IAA truck roundup

The forthcoming tightening of Euro 6 requirements to Step C has spurred Europe’s heavy truck manufacturers to refine existing designs, and display them at the recent IAA Show in Germany.

DAF concentrated most of its efforts on the introduction of a new fleet management system, but also announced upgrades to the Cummins-built 4.5-litre and 6.7 litre PX engines that power the LF and distribution versions of the CF.

Improved software and heat and air management give increased torque, enabling higher gearing and yielding fuel consumption improvements of up to four per cent.

The Daimler subsidiary Fuso rolled out a limited production version of an all-electric truck: the eCanter. It uses a 185 kW electric motor driving a single-speed transmission and has a range of over 100 km. With a gross weight of 7.49 tonnes, the chassis has a body/payload allowance of 4.63 tonnes. An 80 per cent recharge is possible within an hour of charging time.

CNH subsidiary Iveco concentrated on showing its recently upgraded New Stralis, which launched last June. The diesel version is claimed to return 11 per cent fuel savings, while the New Stralis NP is claimed to be the first practical gas-powered heavy truck for international journeys. Fuel cost savings of 40 per cent can be made, Iveco said.

Meanwhile, the New Eurocargo was shown with air-suspension all round and with the option of gas power.

German manufacturer MAN has introduced a more reactive catalyst in the SCR systems of all engines from the D08 to D38, enabling engine outputs to increase and fuel consumption to fall.

At the top end, the 640 hp version of the 15.2-litre D38 engine, previously reserved for specialist applications, is now available for conventional haulage trucks. Lower-power versions have peak outputs uprated by 20 hp to 540 and 580 hp.

Fuel injection pressures have been raised to 2,500 bar, the air compressor decouples when not in use, and the cooling fan and oil cooler are controlled by a new system to keep engine temperature constant while reducing parasitic drag.

Changes to the 12.4 litre D26 take it into the 500 hp class, thanks to a new turbocharger, and pistons. It also has the same temperature-control system as the D38.

The 10.5-litre D20 engine also benefits from a 20 hp power boost and many of the other changes found in the D26, while the D08 in its 4.5-litre (four-cylinder) and 6.9 (six-cylinder) incarnations gets new software but engine outputs remain unchanged.

MAN is putting the latest incarnation of the Scania gearbox behind the D38 engine on 4×2 tractors, while all other heavy trucks get a revised ZF ‘box. Both are dubbed MAN TipMatic. Cab interiors get a refresh, too.

An upgrade of the 10.1-litre OM 407 engine was the major heavy truck news from Mercedes-Benz. Power is now up to 456 hp, thanks to increased injection pressures with asymmetric timing, improved EGR management and a new turbo manufactured in-house.

On the safety front, there’s an autonomous braking system that can detect pedestrians and a Sideguard Assist to detect vulnerable road users when the truck is turning at junctions.

Renault Trucks had little in the way of new product, other than a special edition of the T Maxispace High Edition flagship tractor and a variety of rally trucks.

Scania’s new R and S series trucks made their public debut.

The latest incarnation of Volvo’s D 13 engine was on show. The 420 and 460 hp versions feature common-rail fuel injection and a higher compression ratio, while the 500 and 540 have a new turbo. There have also been improvements to cab aerodynamics.

Also on show was a lightweight FM 4×2 tractor with a D 11 450 engine. A lightweight chassis and rear axle keep weight below six tonnes.