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11 1#1 11 11 n March 2001, after a ten-year production run,
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Page 35
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Daf replaced the 45 Series with its new IS range of distribution vehides in the 6.o to 18.o tonne weight range. The 7.5-tonner still remains the predominant model. Trucks of this weight are said to account for almost a
third of those engaged in urban delivery work on UK roads, But because of the changes in driver licensing this situation is starting to change, with a divergence up to 12 tonnes and down to 3.5 tonnes.
Daf is clearly a major player at this weight with a 24.1% market share—only bettered in the UK by Iveco (29.5%).
Like the 45 series before it, the LF is built by Leyland Trucks. The Leyland name no longer exists as a marque in its own right but the Leyland plant operates within the Daf group alongside Eindhoven in Holland and Westerlo in Belgium, which are also 100% owned subsidiaries of USA group Paccar. Incorporating Peterbilt, Kenworth and Foden, the Paccar group produces over 100,000 trucks a year which puts it among the biggest truck builders in the world.
Leyland Trucks assembles about 13,000 6 trucks a year and in 2002 the LF range accounted for 9,816 of them. With six new four and six-cylinder corn?-z mon-rail engines from the European Engine Alliance (EEA) of Cummins, New Holland c3 and Iveco, power options extend from 135hp to 25ohp. Daf says it aims to offer operating 1efficiency with low overall cost of ownership.
The smaller 3.99-litre four-pot offers ?, weight advantages over earlier six-cylinder BSeries engines. Both are quiet, flexible and are .1 claimed to be frugal into the bargain.
The four-cylinder diesel, rated at 135, 150 and 167hp at 2,500rpm, offers torque outputs of 5oo, 55o and 600Nm respectively at 1,2001,600rpm. The six-cylinder unit, rated at i8ohp and producing 700Nm of torque at 1,200-1,700rpm, is also an option on the 7.5tonner. The 22ohp unit is normally available from 12 tonnes and the 25ohp engine at 21 tonnes.
The 7.5-tonner comes as standard with a 3.6-tonne front axle and five-tonne rear axle, but a stronger drive axle is specified to handle the increased torque of the 167hp engine. p Rear air suspension is an option, as is the engine brake at this weight, but the exhaust brake is standard. Cost of ownership is further reduced with automatic adjustment for fan belts, which is claimed to double their life while the new cyclonic air intake is said to treble filter life.
Behind the standard steel front bumper the chassis is designed to take an under-run bar, and mandatory fitment is only a couple of months away. Full air disc brakes are fitted as standard all round, The basic cab shell is shared with Renault before being dressed to portray the Daf identity. Like the heavier CF and XF ranges, the LF cab includes impact-resistant headlights and four-point suspension.
Inside, the high-backed seats incorporate seat belts, and electric windows come as standard. There is a lockable central storage unit and dash storage for pens and bulkier items.
An electronic dash indudes an LCD display giving vital data about vehicle and engine functions. Options include an air suspended seat, pneumatically adjustable steering column, electrically adjustable heated mirrors, remote door locking and air conditioning.
• by Bill Brock
RECALLS
It is the manufacturer's responsibility to inform the Vehicle Inspectorate of any safetyrelated defects. The current response level to recalls is estimated to be at around 85% and the VI hopes to improve this to 90% by 2005.
Since the Daf LF45 Series was introduced in 2061, the VI has not listed any recalls in this Model range.