Daf teases UK market with latest CI
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• by Brian Weatherley
Amid the hype of the Frankfurt Truck Show last week Daf unveiled its new CF 65,75 and 95 Series models. But Daf Trucks LK boss Kerry McDonagh says the event was "really a preview and not a launch"—British truck buyers won't see new righthooker CF tractors much before the second half of 2001, and the new CF tippers won't appear before 2002.
While the latest CF cab looks similar to the current model, albeit with some notable styling tweaks, it has been lengthened by 140mm to provide more storage space and a more laid-back driving position.
The new cab will be offered in day and standard-sleeper versions alongside a factorybuilt high-roof "Space Cab" providing more than 1.9m of standing room over the engine hump and 0.9m3 of storage space. The arrival of the Space Cab is the writing on the wall for the Hatcher GRP high-cab conversion on the existing 85CF.
The CF 65, 75 and 85 engine line-up is relatively unchanged from the current choice but they will all meet the forthcoming Euro-3 standard, with the 86's 12.6-litre XF and the 75's 9.2-litre engines adopting Daft electronically controlled unit pump injector system (UPEC). The CF65 will be driven by
Cummins' latest common-rail BSeries straight six (see box).
Daf has made some minor changes to its Euro-3 engines, including reducing their rated speeds to 1,900rpm and changing their torque characteristics slightly to retain similar fuel consumption to Euro-2 engines. All of its Euro-3 diesels make the grade without recourse to a particulate trap, Gearbox options range from the six-speed ZF Ecoiite through Eaton's eight and nine-speeders to the 16-speed ZF Ecomid and Ecospk. Buyers will also be able to specify the fully automatic Allison gearboxes and the ZF Ecosplit with the air-assisted Servoshift system.
Inside, the new CF tractors have been given the 95XF treatment, gaining a curved binnacle and dash and the 95XF steering wheel. A centre dash display acts as trip computer and condition monitoring unit. Externally the revised CF cabin gains the deeper black 95XF grille and larger corner wind deflectors, but it keeps the "waisted" wheelarohes of the original CF.
Despite the changes, Daf says that on a like-for-like basis, depending on the model, it has shaved between 140-160kg off the new CF's kerbweight. It quotes a 4x2 FT CF85 380 tractor with fifth wheel and alloy fuel tank at 6,525kg. A flat-topped chassis should make life easier for bodybuilders, while con nents have been kept inbcar the chassis rails wherever sibie. Front under-run prc tion is optional on all models McDonagh says that Dal yet to fix prices for the range, but it will carry a mium—not least because o Euro-3 drivelines.
There is still some OvE between the new CF85 95XF models; to further di entiate the two models plans to drop the 380hp n on the 95XF. The company that the latest CF changes driven by extensive rnz research into driver and op tor needs, with the UK mz providing the greatest input
• Daf is to shift productk all right-hand-drive t steer FIG 8501 tractors Eindhoven to its Leyland 1r assembly plant, freeing col ity on the Dutch assembly