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This October AVIA broadened its range in N2 segment by introducing attractive and
market-demanded car - a usable off road pursuing the EURO 4+ emission limits. It is a modernized
version of D 120 in 4x4. As the name suggests this car, weighing up to 12 tons total, has front
axle propulsion that can be switched off, i.e. 4x4.
The rebuild to 4x4 is made by Excalibur Army Přelouč Company.
The car is equipped by 185 hp (136 kW) Cummins ISBe4 engine, or alternatively 160 hp (118 kW)
pursuing the EURO 4+ requirements, using 6-gear ZF transmission with additional Praga transmission,
reinforced front axle Excalibur Army, ZF servo controller, connecting shaft GTE, pneumatic disc
brakes Wabco on both axles, 19.5“ tires, etc. The perch is 3400 or 3900 mm.
This car finds its use in a wide variety of transportation missions in short and medium
distances, e.g. municipal service, construction, agriculture, fire-fighting, etc.
TEST – Jiří Kranar, Doprava a silnice 9/06
Full propulsion Avia 4x4
Avia’s manufacturing program covers the range of trucks with total weight from 6.5 to 10 tons,
the heaviest being an innovation, presented on Autotec in Brno. In our review article, published in
DaS no. 12/2005, we reviewed the nine-ton D90-150 with container carrier. That was in time, when
Avia came back to Czech hands, the main shareholder being the Odien Group however. I use the past
tense intentionally, because the new management made the production process „healthier“ and a
significant funds boost made the company „rise from the dead“ in just one year. The proofs of this
are many, I’ll just mention introduction of a new model with total weight of 12 tons, and the
trucks manufacturing division was bought by the second largest Indian truck and buses manufacturer
Ashok Leyland in July. Ashok Leyland assumes to increase the manufacture volume of Avia from
current 600 cars/year to more than 5000/year in next three years!! Ashok Leyland of course assumes
current manufacturing program being broadened by some models manufactured in India currently.
Prague Avia will thus be a „base“ for the Indian brand to enter markets in Europe. With respect to
a broad truck model range, produced by Ashok Leyland in its mother automotive plants (from light
models in an N1 category to heavy trucks N3, including army trucks), I suppose we can expect some
bigger model from N2 or possibly N3 category being produced in Letňany.
Our editors obtained the current D90.170N model in 4x4 version for testing. Avia owners can
surely read the code, the rest can read the explanation below. D = range , 90 = total weight 9
tons, 170 = motor power is 170 hp, N = perch 3400 mm. In comparison to a previous test, we have now
a higher power engine Cummins and additionally mounted 4x4 propulsion from Přelouč. Insiders know
that the construction comes from a former Vojenský opravárenský závod Přelouč (Military repair
company Přelouč) that was denationalized. A rebuilding of Avia cars to 4x4 propulsion is made by
Excalibur Army, spol. s. r. o. in Přelouč. It offers three variants:
1) Standard Avia 4x2 with 240 mm
chassis clear height
2) Standard Avia 4x2 with straight axle
box with 340 mm clear height
3) 4x4 Avia version with 190 mm „road“
clear weight
If we review the 4x4 Avia version closely, it is clear that there is either a mistake on Avia’s
web page (I suppose a higher clear height in Avia 4x4, like 240 or 340 mm), or there is truly just
a „road 4x4“ in the range, usable in municipal services, fire-fighting services or construction
companies. This particular model was given to me for the testing.
First Glance
I saw an off road at first glance. The high placed cabin impressed me at least from the
distance. I almost started to believe it being an off road actually, after measuring the height of
the first step above the road (750 mm). But a view of the newly arranged front axle put my feet
back to the ground again. The lowest differential point was only 190 mm above the road, which is
approximately a standard clear height of an unloaded serial vehicle (the manufacturers tables state
183 mm, the difference is caused by 19.5‘ tires, while 17.5‘ are a standard). No off road then,
just a road 4x4 version. I would therefore expect one lower step to enter the cabin, folding one of
course on e.g. a string, in order for the step not to lower the front drive angle.
I climbed to the cabin I will not describe in detail, because everybody knows it and there are
no changes in the interior. It offers enough space, excellent driver seat view, an easy to shape
seat (with my height I would appreciate a possibility to lower it for about 5 more cm) and
ergonomically placed controls and gearbox. Some unused buttons in the central part of the dashboard
were used for controlling the 4x4 and for a new control switch for front differential locking,
heating and ventilation. Although it is a three side tipper, one of the switches used to turn the
side drive on (activated when the car is still and pressed clutch pedal) and a switch on the left
side of the dashboard used to control the pump operation, i.e. rising or lowering of the tipping
body. All controls are within reach of the driver with a seat belt fastened, so the driver does not
have to exit the cabin when cooperating with the worker on the working surface. The car was
registered for operation in the first half of 2007, so a standard analogue speed recorder dominated
the dashboard.
