CV Product Innovation Daily Two

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CM PRODUCT INNOVATION DAILY TWO / 29 APRIL 2020

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CM PRODUCT INNOVATION DAILY TWO 30 APRIL 2020

CONTENTS 

Shutterstock

4 VAN ROUND-UP

12 BRIGADE

Show and tell

14 MERRIDALE

Welcome to the second edition of the Commercial Motor Product Innovation Daily.

This year’s Commercial Vehicle Show has been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, but that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on all of the news from the industry’s premier trade show.

In three exciting innovation round-ups, you’ll learn about key product launches that would have taken place at the NEC. Sponsored by MAN Truck & Bus UK, the ‘Dailies’ will publish on 28, 29 and 30 April, which are the same days that the show would have taken place.

We do hope these round-ups give you an exciting glimpse into the R&D taking place across industry and inspire you to try new technology on your own fleets.

18 FUELTEK

CONTACT INFORMATION EDITORIAL Daily editor Hayley Pink Supplements production editor Joanne Betts CM editor Will Shiers CM Deputy editor George Barrow CM Group technical editor Colin Barnett Contributor Lucy Radley

DISPLAY ADVERTISING Sales director Emma Tyrer 07900 691137 Display sales executive Barnaby Goodman-Smith Key account manager Andrew Smith Sales manager Tim George

MAIN OFFICE Road Transport Media, First floor, Chancery House, St Nicholas Way, Sutton, Surrey SM1 1JB Published by DVV Media International Ltd © 2020 DVV Media International Ltd

DIRECTORS Divisional director Vic Bunby Managing director Andy Salter

29 APRIL 2020 CM PRODUCT INNOVATION DAILY TWO

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 NEWS

Vantastic line-up This year’s CV Show would have given visitors an exciting glance at the latest an models due to e coming on to the mar et, so e ha e put together a hand round up of hat’s in the pipeline from some of the ig manufacturers FORD Ford was due to go big at the CV Show this year with an extra-long wheelbase, low-height L5 skeletal chassis, due to arrive mid-year and to be followed by a higher gross vehicle weight Transit van of 5 tonnes in the fourth quarter.

Springs, dampeners and suspension have all had to be modified to accommodate the change in GVW, which will increase from 4.7 tonnes to 5 tonnes – promising well in excess of 2.5 tonnes payload for a chassis cab and just under 2.5 tonnes for a panel van version.

The largest model currently available

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is a Transit 470 L4H3, which has a payload of 2,169kg.

Also scheduled for an upgrade was the Ford Ranger pick-up truck, which would increase its GVW to 3.5 tonnes and would be joined by a Ranger chassis cab option.

Ford was planning to focus on its range of off-the-line conversions and had a couple of surprises up its sleeve for the show. Any new models will now probably make their debuts later in the year.

GROUP PSA Peugeot, Citroën and Vauxhall were once again going to combine their models under a single Group PSA stand, with the

CM PRODUCT INNOVATION DAILY TWO 29 APRIL 2020

focus set to be on the trio of new plug-in vans.

Electric versions of its shared-platform mid-size van would be making their global debuts, with the Citroën e-Dispatch, Peugeot e-Expert and Vauxhall Vivaro-e all lining up alongside the regular diesel models in their ranges. Full specifications for the vehicles were being kept under wraps until the show and will now be revealed possibly as early as the end of the month instead – but what is known is that all models will come with the option of either a 75kW or a 50kW battery, giving a claimed range of up to 185 miles or 125 miles, respectively.

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 NEWS

DACIA

RENAULT

Dacia, the popular budget brand owned by Renault, had booked space at this year’s CV Show, fuelling speculation that its popular Duster SUV was to return as a commercial vehicle. The four-wheel-drive Duster was available as a van conversion until the end of 2017, but has been missing from UK options lists since then.

Renault was to showcase its upcoming electrification plans for a range that already includes the Kangoo ZE and the Master ZE. While plans for an electrified Trafic are said to be some way off, another electric LCV model is being added to the range, it is thought. Already confirmed for launch at the show was a premium version of the mid-sized Trafic. The new Black Edition model, powered by the 170hp version of the 2-litre engine, will get black alloys, special graphics and a range of black details inside and out. Equipment includes parking sensors and climate control, and there is the option of a bodykit with side skirts, roof spoiler and a lower front bumper.

