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Foden's swansong
Page 6
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Foden lacks a top-end artic to boost sales, but CM has discovered one undergoing operational trials. It seems that it's too late for the truck that might have saved the marque. Bob Tuck reports.
WHILE EXECUTIVES at Paccar discuss Foden's future, CM has uncovered a potential market beater bearing the famous kite badge but it seems unlikely to get El chance to prove itself The vehicle is a high-roof Foden Alpha XL with one of the first Caterpillar C13 ACERT engines to appear in a European HGV. It has been unclergoing`coverr trials with Nottinghamshire haulier, T Baden Hardstaff; a confirmed Foden user whose parent com pany Hardstaff Group also owns Foden dealer CharnwoodTrucks.
While the Caterpillar C12 diesel offered in the Foden Alpha has developed a strong following among opera tors, users have complained about its 450hp power ceiling and its fuel returns.
Consequently Hardstaff Haulage has been putting the C13-powered Alpha through a series of tests.
Already in use in the USA, the Cl 3'ACERT' engine meets Euro-4 without recourse to Urea injection/SCR or EGR.
CM understands that putting the inline six into the 2003 Foden Alpha 6x2 44 tonner was relatively easy, although the cab sits some 200mm I higher than a normal Alpha tractor.
To cope with this a deeper headlamp panel had lobe designed, an extra step was fitted and the steering column and gear lever linkage had to be extended.
In head-to-head tests at 44 tonnes against one of Hardstaff's existing C12-poweredAlphas with 98,000km on the clock, the C13 revealed an immediate 0.19mpg fuel benefit over a demanding 246mile Pennine route.
After Hardstaff added twirl air cleaners to the engine, the saving rose to 0.25mpg.
Further modifications to the C13, including a new cooling pack and chargecooler, increased the fuel advantage to a useful 0.75mpg.
While both the C12 and C13 engines were originally set at 450hp (although the C13 was pushing out an extra 135Nm of torque) the latter has since entered fleet service with Hardstaff rated at 505hp. The weight penalty with the C13 and its requisite modifications is said to be just 97kg.
However, despite showing such early promise, CM understands that with the threatened closure of Foden the Hardstaff team has shelved further experimentation with the C13 Alpha.