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Which truck makers will be appearing at Commercial Motor Live – and what can operators expect from them in the not-so-distant future?
Words: Brian Weatherley
When Commercial Motor Live kicks off on 3-4 October, we’ll all be a lot wiser about the various European truck makers’ plans for Euro-6 and beyond. It’s clear that they’ll be using the massive IAA Hannover Show in September to unveil their latest low-emission lorries, with some of them sporting new cabs too. And expect a number of them to make their UK debut at Millbrook.
MERCEDES-BENZ
Ring out the old, ring in the new! No sooner has Mercedes-Benz unveiled the new Actros at the CV Show in May than it will be joined at Commercial Motor Live by the all-new Antos (reviewed exclusively in CM 17 May) – the second step in Mercedes’ range renewal programme for Euro-6 and beyond. It’s the first time Antos will be seen in public in Britain following its official launch at the IAA. Antos is aimed specifically at short-haul, top-weight distribution operations (thereby ultimately replacing the Axor) and comes with a standard 2.3m-wide cab (in either shortor medium-sized version) as either a rigid or a tractor. Early glimpses by CM show Antos has many of the stylish aerodynamic features found on the new Actros. It will be powered by Blue Efficiency Euro-6 engines from 238hp right up to 510hp coupled with a PowerShift two-pedal auto as standard – just like the new Actros. Commercial Motor Live visitors will be able to try out both new models, with the 13-litre OM471-engined Actros available in the UK at both Euro-5 and Euro-6, while the Antos is strictly Euro-6.
RENAULT
Before anyone starts thinking about new Euro-6 Renaults, the current Euro-5 range is doing nicely – and especially Premium in terms of delivering impressive fuel consumption returns for fleet customers. So expect Premium to be well to the fore at Commercial Motor Live, along with an 8x4 Kerax and a distribution rigid too. Meanwhile, when Magnum eventually ‘retires’ at Euro-6, CM understands its replacement (and presumably, ultimately that of Premium too) will be based on a joint Volvo/Renault global heavy truck cab platform. Likewise, we expect the French to unveil their own Euro-6 engines around the same time as Volvo, but with unique Renault ratings, electronics and fuelling systems. Having already featured shots of a heavily camouflaged prototype running in France (CM 24 May), we’re particularly interested in seeing what Renault’s designers do to give their version of the shared Global cab platform a truly gallic identity. Although the Magnum’s successor is understood to share the same basic cab core structure as new Volvo FH, Renault will want to give it its own unique styling and exterior panels.
VOLVO
At Commercial Motor Live expect a range of Volvo trucks for the distribution, construction and environmentally interested sectors based on existing models. Meanwhile, if you haven’t already seen those not-so-cunningly disguised new Volvo prototypes running in the UK then it probably won’t be long before you do. We’ve already provided readers with plenty of scoop photographs of them anyway (CM 10 February and 1 September 2011). So when does the new FH actually arrive? IAA in Hannover in September looks increasingly like the official launch pad for both the new Volvo global platform heavy truck cab and the Swede’s Euro-6 engines. Will we see them make their UK debut at Commercial Motor Live and Millbrook? It would certainly be the perfect opportunity to show them off so we wouldn’t bet against it happening. In the meantime, keep your eyes peeled for those all-white, pre-production, FH 6x2 tractors complete with their white bed-sheet camouflage panels covering the new grille – they’re difficult to miss.
SCANIA
Scania will be showing a broad selection of its wares at Commercial Motor Live including an R440 LA6X2/2 tractor, with the medium-height Highline cab atop its Euro-6 engine, a G400 LA4x2 tractor with SCR, and a R560 LA6X2/4 tractor with the tallest Topline cabin at Euro-5. It will also likely show an 18-tonner with its own Complete Curtainsider body on the back. Along with Mercedes, Scania is the only other European truck maker to have Euro-6 trucks available in UK showrooms right now – and CM readers will already know how well the Euro-6 G-Series tractor performs at 40 tonnes based on its impressive road test results (CM 10 May). So what more can we expect in the future? Previous changes in 2009 to the Scania cab aerodynamics and cooling system were all made in preparation for Euro-6 – so we’re unlikely to see any major exterior changes before 2013. But Scania’s well-known policy of constant upgrades could see some further minor tweaks to the inside of its R, G or P cabs for the IAA Show in September.