MAXUS Maxus, formerly known as LDV, was all set to unveil its replacement for the V80 large van. The Maxus Delivery 9 is built on an all-new platform and is powered by a new 2-litre, 160hp engine with 375Nm of torque. It will be available in four lengths, with three roof heights, as well as a chassis cab version. The van will also have front- or rear-wheel-drive driveline options. In addition to changing its name, Maxus has also altered the name of the EV30 – which was unveiled at the show last year. The new electric-only city van will now be called the eDeliver 3 and will be available to order with a 53kW battery capable of up to a claimed 150 miles.

LECV London taxi maker LECV was to debut its new plug-in hybrid van at the CV Show, ahead of its arrival in the UK later this year.

Based on the TX e-City taxi, the LECV VN5 is powered by a

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CM PRODUCT INNOVATION DAILY TWO 29 APRIL 2020

1.5-litre petrol engine charging a battery capably of delivering up to 80 miles of emissions-free driving. The van also retains the taxi’s impressive 10.1m turning circle and has a 800kg payload and a load volume of 5cu m.

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FUEL MANAGEMENT & MONITORING SYSTEMS

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 NEWS

Disc-check offer by TDI TDI is offering a special deal on its tachograph disc-check system to support operators dealing with coronavirus social distancing challenges across their fleets.

Operators will be able to tap into the remote-working capabilities of disc-check free of charge for the first three months by using a promotional code: CVSHOW2020.

Disc-check is a tachograph analysis package fully accessible from mobile and desktop devices.

DVSA Earned Recognition compliant,

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it provides a range of compliance dashboards, such as: fleet overviews, viewing how you compare to the DVSA Earned Recognition standards or how your drivers are performing over a selected period.

With disc-check’s full drill-down functionality, you can run many of the reports with just a single click.

The system’s driver debrief function uses a configurable points-based system to provide you with a clear path to spot repeat infringements and what corrective measures to take. It also provides a clear pathway for escalation of disciplinary procedures.

TDI said this function has enabled its customers to see a reduction in repeat infringements.

CM PRODUCT INNOVATION DAILY TWO 29 APRIL 2020

For drivers on the road, a connected app enables them to view their progress and acknowledge any infringements wherever they are.

Managing the Working Time Directive is also made simple by the system automatically incorporating drivers’ hours from tacho data, making it easy to enter statutory holidays and other work carried out on drivers’ cards. A full Monday to Friday absence can be entered with just two quick clicks, said TDI. Scheduled reports can also be requested so they arrive automatically at a set time.

To take advantage of the special offer, head to tdisoftware.co.uk. After the free three-month period, the system will cost £1 per driver per week to run.

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29 APRIL 2020 CM PRODUCT INNOVATION DAILY TWO

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 NEWS

Aquarius demos paperless tools During this challenging coronavirus lockdown period, digital compliance specialist Aquarius IT will be sharing its product expertise and customer experiences during a free industry webinar titled “An introduction to paperless compliance tools”.

The Aquarius team will provide expert insight on why and how it believes its systems can prove invaluable to road transport operators at this difficult time and on the new digital world – particularly in relation to compliance, audit trails, managing time and attendance, payroll and communicating with home-based staff.

The hour-long webinar has been created to highlight the following: For those still operational and delivering essential goods: using customer insights, the webinar will discuss the importance of connecting the dots with employees working from home in sales, HR, payroll and accounts.

For those operators on lockdown: the webinar will show how you can use this time positively to review your digital systems to ensure they will meet the future needs of customers and employees.

Since the inception of digital tachographs, Aquarius IT’s ClockWatcher SaaS (software as a service) has helped

shape the direction of technological innovation.

The company was one of the first to offer both analogue and digital tachograph analysis in one software package.

Following advancements in technology, the software has evolved into an elite, fully integrated, end-to-end paperless solution for managing all areas of operator compliance and driver/vehicle/asset management.

For many road transport operators, Aquarius said, ClockWatcher Elite has proved invaluable through this pandemic, and this webinar will show how its suite of driver and vehicle tools – including

SmartWitness launches Safe System for DVS Ahead of the planned London Direct Vision Standard (DVS), SmartWitness is launching its TfL-approved multi-camera Safe System.

