POWERTRAIN + AERODYNAMICS = SUPERIOR OPERATING ECONOMY
Trucking companies have been striving to keep class 8 highway tractor fuel efficiency as high as possible for decades. Because fuel is usually the largest expense in any operation, finding a way to reduce that expense by improving efficiency is critical for maintaining a healthy bottom line.
The International® S13® Integrated Powertrain has helped businesses achieve this goal thanks to painstaking work undertaken by engineers from across the globe who were able to shift what’s possible and rethink, redesign and reinvent what an integrated powertrain can be. At the same time, wind-tunnel testing and computer simulations helped engineers develop an extremely efficient aerodynamic package for the LT® Series truck.
The combination was tested, and the results were clear: The LT Series with aero package beat all major on-highway aero category competitors by at least 5%.*
Performance Engineering Group conducted head-to-head testing with 3 primary competitive models vs. LT Series with S13 Integrated Powertrain using TMC Type IV recognized methodology during the 2023 calendar year.
Engineers paid special attention to the design of the combustion chamber and exhaust ports to enhance the engine's performance and fuel efficiency. Through extensive testing, a new piston head with maximum cooling properties was created, which, when combined with a new double overhead cam design, directly equates to less fuel consumed.
Any engine, no matter how well designed, is only as good as the transmission it’s mated to. Because they were developed to work together, the engine and transmission of the S13 Integrated Powertrain deliver a seamless shifting experience for the driver while maximizing power and efficiency.
The T14® transmission has a revolutionary design that features planetary gears for the reverse gearing, which helps reduce the overall weight and size of the unit. The end result is a truck that fleet managers appreciate, and drivers love.
By spending extensive time in the wind tunnel and through computer simulations, International engineers were able to significantly improve the airflow of the LT Series equipped with the S13 Integrated Powertrain.
- Pedestal mirrors reduce drag and wind noise
- The hood top and shoulder are redesigned to enhance airflow
- The longer 125" BBC hood better directs and smooths out airflow around the cab
- Aerodynamic fender shape optimizes airflow
- 25" cab extenders close the gap between cab and trailer to limit air turbulence
- An aero-enhanced 3-piece bumper and front wheel openings are contoured to minimize resistance
- Chassis skirts and cab closeouts have been enhanced to reduce aerodynamic drag
- The cooling module is sealed to smooth airflow under the hood
- The front air dam design reduces drag by efficiently pushing air down, under, and around the truck
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*The International® LT® Series with S13® Integrated Powertrain was tested head-to-head using TMC Type IV testing methodology against competitive on-highway aero models with comparable specifications: Freightliner Cascadia AeroX DD15, Kenworth T680 MX13, and Volvo VNL760 D13. Testing proved the International LT with S13 Integrated Powertrain to be at least 5% more fuel efficient than these models. The International LT with S13 Integrated Powertrain uses up to 3.5% more DEF per gallon of fuel compared to comparable on-highway aerodynamic models.
