H L Hutchinsons

Thursday 3rd March 2016

H L Hutchinson of Wisbech, Cambridgeshire have taken delivery of 3 new Iveco New Daily 72C17 *Hi-Matic with 15’ curtainside body and air kit.  This 7.2t gross weight vehicle has a fantastic payload of 4t.

From Forfar to Canterbury, Hutchinsons have 27 depots across the country.

“Our objective is to combine the highest standards of independent agronomic advice to farmers with the efficient supply of agronomic inputs.

Hutchinson’s hold conferences for farmers and growers, presenting details of how science can increase yield, etc.  Hutchinsons’ objective is to provide the highest standards of independent agronomic advice to farmers and growers together with the efficient supply of a complete range of agronomic inputs.

With turnover in excess of £200 million, the business has grown to become the leading national agricultural and horticultural input advice and supply company. Hutchinsons take a dynamic, forward thinking approach to supporting grower clients in the production of quality crops and food in a sustainable and responsible manner”.

*Hi-Matic - a new generation of automated gearboxes in Iveco’s New Daily light commercial vehicle range, offering drivers and fleets best-in-class flexibility, efficiency, fuel economy and driving comfort.

Developed with ZF, and previewed at the IAA Show in September 2014, the new Hi-Matic transmission represents the first eight-speed automatic to be offered in a vehicle range in its class. Hi-Matic is a perfect match for Daily, which features powerful and efficient engines offering up to 205 hp.

The ZF eight-speed automated transmission is already found in premium cars manufactured by sister group companies Jeep and Maserati, as well as in cars made by other global brands including Bentley and Rolls Royce.

Commenting on its launch, Martin Flach, Iveco UK’s Product Director, says: “Daily Hi-Matic offers an average four per cent reduction in fuel consumption and a 4 kg weight saving versus the previous generation AGile gearbox.

“Having eight speeds makes it easier for drivers to ensure they are always in the optimum operating range. Hi-Matic also changes gear quicker and more precisely than even the best driver on the planet, needing less than 200 milliseconds for a gear shift when greater acceleration is required. Its wider range versus a traditional six-speed transmission also ensures a faster and more precise gear change.”

Daily Hi-Matic range

The Daily Hi-Matic product family is available in three different versions, allowing it to be mission-matched to its primary application – with options comprising Urban, Regional and International.

The Daily Hi-Matic Urban is perfect for those who have to face town and city centre traffic on a daily basis, delivering maximum driveability and comfort thanks to a self-adaptive shifting strategy which adjusts the gear shifting control logic, choosing between 20 different programs.

For ultimate flexibility, the Daily Hi-Matic Regional offers outstanding performance, with a choice between Eco mode, offering smooth and low speed gear changes which are carried out to keep fuel consumption to a minimum, or Power mode, which carries out gear changes at higher speeds for enhanced performance. There is also a third option – manual mode – which permits sequential shifting via the gearstick.

Completing the line-up is Daily Hi-Matic International, featuring a double overdrive gear ratio and turbine-torsional-damper torque converter to guarantee improved fuel efficiency on long journeys at high average speeds.

The Hi-Matic has been proven the best in its class with a score of 8.5 using the SAE ranking benchmark, which measures every aspect of performance from hill starts to sequential gear change comfort. It has also been praised under testing for its exceptional flexibility, efficiency and fuel economy.

The towing strength of the previous generation AGile transmission has been retained, with the ability to tow loads up to 3,500 kg and guaranteeing optimal acceleration even from a standing start on an incline, assisted by the Hill Holder system (an anti-rollback function for uphill starts) that comes as standard with all New Dailys. Hi-Matic is suitable for use on Dailys operating with up to a 10.5 tonne gross combination weight (GCW).

The Hi-Matic transmission can be specified on New Daily van and chassis cab models from 3.5 to 7.2 tonnes, and with engine options including the 106 hp and 126 hp 2.3 litre engine, as well as on 3.0 litre engines at 170 hp (light-duty & heavy-duty variants) and 205 hp.