12 minute read
DAF New Generation
NEW GENERATION START THE FUTURE
Words: Jack Sunderland Photographs: DAF Trucks
Often, slogans bandied about at new truck launches tend to be little more than marketing puff designed to drum up excitement. However, few can accuse DAF Trucks of hyperbole as it ushers in three brand-new cabs which are a genuine step into new territory. Under a banner promising to ‘Start the Future’, DAF’s new models are bigger, better and more fuel efficient than anything it has made before.
DAF is the first manufacturer to leverage new European Commission Masses and Dimensions regulations which relax the dimension constraints put on previous truck generations. The idea is this added flexibility will enable truck-makers to refine vehicles to be more aerodynamic, burn less fuel, lower CO2 emissions, and be safer for other road users.
First unveiled in a digital launch back in June, DAF’s new range comprises three models: XF, XG and XG+. Along with ultra-modern stylings, the vehicles promise a 10 per cent improvement to fuel economy over the current-gen XF. DAF reckons it’s the biggest efficiency increase it has ever achieved – and two thirds of this is down to the cabs’ new aerodynamic profiles. The new EC regs have enabled XF, XG and XG+ to have a 160 mm elongation at the front of the cab to ease air flow around the vehicle. Part of this is a new 2.3 m2 curved windscreen, which is 33 per cent larger than current XF and extends downwards for better direct vision. Conventional mirror housings are also slimmer to reduce blindspots, though a new Digital Vision System is also offered which switches glass mirrors for cameras (more on this a bit later).
Other tweaks include tapered corner panels, a new roof shape and deflector, bottom plate with air deflector, tapered side walls, wheelbay deflector, aero seals
NEW GENERATION START THE FUTURE
Bigger, better and more efficient
on the bodywork and refined side collars and skirts.
The new trucks wear a new grille design with chrome detailing and full LED exterior lighting is fitted as standard. These feature daytime running lights, main beam, high beam, cornering and manoeuvring lights, Skylights, side marker lights and optional front fog lights. The steel front bumper has a composite skin and is split into three sections to lower repair costs. Vehicle weight has also been addressed, with the new cabs built from lightweight, high-strength steel. New XF is 150-200 kg lighter than the current-gen XF with Super Space Cab (SSC). New XG compared to XF with Super Space Cab is about the same weight, while XG+ is slightly heavier than XF with Super Space Cab.
New engines, rear axle tweaks and updated transmissions account for the final three per cent of overall 10 per cent fuel efficiency improvement for the new range. PACCAR MX-11 10.8-litre and MX-13 12.9-litre engines use new injectors, a new cylinder head and block, and a new design for pistons and liners. Upgraded turbochargers, air compressors, oil pumps and alternators also reduce parasitic losses. In addition, a lot of work has gone into redesigning the exhaust aftertreatment system for greater efficiency. These combine to produce a 10-15 kg weight reduction and a service interval of just once per year.
MX-11 and MX-13 engines have been given a torque boost of 50-100 Nm in direct drive top gear. This means the top 530 bhp powerplant now delivers 2550 Nm of torque in low gears and 2700 Nm in top, with max torque available from 900 rpm. DAF’s engine brake is also improved with 20 per cent more torque on tap at lower revs.
Rear axles now have reduced oil levels
and new pinion bearings, and new brake callipers result in less frictional losses and lower weight.
TraXon automated gearboxes are now standard and have been upgraded with automatic drive-off gear selection, better predictive features and an optional ‘urge to move’ mode. Driver assistance systems are also improved: Predictive Cruise Control 3 now features an extended EcoRoll function and Preview Downhill Speed Control. New Generation XF, XG and XG+ engine and aftertreatment systems, ECU, Central Security Gateway (CSG) and DAF Connect systems can now all be updated over-theair to reduce vehicle downtime. Safety features have also been upgraded. These include standard-fit Brake Assist, Lane Departure Warning and Emergency Brake Lights. In addition, Advanced Emergency Braking System 3 (AEBS-3) can now bring the truck to a full stop from 50 mph if it detects hazards up to 250m ahead, and City Turn Assist detects other road users or objects at the co-driver side.
Optional extras include a new Electronic Park Brake, which engages the brakes automatically when the engine is switched off; Low Speed Trailer Brake, which activates trailer brakes independently for safer coupling and uncoupling; and Park Brake Assist, which applies all brakes along with the park brake to ensure the truck does not move during loading or unloading.
The new DAFs take to Spanish roads for the press ride & drive
The new XF is paired with a tanker semi-trailer, loaded with water
Much has changed inside the new cabs. The new XF cab – some 75mm lower than the current-gen XF Super Space and Space Cab – has a maximum standing height of 2075mm. XG and XG+ take things even further with heights of 2105mm and 2200mm respectively. Plus, the new EC regulations have permitted an additional 330mm to be added at the rear of XG and XG+ to open up living space. Indeed, XG+ offers a total interior volume of 12.5m3 – some 14 per cent more than the current XF Super Space Cab.
