FRANKFURT BUTANTES
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• Probably the most significant new vehicle exhibited at this year's Frankfurt show, is the new Daf 95 Series. Powered by the new range of crossflow WS engines, to keep pace with the ever tightening European noise and exhaust emission laws, the 95 Series is sure to arouse great interest.
The new cab, designed in conjunction with Enasa, is available as a day cab, a sleeper with one or two bunks, a short cab with top sleeper pod or a high-roof sleeper.
Daf specifies mechanical operation of the standard ZF gearbox but the four air springs that comprise the suspension system of the space cab are electronically controlled, as is the optional drive-axle air suspension (ECAS). The microprocessor controlled warning light system is even credited with intelligence, being called the 'WS (intelligent warning system).
MAN-VW has updated its MT range, and renamed it the G90 series. The D02 fourand six-cylinder engines have been replaced with the more powerful larger capacity D08 engines and left-hand drive models are on show.
Derived from the D02 range, the DO8 engines have an increased bore and stroke producing more power at lower revs, thus generating less noise. The G90 series features beefed-up clutches and gearboxes with different axle ratios.
The MT's air/hydraulic brake system has been dropped in favour of a full air Simplex wedge foundation system, which allows MAN to offer anti-lock as an option. The cab has been updated and now sports rectangular headlamps set into the bumper. The cab is still unmistakeably from the VW LT.
British operators should also be interested in MAN's new five-cylinder 10litre turbocharged engine. It developes 191kW, and with a dry weight of 740kg it is lighter than the Cummins 10-litre unit.
Many exhibits on the Mercedes-Benz stands, such as the new Spanish-built 100/180 range of 2.65-tonnes GVW vans and chassis cabs seem destined only for the left-hand-drive market.
The MB100 line-up, which debuted at this year's Barcelona show, features front wheel drive and independent suspension, in contrast with M-B's rear-wheel-drive 2071)/210 models which are in the same, one-tonne-payload class.
Anti-lock braking — which has been available for several years on M-B heavy trucks, buses and cars — debuts at Frankfurt on the Ti (formerly Bremen) vans and chassis cabs range. It is unlikely to be offered as a UK option (CM 3-9 September) but it will be available in Germany early next year.
Mercedes-Benz is exhibiting a new 8 x4 four-aided tractive unit with extra-heavyduty chassis. It is powered by the 336kW (450hp) ISO turbocharged and air-to-air charge-cooled vee-eight engine from the 1694S model.
Aimed primarily at the West German market, the new 35445 model is built in Switzerland by M-B's special vehicle subsidiary, NAW. It can accept fifth-wheel loadings of up to 22 tonnes and is intended for plant haulage on hard roads at combination weights of up to 180 tonnes. Its transmission comprises the familiar Ecosplit 16-speed synchromesh gearbox with a built-in retarder. M-B is also launching a range of 4x4 and 6 x 6 forwardcontrol construction chassis for left-handdrive markets. These are offered as two and three-axled tippers or tractive units. All are powered by M-B's 260kW (354bp) 14.6-litre turbocharged vee-eight 0M422A engine which is used in the 16355 and 2035S chassis.
A re-engined Mercedes-Benz 0303 coach is shown, fitted for the first time with the 216kW (330hp) turbocharged 0M422 engine with a 216kW (290hp) version listed as an option. An uprated non-asbestos clutch and revised G04 six-speed gearbox are fitted to match the improved engine performance.
Two of the four Rockwell International subsidiaries have stands at Frankfurt: the Bremsen and CVC divisions recently combined their brake and axle sales and marketing groups to become On-Highway Products, Europe.
Components shown by the new group include the 13-tonne-axle-weight range of Rockwell single-reduction hypoid drive axles, alongside air-actuated Stopmaster wedge brakes and Cam-master cam brakes. New Stopmaster models include the RI 360x 170mrn simplex for 19.5in wheels fitted with low-profile tyres; and III 381x180nun duplex and 410x 200rnrn simplex models.
Rubery Owen-Rockwell's latest 10tonne trailer axle is at Frankfurt for the first time alongside its Flexair flexible link air suspension and composite leaf spring.
The MK3 axle features a re-profiled camshaft, a sealed anchor bush arrangement with double '0' rings, a sealed heavy-duty spherical hearing assembly and anchor pin, and asbestos-free finings.
Flexair suspension is a joint development with Weweler and has a capacity of 13,000kg. It is recommended for use with frame centres of 980rnrn (twin-wheel and 1,200mm (single-wheel) applications and can accommodate ride heights between 225 and 425mm.
Examples of RO-R's Indair system in both singleand twin-wheel form are on display alongside a Liteflex composite spring which has its origins at General Motors' Inland division. These 13kg springs are claimed to offer considerable advantages over traditional steel springs: a three-leaf spring pack, for example, weighs around 38kg and a single leaf just 21kg.
Also at Frankfurt, RO-R has announced a new West German distribution and assembly centre to join its bases in France, the Netherlands and Italy.
The principle exhibit on Sauer Achsenfabrik (SAF)'s stand is a selftracking tri-axle set based on the ninetonne RS9042 axle and AR414 air suspension.
Aluminium alloy hanger brackets have also been used to save more weight. A single-axle version of this combination is shown with steel hanger brackets to demonstrate the ability of the RS9042 hub to accommodate a toothed ring and speed sensor for an anti-lock braking system.
SAF's AR413.25 air suspension is shown with a self-tracking WRLZ 11035 axle on 19.5in low loader tyres, and also with a WZRLZ 11030 axle equipped for forced steering from the king-pin and fitted with 11.00 x15 low-loader tyres. Completing the SAF line-up is the new E5 suspension air bellows, each of which is claimed to save up to 5.0kg compared with previous models.
Scania's growing penetration of the West German market since 1968 is reflected in its show line-up of nine trucks, a rear-engined K112 bus chassis and range of industrial and marine engines.
The latest model on show is a platformbodied P82M 4x2 Urban rigid chassis equipped with computer-aided gearchanging (CAG) and a 10-speed synchromesh gearbox. Sc,ania also has an all-wheel-drive P9211K rigid on show.
New weight limits have made eightleggers more popular in West Germany, and a 224kW DSH-16 engined P112H 8x4 chassis is displayed to reflect this trend. Among the tractive units on show is an R112MA 4x2 fitted with 245kW DSC1101 engine and a CAG-equipped rangechange gearbox. This model, which incorporates Bosch anti-lock braking, is available in the UK.
West German trailer manufacturer Schmitz is displaying its new foldingsidewall boxvan semi-trailer at Frankfurt. It is made of Ferroplast sandwich panel construction and has alternative doorwings run in a roof-mounted guide.
The door elements are secured by integral turning-bar locks and can be opened individually with no need to open the entire body side. The door mountings are said to be unstressed because of front and rear single-point mountings on the folding door halves combined with shock absorbers.
Schmitz also has a redesigned Cargobull semi-trailer on show, with a redesigned chassis and floor.
ZF claims to be setting new standards of easy-shift characteristics in its range of manual gearboxes. The company also say its so-called short-travel synchronizer reduces shifting time by 30%.
The full range of 2F gearboxes and retarders are on show at Frankfurt. by Bryan Jarvis