Western Star announced at Michelin’s Laurens (S.C.) Proving Grounds Thursday the launch of its new Extreme Duty (XD) Off-road package.
Engineered for rugged environments, the Western Star XD Off-road package is available on both the 4900 and 6900 models but the company says it plans to make it available on other models in the future.
Between the two models, XD40 will be flagship spec with heavy duty components designed for multiple applications. John Tomlinson, XD and vocational sales manager for Western Star, says the XD40 was developed to be a consistent and repeatable chassis spec which allows for easy parts availability and quick maintenance.
The all-wheel-drive or standard drive XD40 package gets a Detroit Series 60 Tier 3 engine or 2016 Detroit DD16, an Allison 4700/4800 Off-Road Series (ORS) transmission, 110,000 pound planetary rear axle, 28,000 pound planetary front axle and front engine skid pan.
Fittingly, the company that built the most recent iteration of Optimus Prime also Thursday rolled out a transformer for its heavy-haul customers.
The 6900XD Multi-Body Transformer (MBT)-40 – dubbed transformer for its ability to quickly change from one fully functional in cab controlled body application to another – is the first XD off-road series offering from Western Star and a new concept for off-road equipment markets.
