And so to the New Iveco Eurocargo launch with other assorted members of Her Majesty's Truck Press including World Truck Blog Ollie Dixon in wonderfully 'awkward question' form. After what seems like an interminable minibus trip from Milan to Turin we finally get to the bun fight and the Iveco presentation centre next to the Turin plant and HQ.
The event is attended by various Italian high-ups, some foreign Johnnies (including a couple of Bigloryblog's Crazshee Dutch colleagues) and two members of the Italian Alpine Military Regiment (don't ask me....) But as we file in BLB notices some rather strange background music in the auditorium. Not your usual bland truck launch lift-music but something I vaguely recognise. Then the Euro drops...it's the Ramones. ONE ,TWO, THREE! And I find myself telling anyone who will pay attention to BLB that we're listening to 'Sheena is a Punk Rocker.' Why the Ramones? (don't ask me...#2). But before we get any further the launch show kicks off with a rather natty musical trip through the life and times of Iveco middleweight truck making including 'Rock Around the Clock' then 'A Hard Day's Night' followed by 'Disco Inferno' and 'Relax'. Clearly you can't launch a truck these days without a pop video! What's more, after the sponsorship of the All Blacks the Italians have really gone to town on rugby, now also sponsoring the Italian team and launching their own web-based rugby (union) website with interviews, rugby news and rock music called www.ivecorugbyradio.co.uk which is supposed to be live as you read this.
But back to New EuroCargo. There it is above in all its glory. The top one is a 10-tonner, the black one is the 18-tonner with both of them showing off their new front end styling and exterior cab panels. The inside has been given a full makeover too. Although it seems I was premature by stating the park brake has been moved into the dash--it hasn't. (Dont ask me...#3)
But it looks to be a decent stab and today we'll be driving it so I'll have a better idea before long--and naturally will blog on it. We've been told to obey all the local Italian road laws...(hmmmm) Now click through here for more news on the UK spec.
The big news, for all UK operators, is that all right-hookers come with ZF's 6-speed EuroTronic auto as standard. A smart move reckons BLB and one that should give New Eurocargo a good kick-start in the market over here (or there as I'm still in Italy).
That means Iveco and MAN now have autos as standard on their UK 7.5-tonners. A strong sales plus. You can order your new Eurocargo from June with the launch of the right hooker starting in September. Anyroadup it's breakfast time so I must dash but I'll tell you more later.
Comments (2)
The Ramones and a truck launch - sounds like heaven to me!
Posted by Richard Stanier | May 9, 2008 7:17 AM
Posted on May 9, 2008 07:17
Hang on a minute, you posted the Cargo at 5.52am !!! That's WAY too early for BLB, unless you were taking far too much Vino Calaspeo wine by the barrel !!! (don't ask no4**).
Posted by Road Rat | May 10, 2008 10:48 AM
Posted on May 10, 2008 10:48