The International DuraStar line, known as the 4000 series prior to 2008, is a line of medium-duty trucks produced by Navistar International from 2001 until 2018.[1] Introduced as the successor to the International 4000 series of 1989–2001, the 4000 series was renamed the DuraStar in 2008. Developed as a Class 6-7 product range, the 4000/DuraStar was slotted below the 8000/TranStar regional-haul semitractor, with the Class 5 International TerraStar (2010–2015) serving as the smallest International conventional-cab product range.
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|---|---|
 2016 International DuraStar 4300 box truck | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer |
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| Production | 2001–present |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | |
| Layout |
|
| Body style(s) | |
| Vehicles |
|
| Related | |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | International 4000 series (1989) |
| Successor | International MV |
The most distinctive features of the DuraStar are the "crescent shape" headlights and a distinctive "black spot" on the left side of the cab. Produced as both a semitractor and a straight/rigid truck, the 4000/DuraStar has been used in a wide variety of applications, including emergency vehicles, towing, flatbed trucks, and cargo box trucks. For bus use, the chassis is used in both cowled-chassis and cutaway-cab configurations for school bus and commercial applications.
The DuraStar was replaced by the new International MV Series in 2018.[1]
Blue Diamond Truck alliance
editIn early 2001, Navistar entered into a 50/50 joint venture to produce commercial vehicles with Ford Motor Company,[2] officially named Blue Diamond Truck, LLC. Under the agreement, Navistar assembled medium-duty trucks for both companies in its facility in General Escobedo, Mexico.[3]
Though externally different, both Ford and Navistar model lines would share a common chassis; the medium-duty Ford F-Series (which had already entered production in 2000 at General Escobedo[3]) shared its cab with the F-Series Super Duty line (F-250 through F-550). Though smaller F-Series vehicles used Navistar-supplied diesel engines, medium-duty Fords used engines supplied by Cummins and Caterpillar.
Serving as the debut line of the NGV (Next-Generation Vehicle) cab structure, the new International 4000 series sourced its engines from within the company, carrying over the T444E V8 and DT466E I6 diesel (later VT365, DT466, and MaxxForce engines) from the previous 4000 series (sharing other commercial-grade drivetrain components with Ford and other medium-duty vehicles).
In 2015, Ford ended its stake in the joint venture; as part of a redesign, production of medium-duty trucks was relocated from Mexico to Ohio (replacing the E-Series van),[4] with Navistar continuing production at General Escobedo.
4000 series (2001-2007)
edit| International 4000 series/DuraStar | |
|---|---|
 International DuraStar 4400 with box-truck body | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer |
|
| Production | April 2001-2018 |
| Model years | 2001-2018 |
| Assembly | General Escobedo, Mexico |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Class 5-7 |
| Body style | Chassis cab
|
| Layout | 4x2 6x4 |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | International 4000 series
International DuraStar
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In February 2001, Navistar released its all-new 4000 series, dubbed as "High Performance Trucks".[5] Developed in the Blue Diamond Truck joint venture with Ford, the 4000 series marked the first completely new truck line from International since the 1979 S series. Sharing its chassis with the medium-duty Ford F-Series (introduced in 2000), the International 4300/4400 retained the DT466 and DT530 diesels of their predecessors. For versions equipped with automatic transmissions, electronics for the engine and transmissions were retuned to optimize throttle and shifting response, to increase both performance and fuel economy.[6] To increase forward visibility, the size of the windshield was increased by over 60%, with additional attention paid to improvements in ventilation.[7]
At the launch of the 4000 series, the standard 4300 and higher-GVWR 4400 were introduced as replacements for the previous 4900 model series.[8] In 2002, the lower-GVWR 4200 was introduced as the replacement for the 4700 series, marking the introduction of the VT365 engine. In 2006, the 4100 was introduced, expanding the model line into the Class 5 segment; the model was discontinued a single year of production. The 4200, 4300, and 4400 were produced in both a standard and low-profile frame. The 4400 was also produced in a semitractor; sitting 4 inches higher than the chassis truck, the 4400 tractor was the only version offered with the DT570 engine as an option.
| International 4000 Specifications (2001-2007) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model Designation | Engine | Transmission | Brakes | Axle configuration | Wheelbase |
| 4100[9]
(Class 5) |
VT365 6.0L V8
|
Allison 1000- HS 6-speed automatic | Hydraulic | 4x2 Low Profile | 140–217 in (3,556–5,512 mm) |
| 4200[10][11]
(Class 6) |
VT365 6.0L V8
|
|
Hydraulic
Air |
4x2
4x2 Low Profile (4200LP) |
128–254 in (3,251–6,452 mm) |
| 4300[12]
(Class 6) |
DT466 7.6L I6
|
|
Hydraulic
Air |
4x2
4x2 Low Profile (4300LP) | |
| 4400[13][14]
(Class 6-7) |
|
|
Hydraulic
Air (standard on 4400 tractor) |
4x2
4x2 Low Profile (4400LP) 6x4 4x2 semitractor[14] |
Straight truck:140–254 in (3,556–6,452 mm)
Tractor: 128–189 in (3,251–4,801 mm) |
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International 4200LP extended-cab -
International 4400 crew cab -
International 4300 crew cab -
International 4400 semitractor -
International DuraStar 4300
DuraStar (2008-2018)
editFor 2008, coinciding with the introduction of the International ProStar and International LoneStar, Navistar revised the branding of its truck model lines. In line with nomenclature previously used by International Harvester, truck lines adopted a "xxxxStar" naming scheme, with the 4000 series adopting the DuraStar model name. This change was completed in its entirety for the 2010 model year.[15] In another revision, to comply with 2007 emissions regulations, the powertrain lineup underwent extensive revision, with the 6.0L VT365 V8 replaced by the 6.4L MaxxForce 7 V8. The DT inline-6 engine family underwent revisions as well, with the DT466 becoming the MaxxForce DT and the DT570 becoming the MaxxForce 9, adopting four-valve cylinder heads and exhaust gas recirculation to reduce emissions.
