DAF FT 95.330
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Dal's 11.6-litre engine owes very little to the Leyland P680 engine it evolved from over nearly 23 years. In 1968 it produced as little as 134kW (180hp). It became the first commercial vehicle power unit to benefit from both turbocharging and chargecooling and today its power range extends up to 295kW (400hp).
The 95 Series 330 was one of the recently uprated 95 models introduced last year, succeeding the previous 95.310 tractor. Although its engine is rated at about the same 246kW (330hp) at 2,000rpm as the old pre-ATi Daf 3300, it now gives 3% more torque, developing 1,350Nm (9961bft) at 1,300rpm and is the lowest powered option in the range, joining the 95.360 and 95.400. Daf has stayed loyal to the 16-speed synchromesh ZF gearbox but has reverted to the single 'H' gate with a selector on the lever for high/ low range and splitter.
The 95's "Cabtec" cab is a product of collaboration with Enasa. It looks big, and from the ground it is a long climb into the driver's seat. It is almost as far to climb up and clean the front screen. Recent safety modifications include a larger step on the front bumper. Inside, the light and dark grey trim seems practical.
Four-point suspension goes a long way to insulate the cab from the imperfections of the chassis' front parabolic steel springs. The ride is further improved by the drive axle riding on air, with the company's ECAS (electronically controlled air suspension) system. We were not too surprised when the 95.330 proved consistently to be the most economical considering its pedigree. But apart from the Pegaso, it was also consistently slower than the other vehicles.
The tacho trace shows that the driver rarely held a maximum speed of 80Iun/h (50mph) for any length of time, even on the motorway. Economy came as a result of the driver sticking rigidly within the 1,100-1,600 rev band and only straying from it momentarily to a high of 1,900rpm. The Daf 95.330 must also have derived some benefit from a fairly clear run with relatively few enforced stops, running into heavy traffic only over the final stage into Paris.