asert Lion for . ankfurt E FRANKFURT Motor Show in ptember
Page 56
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
will see the public 3miere of an unusual heavy ulage vehicle developed and ilt by KFM, of Neunkirche, ar, a new German company th powerful financial backing foreign investors.
Aimed at a share of the small t extremely valuable market r specialist prime movers, lich, in Middle East countries is for long been dominated by 3 suppliers, the FKM "Desert on" has been designed to ovide optimum performance id range when hauling aximum loads under on and f-road conditions.
The vehicle to be shown in .e-production form at Frankfurt distinguished by a striking onneted cab styled by DCC, of Im, an industrial design rganisation which now
icludes several former lembers of the lveco styling tudio.
It is based on a welded steel ibe 6x6 chassis using Kessler rive axles fitted with :ugelfischer air-hydraulic uspension. The power unit epresents one of the first iutomotive applications for the iew TBD 234 V-12 diesel, leveloped by MWM of Vlannheim from the earlier 232 3eries of engines with smaller )ore and stroke dimensions. The turbocharged and ntercooled 21.6 litre engine has 3n exceptionally good Dower/weight ratio and a 3pecific fuel consumption of
only 1959/kWh for a derated output (in the Desert Lion) of 485kW at 2,100rev/min. Maximum torque is 2,500Nm at 1,500rev/min.
The transmission by Renk is an HSV 2065 six-speed powershift gearbox with integral torque convertor and transfer box for the drive to the front axle. Electric gear selection is a feature of the controls in the airconditioned cab.
With an unladen weight of 21 tonnes the Desert Lion is intended for normal operation at gcw's up to 90 tonnes on Michelin 26.5-25 LXB tyres, when it will reach a maximum speed of 50mph on a surfaced road.
The fuel tank is located behind the cab with the engine radiator and oil cooler fitted above. The engine air intakes/filters are also housed in pods behind the cab. For desert operation a 200-litre freshwater tank may be fitted.
Overall length of the tractive unit (a rigid transporter unit may be built at a later date) is 9.8m and overall height is 3.6m. Vehicle width is 3.2m and the ground clearance under the front axle is 0.5m.