Say hello to the Arocs Although ifs not officially
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Say hello to the Arocs Although ifs not officially due to make its public debut for another four months, CM has been given the low-down on Mercedes-Benz's latest Euro-6 construction truck range: the Arocs By Brian Weatherley AFTER THE NEW Actros and Antos, it's time to welcome Arocs — the all-new range of construction trucks from Mercedes-Benz.
Arocs represents the latest piece in the German truck maker's strategic future truck programme, which will see its entire truck line-up renewed for Euro-6.
While it's not officially due to make its public debut until next April, when it will be unveiled at the Bauma construction equipment show in Germany, this preview shows the Arocs has been developed for both normal and heavy-duty/severe off-road construction-applications. According to Mercedes: "This extremely diversified sector has never seen such a wide range of vehicles on offer to suit customer needs."
The Arocs line-up will consist of two-, threeor four-axle chassis for use in regular tippers, all-wheeldrive tipper/dump-trucks, concretemixers and construction site delivery vehicle applications, as well as tractive-units — all available with no less than 16 power ratings from 238hp to 625hp, and maximum torque outputs of up to 3,000Nm.
A range of engine choices Arocs buyers will be able to choose from four Bluetec 6 engines at either 7.7-, 10.7-, 12.8or 15.6-litres — with the latter being the new OM 473 diesel. Mercedes' latest PowerShift 3 two-pedal automated transmission will also be fitted as standard, and will have software driving programmes developed for the vehicle's varied range of on/offroad applications. The drive configurations for the Arocs ranges from a 4x2 two-axle rigid or tractor with rear-wheel drive to the 8x8/4, a four-axle rigid with all-wheel drive and two steering front axles.
However, a four-axle chassis with one front and three rear axles, a wide range of air-sprung vehicles, or a load-optimised concrete-mixer chassis with a tandem-driven rear bogie and wide single tyres, are just some examples of the wide variety of the Arocs versions that will be offered by Mercedes straight from the production line.
Arocs will also be offered with seven cabs, available in 14 different versions. In addition to the compact 2.3m-wide cab, which can be specced in L, M or S versions, the Arocs can also be fitted with a 2.5mwide cab complete with a flat floor.
Mercedes has also given Arocs an unmistakeable visual identity, with the truck's radiator grille sporting what the manufacturer describes as a 'bucket-teeth' design, which draws its inspiration from the teeth found on an excavator bucket.
Mercedes insists: "It sends a clear message: the sturdy teeth stand for biting one's way through, and knuckling-down to the job."
No-nonsense, tough steel bumpers, a robust radiator guard and a cleverly integrated constructionspecific folding entry-step combine both form and (above all else) function for Mercedes' latest on/offroad trucks. Also new with Arocs are two specific mission-matched units called Loader and Grounder, with the former designed to have a highly competitive kerb weight.
The tightest in the sector According to Mercedes: "The result provides for payloadoptimised 4x2 tractors that are among the lightest vehicles in the construction sector, as well as a 32-tonne GVVV 8x4/4 concrete mixer chassis with a kerb weight of 9,250kg." • • Mercedes has been keen not to give away all of the Arocs story — but it did provide CM with these sneak shots of the new Arocs grille along with two preliminary design sketches for the cab exterior and interior. Rest assured we'll bring you pictures of the complete truck just as soon as we can!