Through special order, the model line is also offered for certain vocational applications, including heavy-duty towing or dump truck use.

[3] According to Navistar, the Lonestar was developed to create an "Advanced Classic" truck, mating the design elements of vehicles from the past with 21st-century technology and aerodynamics;[5] the company cited its primary design influence as the late-1930s International Harvester D-series[2][4] As a large extended-hood conventional, the Lonestar also was similar to the classic-style International 9900ix and its competitors, featuring a large grille and bumper, external air filter containers, vertical-mount exhaust (with all of the above trimmed in chrome).

Of the International NGV series of trucks, the Lonestar is most closely related to the Prostar; both developed for long-distance highway applications, the two vehicles share a common cab structure.

[2] While sharing its cab structure with lower-price International trucks, the interior of the Lonestar was distinguished by the use of premium-grade materials, components, and features.

[4][2] In place of a standard double-bunk configuration, the lower bunk of the wood-floored sleeper was replaced by a sofa bed; both front seats swivel backwards (when parked), converting the cab into a workspace.

While sharing its underlying cab structure, the second-generation NGV underwent a substantial redesign of the interior, improving visibility, ergonomics, and reliability.

[14] As the hood and grille underwent no essential changes, the update was distinguished by the adoption of single-piece side windows for the cab, a revision intended to increase peripheral visibility and reduce driver fatigue.