This combines the latest CP4S 4G multi-camera recorder with an updated forward-facing HD camera, twin 120-degree HD side-view cameras, a 150-degree rear-view camera and a 7in dash-mounted LCD monitor, which can give a live 360-degree view around the vehicle.

The SmartWitness DVS system includes proximity sensors on the near side which alert the driver of other road users and also send out audible external alerts when the vehicle is turning left.

It comes in four-channel (CP4S) or eight-channel (CRXS) versions and can be easily integrated with other fleet systems.

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CM PRODUCT INNOVATION DAILY TWO 29 APRIL 2020

accident reporting, walk-around checks, defect reporting, drivers’ manifests and timesheets for payroll, can be used successfully to help operators control and monitor their company-wide compliance requirements remotely – and communicate with depots and home-workers in real time.

One company that has been working on the front-line, delivering essential fresh food produce to retailers, said: “ClockWatcher Elite proved particularly crucial in terms of managing time and attendance for our driving force. There was no paperwork to lose, because all driver and vehicle information was seamlessly processed digitally and available for our managers and accounts team, who are working from home, to action at the touch of a button.”

The webinar will also feature an exclusive demonstration of the company’s new Asset Maintenance portal, which was scheduled to launch officially at the 2020 CV Show. The system is now live and provides operators with an all-encompassing digital solution for managing both vehicle maintenance and inspection, plus driver activity.

Join Aquarius IT on 6 May or 13 May for this free webinar, by registering at: aquariusit.com/webinars.

 NEWS

Brigade offers DVS rating expertise Brigade is looking to help operators fully understand and check their vehicle Direct Vision Standard (DVS) star rating and advise them on what to do if they fall short of the minimum requirements for entering the capital.

Emily Hardy, marketing manager at Brigade, said: “There is a lot of misinformation in the industry right now. Our expertise lies in offering concise information that our customers can digest, along with providing high-quality solutions with a brand that customers trust.”

Brigade has partnered with Vision Systems to offer main mirror replacement systems for class two and four areas. It said the system outperforms conventional

mirrors, thanks to its anti-glare glass used on the monitors, low luminosity and improved visibility in wet conditions.

The cost savings are impressive too, added Brigade, as replacing bulky mirrors with cameras can contribute to lower

fuel consumption – and the cost of replacing broken mirrors is no longer a problem.

The Vision System is R46, ISO 16505 and ISO 26262 compliant, while Brigade’s wider range of R46-compliant camera monitor systems enable operators to replace mirrors for Class V and Class VI mirrors.

Brigade has also launched a range of new innovations, including the Zonesafe RFID technology to create detection areas around vehicles and mobile plant, its latest HD Backeye 360 system, and three internet protocol cameras, which prevent image quality degradation for applications that use extended cable length.

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 NEWS

Merridale targets rising fuel thefts Merridale has warned hauliers of an increase in fuel theft, particularly a rise in large-scale organised crime targeting on-site storage bunkers.

It said these thefts are far more sophisticated now and involve long-term planning, resources, and a vehicle capable of transporting the large volumes being stolen.

The company said it has seen several vehicle operators fall victim to bulk fuel theft over recent months, suffering a total loss between them of approximately 250,000 litres.

Merridale technical director John Russell said: “Evidence shows that after selecting a target storage tank, the thieves will set up first by drilling an access hole into the side or top of the tank. This will

then be disguised to avoid detection. They will then return at a later date, equipped with a suitable vehicle and the equipment required to extract the fuel.

“Pipework will be laid through undergrowth and shrubland for hundreds of metres to an out-of-the-way location suitable for operating the pumping

equipment and accessible to the vehicle.”

Criminals will then pump out several thousand litres at night, and return every two or three nights to repeat the process, he continued, with tanks at the perimeter of a site most at risk.

To combat this, a full Merridale package includes a high-accuracy tank management system. This, combined with the Merridale FuelWorks service, can provide warnings of any unauthorised or unexpected drop in the contents level of the bulk storage tank.

If a theft appears to be in progress, FuelWorks will send real-time alerts by both email and text message, to designated personnel. These alerts will continue periodically until the stock level has stopped dropping.

