industriali, OM Brescia, Lancia Veicoli Speciali, Unic (France), and Magirus-Deutz (Germany). It is now based in Europe, China, Russia, Australia and Latin America with 5,000 sales and service outlets in 160 countries, 150,000 vehicles yearly. Its range included in the 1980s some 200 basic models, 600 versions with trucks from 2.7t to 40+ tones, buses and engines. Its first best-seller was the 4x4 Zetta, also widely used by the Italian Army and widely exported. The company's tactical trucks are now part of IDV group.
In short, the tactical eurocargo
The Iveco EuroCargo is a range of medium-duty civilian trucks produced by Iveco since 1991, in a niche between the light Daily and heavy Stralis today in the company's lineup. The EuroCargo replaced the Zeta of the 1970s. A military variant of a tactical 4x4 light truck was proposed also and purchased by many customers, Italy, Spain, and Germany among others. Three generations followed.
1st generation 1991
The first generation designed by IVECO Design Centre (Neu Ulm) in Germany under Leonhard Schmude was stylized by Giorgetto Giugiaro, Italdesign. Gross weight (max) was 6-15 tons, and in Langley, UK, up to 17 tons. The 4x2, 4x4 (10/14 tons) were proposed with three types of engines:
-8040 series, 4 cyl. (bore/stroke 104x115mm) 3908 cc: 116–136 hp (87–101 kW; 118–138 PS)
-8060 series, 6 cyl.(bore/stroke 104x1x115mm) 5861 cc, 143–177–207–227 hp (107–132–154–169 kW; 145–179–210–230 PS)
-8360 series, 6 cyli. (bore/stroke 112x130mm) 7685 cc, 239–266 hp (178–198 kW; 242–270 PS).
In addition there were four cabs available:
-Standard (length 1,535 mm (60.4 in))
-Extended bed LWB (2,115 mm (83.3 in))
-Extended bed SWB (1,535 mm (60.4 in))
-Double cab.
The 6-10 ton versions had disc brakes on all wheels and they were hydraulically assisted. The heavier models had rear drum brakes.
Four types of suspension were used:
Parabolic leaf springs
Semi-elliptical leaf springs
Parabolic springs in the front.
In addition they intriduced rear airbags, air suspension and from October 1997 the cab and the braking system were improved but British production (Langley) ended and assets reconcentrated in Brescia.
2nd generation 2002
These were designed by Bertone, produced in Brescia but also Sete Lagoas in Brazil (from January 2005) and in a Ferreyra in Argentina, then assembled in Venezuela.
Maximum gross weight: 6-18 tons (4x2 and 4x4, GVW 10/14 tons). The Iveco Tector engines were introduced in the R4, 3920 cc, 129–170 hp (96–127 kW; 131–172 PS); R6, 5880 cc, 182–275 hp (136–205 kW; 185–279 PS) ranges. Four types of cabs were available:
-Standard Time (MLC)
-Extended bed (MLL, with one or two bunk beds)
Augmented bed
Extended Crew (MLD, for 7.5t to 15t models, driver+ six passengers).
All 6-10 ton GVW versions had disc brakes on all wheels hydraulically assisted and the heavier chassis had rear drum brakes and same suspensions as the 1st gen. In 2004 and in 2006 Tector 4 and 6 engine range passed under Euro 4 and Euro 5 emission standards. Maximum power rose by 10–20 horsepower. By mid-2008 there was a facelift and change of design and styling of the cabin.
Transmission was now from German manufacturer ZF with 5, 6, 9 ratios, and 6-speed versions of the ZF gearbox available with Eurotronic automatic or manual.
The 4-cylinder engines displaced 3900 cc and ranged from 140 to 182 hp (104 to 136 kW; 142 to 185 PS).
The 6-cylinder engines displaceed of 5900 cc have powers from 217 to 299 hp (162 to 223 kW; 220 to 303 PS).
All engines are Euro 5 compliant with SCR. The Eurocargo ended 2nd on the international 2009 best truck competition.
2nd generation 2015
It was presented on 15 September 2015, still made at Brescia. This time it won the award International Truck of the Year 2016. Changes were the following:
- New air intakes and the new grille ("smile" shape).
- Dashboard equipped with new controls usable while driving
- Agirbag integrated in the steering wheel
- Standard driving assistance: LDWS, EVSC, AEBS, ACC, LED DRL.
- HI-SCR system (flap on exhaust retaining hot gases to warem up the engine
- EcoSwitch and EcoRoll systems.
- Optional LNG version.
- Air suspension managed by an ECAS system
- Manual (6/9-speed), semi-automatic (6/12-speed) auto gearbox with torque converter.
- Hydropneumatic Braking (6-10 t range), Fully pneumatic (11-19 t range).
Engines range:
-4.5-l 4-cylinder Tector 5 diesel
-6.7-litre six-cyl. Tector 7 diesel
-Both available in seven power levels (160-320 horsepower), max torque 1,100 N/m (811 lb/ft; 112 kg/m).
-CNG engine with 750 N/m (553 lb/ft; 76 kg/m) torque, 204 hp (152 kW; 207 PS)
⚙ specifications (3rd gen 110E) |
| Weight | Curb 5.5-5.9t, 11t GVW - 21t Max Gross |
| Dimensions | 3,69 x 2,49 x 3 m |
| Propulsion | Iveco 6-cyl. 185 (251) kW (HP) |
| Transmission | 6-speed manual, transfer box TC 1100, torque converter Allison 3000R |
| Brakes | EBL / ABS / Drum at front and rear |
| Tyres | 365/80R20 Run-Flat (doubled rear) |
| Electrical System | CanBus / EDC / 24 V |
| Fuel | Euro VI multifuel |
| Options | Roof observation hatch, Black out lights |
| Speed | 90 kph |
| Range | Unknown |
| Armament | None |
| Protection | None |
| Crew | 2+3 |
Users
Spanish Vehicle, regular supply truck
German Vehicle, ambulance cab conversion (LWG)
Spain. Also uses the Iveco LMV infantry mobility vehicles (258)
Italy: SMR 44.31 range, ACM 80/90, ACL 90 (all 4x4) equivalent to the Eurocargo, SMR 66.40 6×6 and SMH 66.45 Also operates the 6x6 Isoli Defence M120/180/800/300/400 specialized trucks and the VTMM Orso 4x4 APC.
Germany: The Bundeswehr operates today the Eurocargo Ml10, 140E and 150E (507 total)- also the 8x8 and 6x6 Iveco Trakker and TEP 90.
Main Armoured Variant: Kozak
The Ukrainian Kozak ('Cossack') is the main derivative of the Iveco Eurocargo chassis, and a whole family of infantry mobility vehicles (MRAP) was developed with a V-hull, both for personal and cargo. It weights 5.5 t for 5.475 x 1.95 x 2.3 m in size, a crew of 5, 176 hp diesel. It was already exported to Bangladesh and Indonesia. Ukraine had around 105, Russia captured some from 2022. The initial SRM-1 was based on the Iveco Daily 55S18W 4x4 chassis before swapping for production on the Eurocargo.