New engine turns MT to G90
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• MAN-VW's MT range of 6-10 tonners, which uses a VW LT cab and MAN chassis and transmission, has been extensively revised and updated with new engines, transmissions and brakes.
Left-hand-drive versions have already gone into production at MAN's Salzgitter plant in West Germany, and examples will be on display at the Frankfurt Show this month.
The new MAN-VW lightweights will make their British debut at the Scottish Show in November, but MAN-VW at Swindon does not expect to have any at its dealers before next January.
With the introduction of the new models MAN-VW will drop the MT designation, which is peculiar to this country, and call the range the G90 Series.
The most significant of the G Series revisions is the replacement of the D02 MAN fourand six-cylinder 3.79and 5.68-litre engines with larger, more powerful DOS engines. The D0824 is a four-cylinder 4.58-litre, naturally-aspirated engine with a maximum power rating of 75kW (102hp) DIN. Its maximum torque is 310Nm (2291bft) at 1,200rpm.
The D0826 six-cylinder, 6.87-litre naturally-aspirated engine develops 110kW (15011p) at 2,700rpm and maximum torque of 450Nm (3321bft) at 1,300rpm.
Both engines are derived from the D02 units but have longer strokes, wider bores and few components in common with the old engines. MAN says it spent about DM30 million (£8 million) developing the DOS range. Although not on offer in the G Series, turbocharged and charge-cooled versions of the engines have been developed, with power ratings up to more than 150kW (200hp).
The new D08 engines develop their extra power and torque at lower engine speeds, which helps to reduce noise levels. Until now the most powerful MAN-VW 7.5-tonner was the 8.136, with a maximum power output of 100kW (136hp) at 3,000rpm. The most powerful G90 7.5-tonner is the 8.150, with a maximum power rating of 110kW (150hp) at 2, 70Orpm.
To cope with the higher torque of the new engines — up by more than 25% — the latest MAN-VW's have beefed up clutches and modified gearboxes and drive axle ratios. The five-speed, synchromesh, Volkswagen gearbox has a lower first gear ratio of 7.24:1 compared with 6.67:1, and a high rear axle ratio of 3.46:1 which gives a maximum geared speed of 118krn/h.
For the G90's braking system MAN has gone for a fullair system with Simplex wedge foundation brakes to replace the MT's air/hydraulic system. MAN says that its main reasons for not following the current trend towards disc brakes at this weight is that it wanted full air brakes, and wanted to be able to offer antilock as an option.
Among the minor cab modifications on the new range is the introduction of rectangular headlamps which are now fitted in the bumper, instead of the round units mounted higher up, and a general uprating of the cab interior. MAN-VW in this country says it plans to offer a high-specification model with the high-power engine, and a model with more basic trim and the four-cylinder engine.
0 Permutations of newlydeveloped engines and driveaxles and its recentlyintroduced F90 cab and chassis frames will give MAN-VW of Swindon a string of new righthand-drive models for British national type approval over the next twelve months.
Speaking in Salzgitter last week, where the entire MANVW joint range has been assembled since the beginning of this year, MAN technical director and executive board member Klaus Schubert made it clear that the new G90 Series engines will soon be used at much higher gross vehicle weights. He confirmed that production of the D02 engines, which the D08 has replaced in the 6-10-tonne range, has now ceased. In its sixcylinder form the D02 engine is used to power MAN's 16tonner, the 16.170. The 16.170 replacement will be fitted with a D08 engine and with a lower mounted, narrower version of the F90 cab. The new 17-tonner will be part of the M90 range and is likely to become available here next summer.
With turbocharging and charge-cooling the six cylinder D08 engine's power output easily tops 150kW (200hp) and at this rating it is likely to be the power unit for a new lightweight MAN tractive unit suitable for gross weights between 32 and 35 tonnes.
From now on MAN will fit the single reduction hypoid drive axle, which it developed jointly with Eaton, as standard on all F90 models.
A tractive unit version of the new G90 Series is expected to become available here early next year. With a gross combination weight of around 20 tonnes, it is Rely to appeal to brewers who previously bought Bedford urban artics.