1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180 
TRUCKFEST PREVIEW
Page 50
Page 51
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
The Lowdown on the trucking spectacular
Say the words "Truckfest" and "Peterborough" and most people will immediately conjure up a vision of blinged-up motors and lovingly tended tractors. But for 2008, you'll find a lot more at the best trucking spectacular in Europe. For starters, the East of England Showground has been given a major makeover, with a brand-new exhibition centre next to the main grandstand, plus, on the south side of the sttowground is a hard-standing parking area for up to 4,000 vehicles.
While much of the focus will understandably be on new vehicles, CM is also launching its CM Top Used Trucks section at Peterborough. It will feature the very best pre-owned trucks for sale from our popular classified pages. Visitors looking to purchase a good-quality. second-hand truck will have the chance to see them showcased in the main arena, as well up close in a special used-truck zone adjacent to the main arena. The CM Top Used Truck section will be a unique open-air showroom, with visitors receiving advice from some of the biggest names in the industry on what to look for when buying used vehicles. There will also be a daily parade of the best used trucks in the main arena. If you're in the market for a second-hand motor, come to Truckfest and combine your business with a little bit of pleasure.
And while we're on the subject of second-hand wagons, Volvo will be showcasing a selection of used trucks on its stand for the first time.
Magnificent Magnum If you're planning to visit the Operators' Lounge, which is sponsored by Norwich Union, you'll find a quiet place for a much-needed cuppa, and also get the chance to sit in on one of NU 's free hourly 15-minute seminars on the Driver CPC, which comes into force in 2008/09 and affects all vocational drivers. Or how about a life on the agency? If you visit the Driver Hire stand, you'll find a great deal of information about job opportunities, as well as the company's training packages, too.
Not surprisingly, chassis-makers will he using Truckfest to demonstrate their latest products, and none more so than Renault, who will be showing off its new Magnum.
It certainly says something for Renault's designers, and the strength of the original Magnum concept, that it's still going strong some 17 years on.
That said, though, for Truckfest this year there's a new model complete with major in-cab makeover that should satisfy even the most demanding of long-haul drivers.
The Magnum's roof has been raised, so there's now 2.0m of unrestricted headroom throughout the cabin wherever you stand. Its in-cab storage space has also been given a boost — the front overhead lockers now being three times the size of the old ones. The full-width unit above the dash, backed up by open shelves and trays, offers a total capacity of close to 260 litres. In addition, there's now an extra, full-width. 95-litre-capacity aircraftstyle locker on the rear wall.
Magnum buyers still have the choice of either a Classic cab layout, with a normal bottom bunk, or the Multipass configuration, which has a bottom bunk that can be converted into an area with a table and two chairs. The latest interior colour scheme is more upmarket, and we're definitely impressed by the new Magnum's fit and finish.
Mercedes also has a new flagship tractor for Truckfest — the "third-generation" Actros, which sports 37 model improvements, including the addition of Merc's latest twopedal Powershift2 auto gearbox. Mercedes has now joined Iveco. MAN and Scania (on its L, or long-distance tractors) in offering an artic with an auto as standard.
Externally, the new Actros looks like the familiar towering Teuton we all know, albeit with a new grille. But inside, it's gained a slatted wooden-base bottom bunk that can convert into a "lounger-, better air-con, a decent shaving mirror, a new pull-out table and a top bunk that can be levelled fore and aft when you're parked on a hill.
After winning the T&DI TruckNetUK "Drivers Choice" award at last year's Peterborough show, Iveco will once again be displaying its Stralis artic range, and on us stand, there's a competition based around a guided tour of the Stralis on the stand that could see two lucky show visitors win a trip to Spain.
Truckers' World
Having originally launched its Truckers' World drivers' club in Germany in 2006. MAN is now rolling it out across other countries on the Continent, including the UK. It will use Truckfest as its British launch platform. Meanwhile, Hino will be represented at Truckfest by local dealer Imperial Commercials. It will be showing off the new 148hp, 300 series 7.5-tonner, as well as a selection of Hino's popular 700 series multi-wheelers, and possibly even a tractor, too.
Over on the Daf stand, you'll find the latest Space Cab CF85 with an improved bunk and optional "Skylight" roof spots carried over from big brother the XF105. Also, keep an eye out for the new tag-axle FIT XF.105 tractor with single rear wheels that will also be on display.
Although Scania traditionally showcases its long-haul R-range arties at Peterborough, this year, its latest fleet tractors will also take a bow with the new Highline P-cab (the direct rival to the high-roof Volvo FM Globetrotter), plus the all-new 0-range, which sits between the R-cab and P-cab tractors, and is aimed 100% at fleet drivers. •