Brian Yeardley Continental has added a top-spec Iveco Stralis Hi-Way, tuned for long-distance operations into mainland Europe, to its fleet.
The 500bhp 4x2 low-ride height tractor unit is being evaluated against other marques ahead of the company announcing its fleet orders for 2015.
This unit is powered by the 12.88 litre FPT Industrial Cursor 13 engine (which meets EEV emissions standards) mated to a ZF 12-speed automated EuroTronic gearbox.
500bhp is available between 1,525 and 1,900rpm and 2,300Nm of torque between 1,000 and 1,525rpm,.
Delivered by North East Truck & Van (NETV), the AS440S50TF/P-LT tractor has been supplied with a five-year Iveco Elements R&M (repair and maintenance) contract with full European cover.
"NETV approached us to try the Stralis Hi-Way and we went for it," says Kevin Hopper, managing director of Brian Yeardley Continental.
"The specification looked good on paper; the price was right; and the R&M package was competitive too. Now the truck's actually here, it looks even better in our colours than I'd imagined and we are looking forward to seeing how it performs."
Like all new vehicles in the Brian Yeardley Continental fleet, the Stralis was ordered in left-hand-drive configuration and with a comprehensive specification.
This includes a low-noise, low-energy consumption air conditioning unit built into the cab roof, together with twin bunks in a configuration that allows the bottom bunk to fold-down into a table.
Other features include an air-suspended passenger seat with swivel function, cruise control, hands-free Bluetooth phone preparation, slide-out fridge freezer and an Iveconnect touch-screen dashboard display, featuring European satellite navigation with truck-specific functions.
The truck was also s[ecofoed with alloy wheels, optional 1,200 litre long-range fuel tanks, Dynafleet telematics, Michelin Energy fuel-saving tyres and the lane departure warning system.
Also central to the specification is Iveco's Driving Style Evaluation tool, enabling the driver to optimise his driving performance in real time and, as a result, improve fuel efficiency. Iveco says this system can help to generate fuel savings of 5—12%.