New 12-litre for Scania 4
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by Brian Weatherley • The steady drip, drip, drip of advance information on Scania's longawaited 4 Series heavy truck range continues with the news that it will have a 12-litre straightsix diesel and an innovative aerodynamic highroof cab.
Despite the fact that Scania is officially launching its 4 Series this week—Commercial Motor will be test driving it as you read this—the Swedish truck maker has given an early taste of what will be replacing its popular 3 Series.
With the arrival of the 4 Series the current 1 1 -litre Scania six-pot will be superseded by a "completely new" 12-litre inline six with four-valvesper-cylinder technology. The highly respected 14litre vee-eight gets an update and a new power rating of 530hp.
The 4 Series will also have a "new electrical system and electronic controls to enable these vehicles to fulfil the communication and service workshop requirements of the future". And there's a new frame and suspension design too.
Among the first 4 Series models to appear will be the L-class longhaul models with 12 and 14-litre engines. Scania says that it is adding "further refinements to its modulerised building concept with vehicles being tailored more closely to operator specifications".
Perhaps the most visible attribute of the 4 Series is its striking new wedgeshaped cab which has an upright screen and radiused front corners. After attracting criticisms over the headroom in its current Rrange cab, Scania has produced a proper full-height premium sleeper cab with the 4 Series Topline.
Significantly the 4 Series will not immediately replace the 3 Series. Instead Scania will operate a rolling replacement programme during 1996 which will see the 4 Series phased in across Europe.
Scania has spent some SEK3,500m (£320m) on the 4 Series, which it describes as a truck for the 21st Century. Last year it was the third largest supplier of heavy trucks in the UK with a market share of 14.3%.