New models
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from MAN/Bussing by Gibb Grace
• MAN has announced a new 38-tongcw model — type 16.320 — based on the underfloor engine design philosophy of Bussing, the firm it took over in 1971. This model is making its public debut at the Frankfurt Show which opened yesterday and uses MAN chassis frame and cab but retains the Bussing engine and taper-leaf rear suspension. MAN's new engine range D25 which has been developed in conjunction with Daimler Benz includes a horizontal six cylinder in-line engine but output, even when turbocharged, is limited to 256 bhp and under German law a minimum of 304 bhp for operations at 38 tonnes will be needed from January 1 next year.
The Bussing dual-rate taper-leaf suspen sion is retained as this was specially developed by Bussing to give the ride characteristics suitable for the underfloor engine layout. MAN has had a taper-leaf front suspension for some time and has never developed its own rear suspension. Also retained is the Fuller gearbox used lately by Bussing although ZF gearboxes are used throughout the current MAN range.
MAN is also exhibiting a new 6 x 4 tractive unit — the 26.320 SDLS — and a rigid model — the 26.320 DFLS having air suspension bogies. The tractive unit has been designed to carry ISO containers and get within the fourmetre height limit, and the rigid has a demountable chassis. Two MAN engines of the D25-type produce 320 bhp DIN, the V-10 naturally aspirated and the V-8 turbocharged, and both engines are used in these models. The large V-10, surprisingly, is used in the tractive unit and the V-8 in the rigid.
Even more surprising is the fact that in the vehicles on show, a ZF 5K 110 GP gearbox is used behind the V-10 engine and a Saviem SM 350 box behind the V-8. In this day and age of rationalization, three different engines and three different gearboxes offered at 320 bhp are luxury indeed!
MANs for UK Plans for the introduction of MAN vehicles to the UK are progressing as planned and the first 32-ton-gcw tractive unit — the 16.240 — will arrive here within the next few weeks. This first model will be submitted to the DoE for C and U Regulations checking. The 16.240 does not use the latest D25-type engine or the MAN's new hub-reduction axle. The engine is an in line six producing 232 bhp DIN.
Driverless truck At the press function in Germany last week MAN demonstrated a driverless truck which could ultimately be used for endurance testing. The vehicle demonstrated, a type 16.320, had a ZF automatic gearbox and followed a wire buried in the test track. All driving commands were sent via this cable.
The on-board computer which decoded the signal and which controlled the vehicle was developed by the German electronics company Bosch. A built-in emergency stop function was demonstrated by driving a passenger car across the path of the speeding truck. A bumper-mounted eye sensed the presence of the car and immediately the truck brakes were applied.
A low-speed manoeuvre using a remote cable control was also demonstrated.