Avia moves up to 12 tonnes

At the NEC show in Birmingham, Avia Trucks showed for the first time a heavier-duty derivative of its established 7.5-tonner. The newcomer is plated at 12 tonnes gvw or in ‘mini artic’ tractor unit form approved for operation at combination weights as high as 22 tonnes. The 12-tonner shares its 7.5 tonne stablemate’s cab and its 185hp Cummins 4.5 litre four-cylinder ISBe engine. The only driveline difference is the option on the 12-tonner of a numerically higher (4.56:1) axle ratio.

Avia says its Czech engineering team is now working on heavier chassis which will need the performance of the up-to-300hp six-cylinder ISBe diesel.

Avia Trucks, built in the Czech Republic by what was initially Avia Daewoo but, since its takeover by one of India’s largest truck builders, is now Avia Ashok Leyland, has been selling its 7.5 tonnes gvw chassis in the UK for about three years. With its compact yet stylish cab (designed in the former Daewoo technical centre in Worthing, Sussex) the Avia is sufficiently light to be able to compete in payload terms effectively against the Japanese 7.5-tonners from Mitsubishi and Isuzu.