Flagship MAN breaks 600hp
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by Bryan Jarvis • MAN's latest 600hp F2000 prime mover is awesome and versatile. It comes in standard C&U road haulage, construction or Special Type (STGO) guises but UK operators will have to wait until the autumn to get right-hand drive 18.603s.
After developing its mighty 591hp (441kW) power unit MAN's flagship prime mover now goes well beyond the current 500-550hp (373-410kW) limits but thankfully there's a "smart" driveline governor that reins in the horses when running light.
CM has driven a 3+2 26.603 (lhd) drawbar version over several stretches of south German autobahn in company with a 19.463 artic, both pulling 40 tonnes. Our view is that here's a real marathon MAN but with the pace of a sprinter.
MAN believes that the greater benefits will be for operators crossing mountainous routes on a regular basis. A standard 19.463 40-tonner will climb an average 4.0% motorway gradient at about 35mph (57km/h): MAN claims its 19.603 soars up at around 45mph (73km/h), an increase of 28% in climbing speed.
Descents are quicker too with its standard ZF Intarder, so journey times are faster and overall productivity is boosted.
In Euro-2 guise, MAN's 600hp vee-10 produces maximum power between 1,700 and 1,900rpm while maximum torque of 1,991 lbft (2,700Nm) comes in between 1,100 and 1,450rpm. This rev range also corresponds with the lowest (205g/kWhr) point of its specific fuel consumption curve so you can hang on to the upper gears longer without affecting fuel efficiency too badly.
To control the performance when part-laden there's an integral "smart" electronic driveline governor. This system senses propshaft acceleration and cuts the amount of fuel being injected to reduce the unladen vehicle's acceleration. It also reduces governor cut-off speed from 2,150rpm to 1,900rpm when the truck is travelling at below 501unth to encourage dri change up early. Cruise control, ASR traction control (linked to the EDC) are both standard.
Such measures, combined with a rev limit of 1,500 when stationary, keep noise level to a minimum. Sound deadening panelling around the sump and crankcase areas allows Euro-2 noise limits to be met.
MAN has opted for ZF's 16S251 16-speed synchro' box to harness the vee-10's muscle (there's no Eaton equivalent, yet) and ZF HY13110 drive axle. With 2,700Nin of torque down to 1,100rpm, a 3.36:1 diff and a 0.83:1 overdrive top, the F2000/603 is a low revs cruiser which requires few gear changes.
The D2840 LF20 engine bulges high in the frame pushing the cab up by 120mm over a standard sleeper. Its basis is a redesign of the existing 500hp 18.3-litre vee-10 but with beefier connecting rods to cope with higher stresses.
There are twin air intake and exhaust systems plus redesigned rapid run-up wastegated turbochargers for increased torque at low revs.
A gear-driven Bosch in-line injection pump with advanced M5 EDC calculates the amount of fuel by reference to a load/engine speed map.
Two main oil filters are now higher up on the block for better access during maintenance.
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On the road The extra cab height is barely noticeable getting into the driving seat but not so the leather and walnut trimming of the new top-spec Roaclhaus cab.
Extra torque has meant heavier shift loads so MAN has added pneumatic assistance to the ZF gearbox to protect the box and make selection easier. The lever is much shorter but the shift cylinder makes changes painfully slow and feels stiff and jerky compared with the Eaton RTSO 17316 in the 19.463.
Despite heavier clutch and accelerator pedal pressures the 26.603 pulled away crisply in third high with relative ease. Though slower through the skip shift pattern its pace is quite exceptional. Within 20km it had gobbled up the 19.463's sixminute lead, steaming past it on one long motorway grade as though unladen.
At slower road speeds in a high gear the torque limiter cuts in, slowing the accelerator pedal's reaction. It gives a distinct feeling of being at the helm of a less mighty machine, until you drop to lower gear.
There's no price yet for the F2000 18.603 but it's bound to be more than its F90 17.502 predecessor. MAN (UK) says local interest is growing. If you're in the running, order now