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Mercedes-Benz has launched an all-new Actros, the result of 10 years of development and 20 million kilometres of on-road testing
Words: Will Shiers and Brian Weatherley
The new Actros, which has been designed with the proverbial ‘blank sheet of paper’ approach, features an all-new cab, chassis, drive-train and interior.
Its stylish, ultra-aerodynamic cab comes in seven variants; ive have a lat loor – including one based on a narrow 2.3m wide cabin (which replaces the Axor) – while those cabs that do have an engine tunnel have a minimal ‘hump’ intrusion of 170mm. The tallest, lagship ‘GigaSpace’ offers a 11.6cm3 interior, which is a record for a European truck cab. It has 2.13m of headroom and 900 litres of stowage space.
A powerful machine
Power is supplied by the new generation of Euro-5/6 13-litre OM471 (CM 24 March), which is rated at 421hp, 449hp, 476hp and 510hp. Torque outputs are 2,100Nm, 2,200Nm, 2,300Nm and 2,500Nm respectively. The engine uses a combination of selective catalytic reduction (SCR), cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) and a particulate ilter to meet the stringent Euro-6 regulations. The optional Euro-5 and EEV versions (which will continue to be sold) are lacking a particulate ilter and have a reduced recirculation rate. Whether you opt for Euro-5 or -6, the new truck comes with the third generation of the PowerShift automatic transmission as standard.
Beautiful on the inside
The latest Actros has a completely new interior, with redesigned dashboard, dials, switchgear and seats. The upmarket materials are reminiscent of those used in top-level Mercedes passenger cars.
It has more safety devices too, including optional Proximity Control Assist – a stop-and-go function, which controls starting and stopping in trafic jams.
Although it will continue to build the current generation of Actros alongside the new one, Mercedes-Benz is optimistic that most buyers will opt for the newcomer.
Sales of the new Actros will start on 1 July, with the irst deliveries arriving in late autumn. ■