1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192 
German operators in rush to buy MAN's 680hp TGX
Page 14
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
The demand for MAN's flagship 680hp TGX model is exceeding all expectations in the German market. Brian Weatherley reports.
THE ARRIVAL of MAN's 680hp V8 TGX tractor — said by MAN to be the most powerful series production truck in the world — has highlighted the demand for extremely high-power tractors, not least in the UK.
At the V8 ride-and-drive event in Cologne last week CM was told that orders from German hauliers have exceeded all expectations. This is in marked contrast to Dais decision to delay launching a 560hp version of its MX engine for the XF105; the most powerful MX is currently rated at 510hp.
DafUK marketing directorTony Pain says that as we move towards Euro-5/6 the top priority for the Anglo-Dutch manufacturer is the environment rather than outright power. However, he promises that the 560hp MX will eventually join the options list.
Industry sources suggest that Dais approach is a truer reflection of UK demand for top-power tractor units. Of the 5,679 tractors registered in the UK this year only 3% (169 units) were rated at 500550hp and only 2.1% (108 units) boasted more than 550hp. Many of these were destined for Special Types work rather than general haulage.
Daf and Volvo are believed to share pole position in the 501550hp class, while Scania leads the 550hp-plus sales league with its 630hp V8 R Series.
MAN will reveal its UK TGS/ TGX model line-up later this month. It will be interesting to see if MAN thinks it worth developing a right-hand-drive version of the mighty V8 tractor, or whether its UK importer will simply offer the 680 as a left-hooker to international operators and as a special chassis for heavy haulers.
• See next week's issue for first driving impressions of the MAN 680hp V8 TG X.
www.roadtransoart,com/crn