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CM PRODUCT INNOVATION DAILY TWO 29 APRIL 2020

FOOD & DRINK

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 NEWS

Maxus will Deliver a virtual launch Maxus is planning an exciting virtual experience to launch its new platform vehicles, the Deliver 9 and eDeliver 3, following the cancellation of this year’s CV Show, where the vans were due to make their debuts.

An online event, planned for late May/early June, will enable people to get up close and personal with the new vehicles from the comfort and safety of their home or workplace.

The vehicle launch follows the rebrand of LDV as Maxus.

Speaking about the virtual launch, Mark Barrett, general manager of Harris Automotive Distributors (Maxus), said: “We were genuinely gutted when we heard that the CV Show 2020 was cancelled, but it was the right and only decision to take.

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“We are nothing if not innovative, so a virtual launch makes sense on this occasion. The show must go on.

“Maxus is a dynamic brand and we see this as an opportunity to show people just how cutting-edge our brand and vans are, from the comfort of their own homes or workplaces.”

CM PRODUCT INNOVATION DAILY TWO 29 APRIL 2020

The Maxus eDeliver 3 is a fully electric small van, which the manufacturer said had a range of up to 198 miles (NEDC) or 150 miles (combined WLTP) on a single charge of a 52.5kWh battery.

Meanwhile, the all-new Deliver 9 is a completely new platform and drivetrain with a powerful yet efficient 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine.

Available in a choice of four lengths, three heights, van and chassis variants and a choice of front- or rear-wheel drive, the Maxus Deliver 9 is on another level.

Full details, specs and pricing will be revealed on the day of the virtual launch.

Register at RSVP@planit.ie and a link to the virtual launch will be sent to you.

 NEWS

Fueltek Datanozzle launched Fueltek, the Blackburn-based fuel management company, has introduced a new access method for its FT4000 range of fuel management systems.

The Fueltek Datanozzle is a fuel management system access method that allows authorised vehicles access to the fuel pump; the driver simply inserts the nozzle into the vehicle and proceeds to refuel.

Information is captured at the point of fuelling and is uploaded to Fueltek FMO fuel management software, which can then be accessed at any time in the future.

The Datanozzle can provide both automatic vehicle identification and automatic mileage recognition if the vehicle is capable of producing an output mileage.

It is an RFID reader cleverly moulded into a fuel nozzle boot that reads a passive datatag mounted on the vehicle, with no cables required to make it operate.

The datatag is usually mounted in a position on the vehicle near the filler neck, so that when the vehicle pulls up to the fuel pump, the driver simply inserts the nozzle into the vehicle filler neck and starts to fuel.

Relevant data is therefore captured automatically, without driver intervention.

Fueltek said its Datanozzle takes driver error out of the equation. It can

automatically identify each vehicle as it is presented for fuelling, and using an API it automatically logs both its fuel demand and current mileage, ensuring the transport operator can be absolutely confident that fuel security is complete.

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CG_150419_D035746 STRONGS 28/03/2019 09:00 Page 1

 NEWS

Checking licences during lockdown Derby-based Licence Check is offering advice to fleet operators regarding vital licence checking services during the coronavirus lockdown.

The DfT has put in place temporary changes in professional driver qualification requirements as it may be difficult for drivers to complete the required training at present.

Those drivers whose Driver CPC, also known as the ‘driver qualification card’ (DQC), expires in the period from 1 March to 30 September are allowed to continue driving on the expired card until October.

However, Licence Checks says that despite this relaxation, it still remains vitally important to check a driver’s entitlement to drive a vehicle, especially as

many firms are now hastily recruiting new delivery drivers in sectors such as food and parcel distribution.

Terry Hiles, general manager at Licence Check, said: “The new relaxation of the DQC rules does not excuse the obligation to check driving licences to ensure drivers remain entitled to drive the class of vehicle they are using. The same applies to new drivers who are about to drive for the business for the first time.”

To implement this change and prevent their customers receiving automated warnings that their drivers’ DQC has expired over this period, Licence Check is amending its systems to take into account the new rulings,

Integritas...

and will not flag-up urgent warnings or perform automatic re-checks for expired cards until after 1 October.

Licence Check is also offering advice on how to best handle checking licences for new drivers taken on during the lockdown period, as well as best-practice fleet advice for company-wide driver audits and training for those on furlough.

See licencecheck.co.uk to find out more.

