Who can remember the old Fiat 682? Well, its successor, the New 682 from Iveco has now arrived in South Africa.
The original Fiat 682 operated around Africa for many years with its suitability to the region earning it the title of ‘King of Africa’. Its versatility also earned it the reputation as the truck ‘which powered emerging economies’.
The Fiat 682 was, in fact, the first truck to be mass produced in Italy. Its popularity around the world ensured its longevity and it became one of the longest surviving truck models ever to have been produced – from 1952 to 1988.
With that little history lesson over, the good news is that Iveco has built on the legend and has launched its New 682 heavy duty truck range featuring product improvements and developments specifically designed to suit the conditions and terrain of southern African countries.
If you’re looking for some recognisable features from the old 682 models, forget it. The new model looks totally different and is a product inspired by the best of European design with several common features of the Iveco European-produced ranges.
Good news for South Africa is that the models will be assembled at the Rosslyn plant in South Africa and will be available for both the SACU market and most Right-Hand-Drive countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, complementing the current Iveco South African range.
According to Christophe Longuet, marketing manager at Iveco South Africa, feature enhancements mean “additional comfort, less weight and higher payload making them ideally suited for any extreme mission into Africa.”
The New 682 is powered by Iveco Cursor 9 and Cursor 13 engines equipped with the latest generation common rail fuel injection system. They generate maximum torque availability in a wide operative range starting from a low rpm rate (1000 rpm). Versatility remains a top priority, balancing the demand for strong traction, high speed, heavy loads and low fuel consumption.
Its characteristic “V-shape” front grille integrates headlamps and advanced side deflectors to ensure good aerodynamic performance. The cab has been designed to maximise driver comfort with the low engine hood creating a huge internal space. The height of the cabin of 2 200 mm provides an ideal living and relaxing environment. Moreover, the large windscreen allows optimum visibility, the steering wheel is fully adjustable and all the controls can be easily identified and quickly reached to assure safe control of the vehicle at all times.
The New 682 is offered in 4X2 and 6X4 versions with a driveline equipped with two different types of rear axles – hub reduction and single reduction. The wide choice of rear axle ratios enables the New 682 to match the market demand for strong traction, high speed, heavy loads and low fuel consumption. The gearboxes available on the New 682 are all about ergonomics and performance: it can be equipped with 9 or 12 speed mechanical gearbox depending on the versions and torque required.
Longuet says the New 682 aims to continue the path of its predecessor contributing to the constant and steady growth of the continent. And just to take you back into the past of the Fiat 682’s African footprint, click on the video below to see an advertisement from the days when this truck roamed Africa.
If you understand Italian, you’ll enjoy it more but if not, just sit back and absorb the memory of the model which earned the label of the truck which “powered emerging economies”.
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