Quick Spin: International’s Refreshed LoneStar
Internationl demonstrates that technology and style needn’t be at odds with its revamped LoneStar tractor. Photo: Christina Hamner
“>
Internationl demonstrates that technology and style needn’t be at odds with its revamped LoneStar tractor. Photo: Christina Hamner
“>
The International LoneStar is one of those trucks that incites passion both for, and against it. The drivers and fleet executives I’ve talked to over the years either love the truck or loathe it. There’s seemingly no middle ground when it comes to the retro-design and no looking away when ones comes down the highway, either.
Through one of those weird little quirks that befall all of us from time to time, I’d never had the opportunity to drive a LoneStar all these years. So when International offered me a chance to take one for a spin following the North American Commercial Vehicle Show (NACV) this week, I jumped at the chance – even though it meant another drive back to Atlanta.
For the record, count me as one of LoneStar’s fans. If you follow me on Twitter – and you should, @By_JackRoberts – you know that I’m always posting pictures of classic cars and trucks. So I find the LoneStar’s overt, throwback styling highly appealing.
The LoneStar’s exterior lines borrow heavily from the Art Deco styling that was prevalent in the 1930s and into the ‘40s. Those lines remain some of the most evocative in the entire history of the automotive age. But the fact that those lines were inspired by early attempts at streamlining both cars and trucks is often overlooked. International engineers were able to build on those early design efforts and leverage modern computer-design to produce a truck that is both striking to look at and capable of holding its own in the race toward 10 mpg today. It’s one reason some fleets today are perfectly happy to offer LoneStar’s as prestige trucks for valued drivers: Good looks and …Read the rest of this story