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Gatehouse Integration

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 NEWS

Eclipse points out the real problem Eclipse Automotive Technology is a leading supplier of multi-brand diagnostics systems, with more than 3,000 units installed across the UK. The company’s Jaltest CV and Trailer multi-brand packages are diagnostic solutions featuring guided fault diagnosis, with linked technical information to wiring diagrams, component testing and vehicle repair/service data.

The software is updated three times a year and can be simply downloaded by subscribers, providing improvements to the number of brands and models covered as well as extensions to the functionality of the system.

The constantly evolving system supports ADAS (advanced driver assisted systems) across truck, bus, coach and LCV

sectors, allowing many extra diagnostic and calibration functions to be performed including those for lane departure, emergency braking and adaptive cruise control systems.

Further flexibility and functionality is demonstrated by the Jaltest PTE, which is a portable device to test trailers that are not connected to a tractor unit.

Connected to the CANbus, this tests and powers ABS or EBS braking systems as well as the lighting circuits.

Further information about Eclipse’s unique customer support structure will feature in tomorrow’s CM Product

Visit www.checkpro.com or call 0114 2212000 |o C m7 o | lou;

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Innovation Daily. You can also visit eclipse-tech.co.uk/ to watch a number of tutorial videos and learn more about the product range.

Truck Door Windows Helping reduce accidents!

Providing drivers with a large field of view increases hazard detection, thus having the potential to reduce the number of incidents.

Direct vision through the side door is at its most beneficial when there is a Vulnerable Road User (VRU) alongside the HGV.

This driver saw her!……

Vision of a HGV driver when turning left can be poor since windscreens and mirrors do not provide a complete view of the entire area surrounding vehicle, creating blind spots.

Over the past 3 years, HGV’s were involved in 20% of pedestrian fatalities and over 70% of cyclist fatalities*.

and this is why...

Single glazed type approved glass bonded into the door to retain structural integrity, prevent condensation and make cleaning easy Installs on all makes and models of truck Available with option to lower passenger cab window without window mechanism being visible through Direct Vision Window † Truck Align London Ltd Unit 21 Schooner Court, Schooner Park, Crossways Business Park, Dartford, Kent. DA2 6NW Tel: +44 (0) 1322 223638 Email: admin@truckalign.co.uk Web: www.truck-door-windows.com

*TfL Di Direct irect Vision vs Indirect Vision

†Subject to make/model of truck

 OPERATIONS

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MAN: NEW D15 ENGINE

MAN’s new D15 engine is smaller, lighter and more efficient than the longstanding D it replaces o does it have what it takes out on the road?

WORDS: COLIN BARNETT / PHOTOS: MAN In the world of truck manufacturing, a brand new engine is a rare occurrence, and when new engines do appear, it’s often the biggest and most powerful ones that get the attention.

MAN, though, is giving the full panoply of publicity to a new middleweight engine designed from a totally clean sheet. First seen at 2018 IAA Show in Hannover, the new D15 engine is now in full-scale production.

The 6-cylinder D15, the arrival of which coincides with the latest Euro-6d emissions standard, replaces the previous D20 unit after a decade and a half of service, and really is all-new from the sump plug upwards. Its 9.0-litre capacity comes from a bore and stroke of 115mm x 145mm, all figures smaller than the D20’s 10.5-litre capacity from 120mm x 155mm.

In case you were wondering if the smaller number in the D15’s name possibly suggests a backward step, MAN’s engine nomenclature actually derives from the second and third digits in the bore size. Three ratings, nominally 330hp/1,600Nm, 360hp/1,700Nm,

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CM PRODUCT INNOVATION DAILY TWO 29 APRIL 2020

and 400hp/1,800Nm, are available in the TGS and TGX models, the 400 filling the gap between the 360hp D20 and the 430hp D26.

