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MING HIGH
Page 46
Page 47
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The Scania R Series launched to wide approval, but the right-hand-drive
versions will need to be really special if they are to top the flagship league.
Scania's place at the top of most driver's wish lists has been under threat of late. While Scania chased fleet business, rivals moved in on its patch at the luxury end of the market. Losing your position as premium provider in the sector can be devastating for business and the Swedish builder moved to counter this threat with the launch in April of the new R Series.
Scania's place at the top of most driver's wish lists has been under threat of late. While Scania chased fleet business, rivals moved in on its patch at the luxury end of the market. Losing your position as premium provider in the sector can be devastating for business and the Swedish builder moved to counter this threat with the launch in April of the new R Series.
Scania's place at the top of most driver's wish lists has been under threat of late. While Scania chased fleet business, rivals moved in on its patch at the luxury end of the market. Losing your position as premium provider in the sector can be devastating for business and the Swedish builder moved to counter this threat with the launch in April of the new R Series. It replaces the long-distance models, with changes to the cab exterior, a wholesale revamp of the interior, a CAN-bus wiring system and a number of minor engineering
improvements to reduce unladen weight.
The driving position in right-hand-drive versions of the outgoing 4-Series came in for a lot of criticism from drivers. Many of the complaints centred on the smaller P-cabbed versions, though the bigger cab was not completely untarnished with drivers complaining of a lack of legroom, poor pedal arrangement and uncomfortable seats. First impressions of the right-hand-drive R-Series at the Swedish launch were that many of the gripes had been addressed, but a more extensive drive was called for to fully assess
the alterations. Our route took us around the Milton Keynes hinterland with the ubiquitous roundabouts, some twisting country roads and a short spin on the motorway.
Our test truck was a 470hp,6x2 tractor with top-of-the-range Topline cab. Someone at Scania must have noted our disparaging comments about the manual transmission at the launch because this example sported Scania's semi-automated mechanical transmission, Opticruise. First impressions were positive. Cab access is good thanks to well placed grab handles and
steps. Once aboard, the R-Series presents the driver with a decent environment for a day, or a week's work. Seating has plenty of adjustment, appears comfortable and any concerns regarding footwell space have been addressed. Room around the clutch pedal was a problem in previous Scanias as the footwell was narrower on the right hand side than the left, but this has been resolved. In addition the engine tunnel has been scalloped around the clutch pedal to give the left boot some extra space.
Firing up the 470hp engine we were struck by the low noise levels in the cab, particularly at tickover. The turbo-compound technology served to reduce greatly noise from the motor; the result is a high quality driving environment which is pleasing on the eardrums. Opticruise is now operated by a stalk on the steering column which, as well as giving fingertip control, leaves the engine hump
uncluttered. Opticruise works well enough when out on the road, with swift gearchanges and a seemingly high level of 'intelligence', but at low speeds it has a number of weaknesses. For starters, Scania insists on retaining the clutch pedal — why? — and when entering roundabouts and other junctions at low speeds the system is very slow to react.
That grumble aside, the rest of the truck performs extremely well and we're pleased to report that driving a Scania remains one of the best trucking experiences in the business. We're particular fans of Scania's highly effective braking set-up which blends the retarder (where fitted), engine brake and service brakes when pressing the centre pedal. Handling is extremely assured.Whistling around the Buckinghamshire countryside the truck felt secure on the road, the steering giving decent feel and good response.