A HEAVY truck featuring a revolutionary cab, which can be tailored to suit the requirements of the driver, has been premiered in the Commercial Vehicle Show at the NEC, Birmingham. The Stralis Active Space Cab is the new flagship of Iveco's heavy truck range and is distinct with its driver-friendly design.

The radical interior adopts a modular approach, enabling it to suit a range of purposes, from single drivers who occasionally sleep on board, to a crew of two drivers who are regularly away on international journeys.

Giuseppe Franchi, managing director of Iveco Ford Truck, says: "The creation of the Active Space Cab should bring a smile to the face of medium and long haul drivers across the country. Through Stralis, Iveco has taken a dramatic new approach to the interior design of a truck cab and combined it with traditional Italian flair and styling."

For the single fleet driver the cab can take a functional approach, featuring separate rest seats and a folding table that can occasionally be transformed into a bunk. The most advanced interior for the single driver would include a removable comfort seat which acts as an armchair, in which the driver can make himself comfortable to eat, read or watch television.

It would also include a table, storage compartment for the TV and a fridge, with a foldout upper bunk that does not require the eating area below to be cleared away before opening. Other fittings would include a control panel above the bunk from which the driver could control essential interior features such as lighting and night heater.

The layout for a cab being used by a two-man crew would take a similar approach, but feature two bunks and the option of a conventional air-suspended passenger seat, available in a fixed forward-facing position, or with the option of a 90-degree swivel function.

Iveco has also achieved a number of important objectives with the new cab. Working and safety conditions are improved with a more ergonomical driving position and instrumentation that displays information on a TV-style monitor which is built into the dashboard, simplifying the driver's life.

The Stralis range consists of two and three-axle tractor units and three-axle rigid versions available between 40 and 44 tonnes, with power provided by the Cursor 10 and 13 range of engines.