How good is ‘the truck the city likes’ when it’s driven in one of the world’s busiest capitals? T&D takes the 2016 Truck of the Year, Iveco’s Eurocargo, round the London Monopoly board
The truck the city likes is how Iveco markets its International Truck of the Year 2016- winning Eurocargo, so T&D decided to see if the truck likes the city and take it for a tour of our capital.
Our theme for the experiment came in the form of the UK version of the Monopoly board. Could we take a Eurocargo round all the streets, stations and other key London landmarks that feature on the popular board game? Could we do it in a day?
A bit of planning encouraged us to think ‘no problem’, and a Google search, which came up with a map of the locations, was a start. We decided early on not to worry about the utilities, but ‘Go to Jail’ (a court) and a prison were included in our plan, as were the four mainline stations.
An Early Start
We pick up the Eurocargo – a 7.5-tonner 75-160 with tail-lift box body – at Iveco’s Dunstable site, along with test driver John Britton, who is sharing the driving for the day. We truck on down the M1 at 07.30, and the little Iveco performs fine; it’s quick out of the blocks and soon up to its 56mph cruising speed.
Admittedly we have no load on board, although the truck could easily take a four tonnes-plus payload, so progress is always going to be favourable, even with the lower-power 160hp engine (torque is 680Nm). For those requiring more beef there are 190hp and 210hp variants. We reach King’s Cross at 08.30, in time to pick up our photographer and grab a coffee.
After Pentonville Road we try to get the Angel Islington in the can, with mixed results, but at least we have something. Euston Road is easy as we make our way over to Marylebone Station, one of the better locations, both for ability to snap and a backdrop to do us justice.
Marylebone done, it’s time to head to wealthy Park Lane and Mayfair. Although the latter is more of an area than a road, Park Lane is an easy fix.
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Esta historia es de la edición August 2016 de Truck & Driver.
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