Rapier fire engine breaks the mould
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• A prototype version of Dennis Specialist Vehicles' new Rapier fire engine, spotted by Commercial Motor on trial in East Anglia, embodies many innovative features.
It breaks from traditional designs with independent coilspring front suspension and trailing taper leaf with coil springs at the rear.
Front disc brakes are airover-hydraulic-actuated, while the rear axle has full air wedge-type drum brakes.
With 19.5in low-profile tyres, the new six-man crewcab sits much lower than before on a box-section steel backbone-type chassis and promises a much lower centre of gravity with improved roll characteristics.
The cab tilts to around 50° to give access to the Perkins Phaser 210Ti diesel engine and Allison MT643 autotransmission.
It is believed that by the time the Rapier becomes available, possibly next spring, DSV may also offer the Cummins 6CTA unit as an option.