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To the wire
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Page 31
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Four 'modestly' powered tractors go head to head in CM's 1,000-Point Test and this time the fight is closer than ever...
Words: Dylan Gray / Images: Karl-Heinz Augustin Following on from last year's 1,000-Point Test of fleet tractors specced between 440hp and 460hp (CM 18 December 2008), we decided to turn our attention to trucks that really push the lower end of performance requirements, with ratings from 400hp to 420hp.
Four contenders turned up to be put through their paces. OAF, though, decided to sit this one out, while Iveco still hadn't recovered from the shock of last spring's results (CM 29 May 2008). However, Scania had the heat turned
on it by country-mates Volvo. And competing with the Swedes were MAN (for once with SCR rather than EGR) and Mercedes-Benz. Once again, all four artics were specced with auto gearboxes. Those who paid attention to last year's test will recognise the Merc in its dark red guise — those thinking it looks the same as last year are right.., to a degree. It is — on the outside, at least.
The same goes for the Scania, although this time out the Swedes have really pushed the boat out by spraying it a very 'in-your face' green — the words 'Kermit' and 'Borat's , mankini' were thrown around a few times. Having said that, the colour does give the truck a certain je ne sais quoi.
MAN, on the other hand, followed Scania's example from last time and provided us with a rather striking red example, while Volvo stuck with an understated silver.
The test route in the Hunsruck in Germany was 155km, and a total of five runs were completed in each truck.
Rather than each truck-and-trailer combination being specified at a certain weight, the four different trailers were merely swapped after each run — making it an even playing field with no truck able to cheat by using a slightly lighter or more aerodynamic trailer.
The days before tackling the test route were spent taking all the usual interior measurements, assessing visibility and so on. It also gave everyone a chance to have a good look around the vehicles without having to focus on driving at the same time. Let battle begin...