NEC MOTOR SHOW PREVIEW
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Range Rovers with manual gearboxes gain improved layshaft bearings and a heavier balanced gearshift for easier changes.
LEYLAND DAF
• Leyland Daf is showcasing a new Roadtrain model, the Perkins Eaglepowered 20.33 twin-steer tractive unit, examples of the Daf Bus SB220 Citybus.
The 12.17-litre Eagle 800 charge-cooled engine used in the day-cabbed 20.33 on display has been developed exclusively for Leyland Daf and produces 242kW (325hp) at 1,900rpm with a maximum torque of 1,498Nm (1,105Ibft) at 1,100rpm.
It has a 3.45m wheelbase, a short overall length of 5.69m and will couple to two or three-axled semi-trailers. Another attraction, says Leyland Daf, is its kerbweight, which will be under 7,000kg.
The SB220 Citybus, shown for the first time in the UK, is powered by a 163kW turbocharged 11.6-litre engine and fitted with Optare bodywork. Its low floor results from the use of a drop-beam rear axle equipped with wide-mounted air suspension. One of the 95-series tractors said to be proving more popular with UK hauliers is the 95.310 twin-steer. It can be seen in sleeper-cab form and also features ABS.
Tipper operators at the NEC can see one of the first of the 224kW Perkins Eagle 800-powered Constructor 30.30 8x4s to roll off the Leyland plant's assembly line.
There is an example of its 17-tonne Freighter range — a 134kW 17.18 — and a version of the Daf-built FA2500DHS 4x2 rigid drawbar unit with top sleeper cab, the latest air suspension and a lowered VB0 620 coupling. Its modified exhaust downpipe allows a high-cube body to be fitted close up. The Roadrunner, which accounts for 5% of the company's sales, is exemplified at the NEC by a turbocharged 8.15 with the QX pack of extras.
Two other vehicles on display which will appeal to military and overseas visitors are the 4 x4 four-tonne prototypes, currently being evaluated by the Ministry of Defence, and a 16-tonne Comet fitted with a water-well drilling rig.
MAN
• Among the highlights on MAN's stand will be a right-hand-drive M90 prototype, one of two new 17-tonners to be available in the UK soon for rigid and drawbar use.
It is powered by the 6.5-litre D0826 turbocharged engine which produces 132kW (180hp) at 2,600rpm and 630Nm of torque at 1,500rpm. Equipped with a sleeper cab it has a 5.8m wheelbase and air suspension at the rear.
Although more suited for drawbar work as a rigid, MAN has an F90 17-tonne GVW artic unit on a 3.2m wheelbase powered by the five-cylinder D2865LF charge-cooled 10-litre diesel, rated at 191kW (265hp) and 1,100Nm (8111bft). Ii has the ZF 16S-109 Ecomid gearbox and, like all the F90s on show, the joint Eaton MAN single-reduction hypoid axle.
An example of MAN's most powerful engine is on the stand: the big vee-10 D2840LF churns out 343kW (460hp) and massive 2,080Nm (1,5341bft) at 1,300rpn when installed in the 19.462 tractive unit The other three F90 attics on show all have the Eaton Twin Splitter while one, the 17.332, is the first of its type to spot the standard 2,280nun-wide sleeper cab.
From MAN's G90 series comes a stee sprung 8.150 4.2m chassis cab and a 10.150 drawbar unit on a 4.6m spread with air suspension at the rear and a raise/lower capability.
MERCEDES-BENZ
• Mercedes-Benz has substantially increased the size of its exhibit this year reflecting its expanding share of the UK truck market.
Above 3.5-tonnes Mercedes-Benz claims 14.8% of the market, making it th UK's leading importer. At the centre of its 14-vehicle display is the new Powerliner range of tractive units, and al the top of the range is the very powerful 2448LS 6x2 chassis, which uses a turbocharged and charge-cooled 0M442 LA engine rated at 367kW (492hp).
In turbocharged form the 6x2 2435 tractive unit is rated at a very modest 273kW (366hp) by comparison, and the 4x 2 version (the 1735) is shown with optional drive axle air suspension.
In naturally-aspirated form the new 15.08-litre 0M442 engine, rated at 220k' (296hp), is used to drive the 1729 4X2 chassis fitted with the optional short sleeper M-cab.
At the other end of the weight range the 814D 7.5-tonner from the T2 range i equipped with the new four-cylinder turbocharged and charge-cooled 3.9-litre diesel engine rated at 101kW (136hp),