PLENTY TO SEE AT NEC
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Neither Volvo Trucks nor Foden chose to participate at the UK's largest vehicle show, but their absence was hardly noticed with the re-emergence of Bedford under the AWD banner and the launch of the Steyr Trucks (UK) range.
• Steyr Trucks (UK) is the latest European truck manufacturer to enter the British market, with a range extending from 13 to 38 tonnes.
Four rigid models are offered at 13 and 17 tonnes. The 13-tonners can be equipped with either 100kW (136hp) or 130kW (177hp) six-cylinder 6.6-litre turbocharged engines, while the 17-tonners are available with 130kW (177hp) turbocharged or 154kW (210hp) turbocharged and chargecooled units.
From the outset the 17tonne models have been specified with 7.1-tonne front axles to optimise load distribution. The medium-range steel cab is also supplied to ERF for its ES6 range.
Power steering is standard and the instrumentation includes a "check control" with red and yellow warning lights. The red light signals that the vehicle must be checked immediately and an illuminated schematic diagram indicates the area to be inspected. The system does away with daily routine checks that usually have to be made outside the vehicle.
Eaton gearboxes are specified across the range with the Twin-Splitter offered in the 19S28 and 19S31 tractive units, with six-cylinder, 9.7-litre turbocharged and chargecooled engines.
The more powerful version develops 930Nm of torque as low as 1,000rpm, and with a 30% torque rise peaks at 1,300rpm to provide flexibility at low revs.
The tractive units use a cab which, although 20 years old, looks surprisingly modern and is certainly distinctive, but there are plans to replace it within the next two years.
AWD, formed less than 12 months ago when David Brown purchased Bedford Truck and Bus from General Motors, reintroduced the TL 8-14 last month. The 7.5-tonner is one of three models powered by the Perkins Phaser six-cylinder turbocharged engine. In the TL it develops 1071AT (143hp) at 2,600rpm and a maximum torque of 485Nm (3581bft) at 1,400rpm, providing a high power-to-weight ratio. It drives through a Spicer T5-350 fivespeed synchromesh gearbox.
The chassis comes in four wheelbase dimensions from 3.43 to 4.9m. The TL 13-16 goes into full-scale production at Dunstable at the end of this month, powered by the 1601 version of the Perkins Phaser turbocharged diesel engine. In the 13-tonne chassis, with wheelbases ranging from 3.05 to 5.46m, it is rated at 119kW (160hp) at 2,600rpm with torque of 516Nm (381hp) at 1,600rpm. It also uses the Spicer 15-350 gearbox with overdrive top gearing. We shall have to wait until early in the new year before a 17-tonne TL goes into production equipped with the most powerful of the Phaser variants, the 180Ti, which delivers 134kW (180hp) at 2,600rpm and 518Nm (42911bft) of torque at