Awaiting drivers is a new digital dashboard with 12-inch display and optional 10-inch infotainment screen. Seat adjustment is now the biggest on the market, and the driver and passenger seat in XG/+ can swivel for more comfortable breaks. There’s a bigger and better retractable table, and space under the bunk can be filled with either two large drawers, or one or two fridges big enough to enable 1.5-litre bottles to be stored upright. The bunk has received a lot of attention. Length is 2220mm in all three models, while the width is extended to 800mm in XG/+. An optional mechanical or electrically adjustable DAF Relax Bed can also be spec’d for better head, back and leg support. XG and XG+ take things a stage further with enhanced interior lighting, which boasts 15 LED lights and light strips which are fully adjustable for brightness and colour. All three models are packing an automatic temp control system as standard, or optional fully automatic climate control. This includes Park Airco for XG+, which takes care of automatic cab cooling or heating when driving or idling.
Driving Impressions
We had the chance to test drive the new range in the hills north of Malaga, Spain at the beginning of September. A wide range of trucks was available to try, so to get things started we climbed into an XF 450 FT coupled to a tanker trailer filled with water.
The XF is an established favourite with British fleets and the new version is a cut
above the current-gen model in every way. Climbing up the three stairway steps, the first thing that strikes is the top-notch level of fit and finish – with quality stitching and premium materials used throughout. The new, bigger windscreen makes for a light and airy cab. Our XF also had DAF’s new Kerb Window installed which, when combined with a fold-up passenger seat, adds considerable visibility. The passenger window can still be opened about halfway (33cm), and the Kerb Window can be removed for easy cleaning.
Our XF was also fitted with DAF’s new Digital Vision System. This uses cameras to feed rearward images to screens mounted on the A-pillars inside the cab, and enables the driver to set the end point of the trailer so the system automatically follows it when turning and reversing. It also projects lines on the screen to show when it’s safe to pull in after overtaking. A notable addition is a down-facing Corner View camera, which replaces the kerb and front view mirrors to give a wide 270-degree view to the side, corner and front of the vehicle. This is fed to a separate screen over on the passenger side, and our co-driver demonstrated it by walking around the front of the vehicle with his shoulder pretty much touching the cab. Needless to say, we could see him clearly the entire time. By the time we’d pulled out of the truck stop, squeezed through a narrow tunnel, negotiated a tight roundabout and pulled onto the main highway heading for the hills, we felt totally at home with the digital mirrors. Not having traditional mirror clusters hanging off the doors certainly reduced blindspots.
Loaded to 30 tonnes, the XF’s 449 bhp engine and smooth-shifting TraXon automated ’box brought us up to cruising speed with ease. We made extensive use of the newly upgraded Predictive Cruise Control on our 1.5-hour tour of the mountain roads, and it made for a very relaxing drive. Interior noise in the new XF seemed much reduced over the current
Deep windscreen contributes to the airy feel of the cab interior
XG+ cab is cavernous
model, and the new digital dashboard proved clear and easy to read.
It’s hard to brake smoothly in a tanker and low-speed manoeuvring always causes the liquid to move around a bit, but the new XF handled excellently. We could feel the water rocking us as we pulled back into the truck stop at the end of our first drive, but the XF handled it with confidence.
We carefully parked up beside our next ride: an XG 450 FT Low Deck. Climbing into the XG cab straight after exiting the XF, the difference in size is immediately clear. The extra rearward space and higher roof makes the cab feel cavernous, and drivers who do lots of nights out will no doubt be very happy with such an expanded living space.
Firing up the 449 bhp MX-11, we noticed the XG cab had even less interior noise than the XF – even with the air con on full blast. This remained true even as we accelerated onto the highway at full throttle.
Loaded to just over 33 tonnes, the XG 450 pulled very well indeed and took no time at all to get up to 85 kmh cruising speed. The region’s long, undulating motorways required us to lean heavily on the new MX Engine Brake, which in this truck was coupled with an Intarder. Together, they meant we only had to use the service brakes sparingly.
Even tall drivers will find plenty of standing headroom inside the XG+ cab
XG cab feels simply enormous!
Steering felt very light in this new XG. New geometry has reduced steering forces by 20 per cent, which makes for a responsive and effortless drive.
Our Low Deck chassis was pulling a 3m internal height trailer with lowprofile tyres and a 2.05 rear axle ratio, so we had to be careful when pulling into a pitted layby for some pictures. Suspension is raised with a tap of a button on the dash, which got us over the worst of the bumps without a problem.
Our final drive was a range-topping XG+ 480 FT. Again, the sense of space is remarkable – even coming in from the XG. The XG+’s market-leading headroom makes the cab feel simply enormous. Even at well over 6 ft tall, we could stand up straight with plenty of room to spare. Our XG+ had the 483 bhp MX-13 engine and was loaded to 40 tonnes. Over the same test route, the 12.9-litre engine provided noticeable extra power for the frequent long climbs, which it took in its stride. Like the XG, the cab is very quiet, even when the engine is working hard – and this really adds to driver comfort. DAFs have always been first-class drivers’ trucks, and the manufacturer’s new range looks set to continue the tradition. Inside the roomy new cabs, the digital dashboard, optional digital mirrors, better seats and bunk, and the overall upgrade to materials combine to give a modern, premium feel that will please operators and drivers alike.
A 10 per cent boost to fuel efficiency will be hard to pass up, and drivers will find plenty of quality-of-life improvements. For example, wireless phone charging; chassis-mounted susies; exterior lockers now hinged at the top instead of at the side to offer some shelter when loading in wet weather; and, of course, much better all-round visibility and vastly improved living space.
Series production of XF, XG and XG+ 4x2 and 6x2 tractors and rigids began in October, and orders are being taken now.