Another key number that is smaller is the weight, 860kg dry, which is 230kg lighter than the equivalent D20, giving the new engine a big advantage in payloadcritical operations, while retaining a one million kilometre design life. It’s worth pointing out that in the UK, MAN is still a key player in one of these weight-conscious sectors, ADR tankers, utilising the experience inherited from ERF. The weight reduction was designed in and comes from numerous sources, such as a composite sump and cam cover, and a singlestage turbocharger. In fact, two-stage turbochargers across the engine range have gone, replaced by single wastegate turbochargers up to 400hp and single variable geometry units above. Fuel supply is via a new two-stage filter, giving a longer and more reliable life and requiring less energy-sapping heating in cold conditions. The common-rail system now operates at 2,500 bar, while emissions control is totally SCR, the demise of EGR representing an ironic about-turn for

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those who recall MAN UK’s “Add nothing” campaign at the launch of Euro-4. AdBlue consumption is expected to be 5% to 8% of diesel consumption. MAN was reluctant to be specific about the fuel savings from the new engine, but we did extract an estimated saving of around 2% compared with a D20 under identical conditions.

Other efficiency savings come from ‘smart’ ancillaries, including an intelligent alternator that only charges the battery when the engine is under no-load conditions. Operators now have a choice of three air compressors, according to their operational needs. The basic single-cylinder unit simply turns on and off as required, while a smarter version works in the same way as the alternator, and a 2-cylinder on-off unit is available for high-demand applications.

There are also choices in secondary braking, with the basic EVBec engine brake giving up to 200kW of retardation, a new 350kW Turbo EVBec brake or a 3,500Nm ZF Intarder. The basic engine brake and the Intarder can be combined to give maximum retardation. Power take-off is from one or both of two locations, 11 o’clock and 1 o’clock when looking at the engine from behind. Many of these improvements

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are shared with the D26 engine range, with its three members getting an extra 10hp and 1,000Nm, resulting in new nominal ratings of 430hp, 470hp and 510hp.

Transmission-wise, little has changed, although MAN now seems less sensitive about mentioning the origins of the hardware on its two heavy-duty systems, the 12-speed ZF TraXon or the Scania-derived 12+2.

However, it rightly points out that whichever box you get, the TipMatic operating software is all MAN’s own work. That’s academic when looking at the D15, as the 12+2 box is still only available on 6x2 tractors

with the D26 engine. So the choice for D15 buyers is whether to have your TraXon in the overdrive or direct-drive version, with appropriate final drive ratio.

The TipMatic software, though, comes with a new addition, a DP (drive performance) mode, when you specify the Profi option.When fitted, this is selected by the driver and remains active until switched back to normal drive mode.This only acts on the transmission and provides a gearshift strategy that keeps the engine near its power peak rather than prioritising economy.

Alongside the new engine, MAN trucks also feature some new driving aids, which are covered below.

DRIVING IMPRESSIONS In order to evaluate the D15 in the real world, we spent around 90 minutes in each of three TGSs, an 18-tonne rigid and a couple of middleweight artics, in representative environments. All of the test trucks were equipped with MAN’s new Comfort Steering system. This is fundamentally a speed-sensitive variable assistance system, which ranges from so easy at low speed that an undernourished gerbil could easily turn the wheel to a much firmer feel better suited to highway speeds for your average homo sapiens. It also allows trucks to have Lane Return

NEED TO KNOW

The choice for D15 buyers is whether to have your TraXon in the overdrive or direct-drive version, with appropriate final drive ratio

Assist, the third such system from different brands that we’ve tried recently. When travelling at over 60kph on a road with clear lane markings, if you veer across the lines without indicating, it will gently nudge you back into lane, as will the Volvo and MercedesBenz systems we’ve tried. The MAN seems to have an extra feature in that, if you move across to give space to a stationary vehicle on the hard shoulder, the system will know and won’t steer you back. In any case, if you steer firmly enough to overcome the system pressure, you will easily override it. In use, the system worked as it should, although multiple white and yellow lines in a roadworks contraflow caused it to give up in confusion, signalled by the green “system active” dash light going out.

Another refinement is ACC Stop&Go, which allows the adaptive cruise control to remain active in queuing traffic, even when stationary for up to two seconds, after which it will disengage until the accelerator is pressed to resume progress. The next addition is VAS (video turning assistant system), which has a video screen mounted on the passenger side screen pillar, activating when the nearside indicator is used. It can also incorporate ultrasonic sensing of blind spot intrusions. In truth, it’s very

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similar to the multitude of third-party devices available, but with the benefit of being supplied as part of the new vehicle spec. As normal with such devices, we found it contributing to a degree of information overload, almost to the point of being self-defeating. Finally, there’s EBA2, MAN’s emergency braking system, which takes detection of obstacles to a new level of sensitivity and certainly well beyond legal requirements.

