Hanover, Germany: Higlights from Eurpe’s largest truck show are:
New Ford Transit
The new Ford Transit was shown at the Hanover IAA Commercial Vehicle Show. It will be sold world-wide with a range of body styles.
Compared with the outgoing model, load space has increased by about 10% model-for-model. The new chassis-cab version can take 5m box bodies.
In Europe the new Transit will be powered by Ford’s 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engine in three power ratings and a standard 6-speed manual transmission in front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive versions.
Vans are available in three lengths and two roof heights and weights up to 4.7 tonnes.
New Cummins engine
Cummins’ next generation ISL engine, that meets Euro 6, debuted at Hanover. The 8.9-litre engine builds on Euro 5 performance, fuel efficiency says Cummins.
The combustion and after treatment architecture meets US EPA 2010 standard with engine technologies of cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) and variable geometry turbocharging (VGT) tailored for European market operations and duty cycles.
The EGR System is re-designed for better integration with cab-over applications and the Cummins VGT is optimised for high torque and low speed capability, delivering significant performance and driveability improvements, Cummins says.
The VGT works as an exhaust brake, allowing the OEM to simplify their installation.
The system is controlled by a new electronic control module (ECM) with increased capability for controlling engine and aftertreatment with more challenging on-board diagnostics (OBD) monitoring requirements at Euro 6.
Daf unveils new XF
Daf Trucks has refreshed its top of range XF105. The new model, called XF, goes into production next spring and will be available only with Euro-6 engines.
The list prices are around €14,000 (£11,258) more than the current model but includes vehicle stability, previoiusl an option, and driveline warranty increased from two to three years.
The new truck has 30% more radiator surface area, to cope with the heat rejection from the new engine’s EGR system, cutting cooling-fan engagement time by 50% thus saving parasitic losses. There is a new standard 8-tonne front axle with wider-set, two-leaf suspension. The rear axle is also new and has a four-bag air suspension and an anti-roll bar integrated with the locating links. This saves around 60kg.
Daf says the XF will be no more than 90kg heavier than the current model, despite almost 250kg of Euro-6 emissions kit.
Daf’s Euro-6 MX13 engine in the new XF is a development of the current 12.9-litre MX introduced eight years ago. EGR has been added to work in tandem with SCR exhaust after-treament to hit the ultra-low Euro-6 NOx limit. A Holset variable geometry turbocharger with an electronically controlled actuator improves engine transient response and helps drive EGR. When required, a seventh injector will spray fuel into the exhaust ahead of the particulate filter, raising exhaust temperature if it is too low to burn the soot in the filter.
AdBlue consumption is likely to be 3-4% of fuel consumption. Daf forecasts that fuel consumption will be as good as ATe variants of the current model.
Volvo lauches FH
Volvo displayed its new Volvo FH series with Euro-6 engine. The Euro-6 engine will be available from spring 2013 and the I-torque driveline will be introduced for the European market in autumn 2013.
“I-Torque delivers high torque from low revs and contains an I-Shift transmission with dual-clutch technology, resulting in excellent driveability, quiet operation and great fuel efficiency,” said Ricard Fritz, senior vice president Volvo Trucks.
I-See, a new software package for the I-Shift transmission, memorises road data and automatically optimises gear shifting and speed to the topography. Working together the I-Torque driveline, I-See and other hardware updates cut fuel consumption by up to 10%, Volvo says.
The all-new Volvo FH will be delivered to European customers in spring 2013. The very first truck will be auctioned on Ebay and all the money will go to charity.
Scania unveils Euro-6 SCR-only engine range
Scania’s Euro-6 engines rely solely on SCR exhaust after-treatment. Scania’s first Euro-6 engines, the 440hp and 489hp 12.7-litre DC13 unveiled last year, comply with the tough Euro-6 NOx limit by using a combination of in-engine EGR, followed by a second stage of SCR exhaust after-treatment.
Scania and Iveco are the only two truck makers using SRG only solutions for Euro 6. The advantages of going for the SCR-only strategy include eliminating the EGR system and cooler and the fact that intake air is cleaner without EGR, so oil stays cleaner for longer.
The downside of the SCR-only approach is higher Ad-Blue consumption, likely to be about 8% of the fuel consumption at Euro-6, compared with 4%-5% at Euro-5.
Wabco Shows OptiDrive, EBS at IAA Show
Wabco showcased its Maxx air disc brake technology, a new range of high-performance, single-piston braking products.
Wabco’s new Maxx range represents the commercial vehicle industry’s lightest and highest performing single-piston air disc brakes, said Jaques Esculier, chairman and CEO. It includes Maxxus 22 for trucks and buses in North America, which is based on single-piston Maxx 22 design that the company pioneered in Europe.
These have been adopted by globally by operating OEMs in series production such as MAN in Europe and Daimler Trucks North America.
“These air disc brakes represent a game-changing generation of high-performance, low-weight braking technology that further improves vehicle safety and efficiency through our passion for innovation.” Esculier said.
Wabco also showed its electronic braking system (EBS) for hybrid-driven trucks and buses. It adapts to a wide range of commercial vehicle types and different drivelines.
Wabco’s newest generation of EBS provides hybrid-driven trucks with optimal energy recovery across the industry’s diverse drivelines by recuperating the vehicle’s braking energy in most of the brake actions, Esculier said.
In addition, Wabco displayed its new OptiDrive automated manual transmission (AMT) actuator. By automating and optimizing gear shifting, OptiDrive and other AMT systems from the company can reduce the vehicle’s fuel consumption up to 5%, representatives said.
OptiDrive is used by Volvo’s iShift, Mack’s mDrive, Daimler’s PowerShift2 and DT12, as well as ZF AS-Tronic, among others. Wabco is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium.
