1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156 
Longline cab gives drivers more space
Page 16
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• by Brian Weatherley Less than a year after unveiling its futuristic 'eXc extended R-cab design concept at the Hanover Truck Show, Scania has now decided to put it into full production as the 'Longline' tractor from September 2003.
The Longline's cab is based on the conventional Topline R-sleeper cab but it is stretched by 1,300mm after the Boost, so its bumper-to-rear-cab wall dimension is identical to that of a Scania bonneted T-truck with a sleeper cab. It's then put on a chassis with a length corresponding to a 6x2 T-tractor.
Scania says it will only offer the Longline with the most powerful 580hp V8 16-litre engine, together with Opticruise, its own automated transmission, as standard.
While Longline will be available in a variety of chassis configurations, it's not clear whether it will be offered in righthand-drive. However, Commercial Motor understands that Scania Great Britain has already received operator enquiries for the Longline, while Scania in Australia has also expressed interest in the extended cab.
If demand from both these righthand-drive markets is sufficient, then the Swedish manufacturer could well develop a right-hand drive version of Longline—although it would only be offered as a special order vehicle.
Extending the conventional CR19 Rcab virtually doubles its interior volume to around 14m, while the maximum interior headroom is 2.3m.
However, coupled to a conventional 13.6m trailer the Longline combination would measure some 17.8m long—making it only practical for shorter tipping and tank trailers within the current 16.5m artic length limit.
If extra-long cabover sleepers are to gain a wider audience, the European Commission would have to revise artic length limits: CM understands that Scania has already had discussions about this issue with EC representatives.
Hasse Johansson, group vice president R&D. says: "Interest from the market in eXc lat Hanover] took us by surprise and quite a few customers wanted to order one on the spot. There is clearly demand for a cab like this right now, despite the restrictions imposed by current length regulations.
"Scania Longline will be perfect for demanding transcontinental routes."
Due to its limited appeal, the Longline tractor will be built by Laxa Special Vehicles, an independent Swedish company that already provides specialist conversions for Scania.