| International brand revision | |
|---|---|
| Before revision | After 2008 revision |
| CF (Ford LCF) | CityStar |
| 4000 | DuraStar |
| Paystar 5000 (unchanged) | |
| 7000 | WorkStar |
| 8000 | TranStar |
| ProStar | |
| N/A | LoneStar |
| 9000i (unchanged) | |
While each International model series retained the use of numerical model codes, after the model revision, their usage was highly downplayed, largely relegated to places such as the build plate for the vehicle. Externally, International replaced the numerical series and engine identification with script identifying the model series.
In 2010, the International TerraStar model line was introduced, effectively replacing the discontinued 4100 model line. Sharing the cab of the DuraStar, the TerraStar sat on a lower frame and wore its own hood.
Powertrain revision
editFor 2015 production, the DuraStar began to phase in Cummins ISB6.7 diesel engines as an option, slotted in between the MaxxForce 7 and MaxxForce DT, with the ISL as an option alongside the MaxxForce 9. Although Cummins ISX engines had been offered in International Class 8 trucks, the expansion marked the introduction of the first selective catalytic reduction diesel engine for a medium-duty Navistar vehicle.
After 2016, Navistar ended production of the MaxxForce 7, MaxxForce DT, and MaxxForce 9 engines, with the ISB and ISL engines becoming the sole engine offerings of the DuraStar.
Variants
editThe International DuraStar shares its cab design with several International product lines, including: the TerraStar Class 5 medium-duty truck, the 7000/WorkStar severe-service trucks (renamed the International HV), the 8000/TranStar regional-haul semitractor (renamed the International RH), the ProStar aerodynamic long-haul semi-tractor (renamed the International LT), and the LoneStar semitractor.
Bus
edit
Like the 4000 series before it, the DuraStar serves as a popular platform for bus manufacturers, with two configurations sold for bus production. The International 3200 is a cutaway-cab chassis; the International 3300 is a cowled chassis. The former is sold primarily for commercial applications while the latter is sold nearly exclusively to Navistar subsidiary IC Bus, for both school bus and commercial applications.
Diesel–electric hybrid trucks
editIn 2007, Navistar International became the first American truck manufacturer to produce a diesel-electric truck, with the International DuraStar Hybrid. International Truck and Engine teamed with the Hybrid Truck Users Forum (HTUF), a consortium of utility industry customers, Eaton Corporation, the US Federal Government and the Calstart organization to assist with the cost of bringing the technology to market. It also provided direct customer feedback and support.[16]
Pickup truck
editFrom 2005 to 2008, International sold a factory-produced crew-cab pickup truck variant of the 4000 series. Named the International RXT (RXT=Recreational Extreme Truck), at 272 inches long, the truck was the longest-length pickup truck ever produced for sale in North America. Unlike the 7000 series-derived CXT, the RXT was rear-wheel drive, marketed towards customers with large RV, boat, and horse trailers; both trucks source a pickup truck bed from the Ford F-350 Super Duty. Derived from the 4200, the RXT was powered by a 230 hp VT365 V8 and an Allison 2200 transmission.
In 2008, following lower than expected sales, the XT series was withdrawn.
See also
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- Ford F-650/F-750 Super Duty - Ford medium-duty trucks produced by Blue Diamond Truck, LLC
References
edit- ^ a b "International Truck Unveils the International® MV™ Series" (PDF). Internationaltrucks.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 20, 2018. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
- ^ "International Truck and Engine Corporation Concept v2.1". December 9, 2001. Archived from the original on December 9, 2001. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
- ^ a b "The Fascinating History Of The Ford F-650". HotCars. July 1, 2020. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
- ^ "Ford moving medium-duty F-Series production from Mexico to Ohio". Autoblog. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
- ^ "International Truck and Engine Corporation Concept v2.1". August 12, 2002. Archived from the original on August 12, 2002. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
- ^ "International Truck and Engine Corporation Concept v2.1". June 12, 2002. Archived from the original on June 12, 2002. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
- ^ "International Truck and Engine Corporation Concept v2.1". August 12, 2002. Archived from the original on August 12, 2002. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
- ^ "Fig. F1: Model and production map of new High Performance trucks". February 3, 2002. Archived from the original on February 3, 2002. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
- ^ "International : 4100". March 12, 2006. Archived from the original on March 12, 2006. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
- ^ "International : 4200". June 3, 2004. Archived from the original on June 3, 2004. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
- ^ "International : 4200 Lo-Profile". June 3, 2004. Archived from the original on June 3, 2004. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
- ^ "International : 4300". June 3, 2004. Archived from the original on June 3, 2004. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
- ^ "International : 4400". June 3, 2004. Archived from the original on June 3, 2004. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
- ^ a b "International : 4400 4x2 Mid Cab Tractor". June 26, 2004. Archived from the original on June 26, 2004. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
- ^ Regulatory Affairs, Navistar, Inc. (17 May 2010). "49 CFR Part 565 Vehicle Identification Number Requirements". NHTSA, Manufacturer's Information Database (MID). Retrieved 13 December 2021.
- ^ "Electric Drive Transportation Association". Electricdrive.org. Retrieved November 20, 2012.
External links
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