All-round with one step sideways
Unlike the container carrier we tested last autumn, Avia was not only equipped with a three
side tipper but also with higher-performance Cummins plant with direct six gear transmission as
standard.
Power output of 125 kW, i.e. 170 hp (rounded) is fully sufficient for loaded vehicle – it is
also reflected by the gearbox scale. Changing of gear was precise in this particular car. Moreover
the car being „not-run“ spending most of its lifetime in exhibitions, changing gear was accordingly
though.
I’m leaving the factory and heading for the Prague orbital. I have no choice then to follow
Jižní spojka to get to Barrandov Bridge and left bank of Vltava, where I can park. Therefore I want
to perform tests southwestwards from Prague. Although it is Friday afternoon, the road is free and
I race on Jižní spojka in the left lane in 60 km/h in a tailback that is moving however. Is it the
point system working? Already during the ride on the orbital I find out about two unpleasant „
details“. The tipping body (produced by AutoTech Vinoř) „rattles“ all the time and drop sides have
significant looseness. The truth is however, the car is empty so far. The worse is that there are
rails made by large trucks in the road and Avia with smaller gauge has a lot of trouble following
it. Well at 60 km/h it is quite OK, in higher speeds I had significant problems with directional
stability of the car. Everything sorted out on a road not damaged by trucks. It was patched a lot
but didn’t have any rails. What a relief! In higher speeds on village roads, there were another
objections on my side for the Sava tires. I appreciated them after turning off to field road or
construction site. A rougher pattern and more dense mix reflect the use in construction, where a
piercing has to be avoided. When driving on the test circuit that contained ascents and descents, I
truly appreciated the brake performance – the standard brakes and motor brake alike. Maybe one
remark: the motor brake control is situated in the right lever under the steering wheel. The motor
brake has four actual settings:
0 – push and down – motor brake is off
1 – pull and down – motor brake is activated when normal brake is
2 – push and up – motor brake activates after the acceleration is released (in revolution
range above the neutral)
3 – pull and up – combined manual function
To make thinks tricky, the same lever controls windscreen wipers, their intervals and
windscreen washer including the light washer (if equipped). My personal opinion is that this lever
is functionally overloaded, however it has no influence on the malfunction level.
There was a curious experience when driving the tipper. As the car was already sold before the
test, I promised not to load anything that could damage the tipping body. So I offered my transport
services to some farmers, transporting big bundles of straw. Loading was available, Avia excelled
during the off-road part of the trip (just turning the front axle was enough) and six huge bundles
fitted on the tipper body. I delivered the first round without problems, before the second however,
when I started to prepare the camera, the farmers suddenly refused to load the second carload and
told me to leave the field politely, but insistently. It was a pity because those photographs could
be great and Avia 4x4 would thus prove that it is possible to use in agriculture. I know many farms
using the indestructible Praga V3S for transporting stuff from the field. The „indestructibility“
is conditioned by driving solely on the field and back to the village to a farm. This great
military off road is not economic for any longer trips.
Avia D90.170 4x4 definitely has ambition to be used in agriculture and mainly in municipal
services, construction sites and offers it’s proven chassis now with 4x4 to serve in fire fighting
and as other special extensions carrier.
Basic technical specifications
Avia 90D.170 4x4
Motor:
In-line overcharged four-cylinder engine Cummins ISBe 170 30 cooled by liquid. Intermediate
cooler of filling air, four valves per cylinder and high-pressure fuel injection Bosch Common-Rail
with electronic control unit. Stroke volume of 3922 cm
3 maximum power 125 kW/2500 min
-1 maximum torque 600 Nm/1200-1600 min
-1. Auxiliary exhaust pipe brake.
Transmission:
Six gear direct gearbox ZF 6 S 850 with additional propulsion input. Continual drive of
the rear wheels, front wheels drive to turn on. Additional manual gearbox Praga 2P 150 with
turn-off front drive. Locks of front and rear differential. 4x4 drive mounted by Excalibur Army,
spol. s. r. o..
Chassis + cabin:
Standard rectangle frame, both axles tough. Springing by leaf springs on both axles in a so
called though version. Disc brakes in front wheels, shoe brake on rear wheels. ABS system as
standard. Twin mounting of rear axle wheels. Cabin for three, possible to tilt in front, driver
airbag. Three way tipping body AutoTech.
Dimensions and weights:
3400 mm axle perch. Length/width/height 6370/2150/2500 mm. Max. clear height 190 mm. Tipping
body dimensions 6200x2150x500 mm. Overall vehicle weight 9000 kg, operational weight of the
chassis 3900 kg. Maximum allowed weight of hampered trailer 3500 kg. Fuel tank capacity 120 l. Sava
tires 245/70R 19.5.