Caterpillar CT660

When Caterpillar announced in 2008 it would enter the on-highway truck market, there was speculation as to just how much of a Caterpillar truck the final product would be. Cat was partnering with Navistar to produce the new truck. The two companies share a long history of collaboration on engine projects and high-pressure fuel system development.

The new Caterpillar CT660 vocational truck, introduced March 20 at the ConExpo construction equipment show, isn’t simply an International Workstar with shade of yellow lipstick. Caterpillar engineers say their new truck is “essentially new from the frame rails up.”

The set-back axle configuration Class 8 truck will be on the order board in April, with production set to start in May and deliveries to begin in July.

Caterpillar CT11, CT13 and forthcoming CT15 engines are Navistar MaxxForce diesel engines. But Cat engineers put their own distinctive stamp on this truck with styling cues from the company’s wheel loader line and placed emphasis on cab ergonomics.

The CT660 has a distinct Caterpillar look, thanks to a brushed aluminum grill surround that gives the truck a bold, distinctive look. The aerodynamic hood features a sloped design for increased visibility and decreased drag for greater fuel economy.

The CT660′s instrument cluster and center stack feature an integrated speedometer/tachometer that can be read through the steering wheel. Cat will offer its Cat Link equipment telematics system as standard, with a complimentary three-year subscription on all CT660 trucks.

The system will give drivers and fleet managers access to truck-specific data, including fuel economy, hours of operation, vehicle location, maintenance and trouble-shooting information. Other in-cab features include a premium sound insulation system to reduce road noise and an all-new HVAC system.