The first TGS to be sampled was the 330hp four-wheeler, with an M day cab and a distribution box body, loaded to maximum GVW. In addition to the standard VAS screen on the nearside A-pillar, this one also featured a 360 degree bird’s-eye view camera mounted on the driver’s A-pillar, with a very smoothly rendered display active at up to 40kph, which should be a great benefit in tight urban delivery situations. Our drive actually took us into a number of small town centres and industrial estates. The Comfort Steering proved effective at low speeds, although we had the feeling that with the extra assistance, the steering ratio could be increased to reduce the amount of arm twirling on roundabouts. Talking of comfort, the steel parabolic front springs gave an impressively soft ride, slightly bouncy on the worst surfaces but a small price to pay to reduce driving stress. The drive progress was

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equally relaxing, the 2.71:1 axle ratio meaning that at 65kph in the direct 12th gear, the engine was happy to roll along at just 900rpm.

Next to be sampled was one of a pair of 400hp 4x2 artics, with very similar specifications to the 18-tonner. This was a 38-tonne distribution vehicle with a tandem axle curtainsider. We took this on a longer drive out into the country, although our route was hampered by our attempts to keep away from the autobahn where it seemed half of northern Europe was passing through Munich en route to the sun. We

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did find enough clear space to gain an impression of the DP mode. When engaged, it certainly helped performance by changing down sooner and changing up later, but it will take a very disciplined or effectively managed driver to resist the temptation to leave it on at the expense of fuel economy. With it turned off, the performance felt quite leisurely by comparison, but used in moderation, it was a definite aid to keeping up with stop-start traffic.

This example had the full-house secondary braking, including an Intarder, which worked very well. Like all versions, one push on the button on

MAN D15 POWER FIGURES Rating Maximum power

Maximum torque

330

326hp (243kW) @ 1,800rpm 1,600Nm @ 1,000-1,400rpm

360

355hp (265kW) @ 1,800rpm 1,700Nm @ 1,000-1,400rpm

400

394hp (294kW) @ 1,800rpm 1,800Nm @ 1,000-1,500rpm

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the end of the right-hand stalk gave maximum retardation, and we particularly liked the way it self-cancelled when we accelerated again.

One thing we didn’t particularly like, however, was the large blind spot behind the driver’s main mirror, not helped by the inner edge of its frame being much thicker than necessary. Hopefully, this will be addressed when the next generation appears.

Our final drive was in a 40-tonne tipper, with the longer L cab and the overdrive version of the TraXon transmission. Apart from its increased desire to drop into 11th gear, the driving experience was as similar as expected. We did get the chance for a bit of off-roading, albeit on disappointingly dry gravel tracks. With off-road mode engaged, the truck moved its 39 tonnes around with no other adjustments, and nothing more dramatic than a bit of wheelspin on a tight uphill bend. It obviously has plenty in reserve, but if that isn’t enough, the hydraulic front-axle option is available.

NEED TO KNOW

The new D15 engine weighs in at 860kg dry, which at 230kg less than the equivalent D20 unit will please those in more weight-conscious sectors

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THANK YOU FOR DELIVERING THE FLOUR THAT HELPS FEED THE NATION

On behalf of the British Nation, we would like to thank all truck drivers and hauliers for continuing to deliver essential goods the length and breadth of the UK. Colin Spurrier Head of Distribution Whitworth Bros. Ltd Flour millers supplying major food brands

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WORDS: WILL SHIERS / PHOTOS: MAN MAN has launched its New Truck Generation TGX, its biggest project since the TGA in 2000.The truck, which is the product of 12 million man hours (1,300 years), features 20,000 new parts. Although the 20-year-old cab shell remains unchanged, all of the external panels have been redesigned. It’s more slippery than its predecessor, which together with its Euro-6d engine makes it up to 8% more fuel efficient than a current generation Euro-6c. You can expect this figure to improve further when the redesigned mirrors are replaced by cameras.

The front of the truck supposedly resembles a lion’s face and MAN says this inspired the gold launch colour.

The biggest changes have occurred inside the cab, which now features a new dashboard and a pair of colour screens.

The primary one, located in front of the driver, comes in a choice of 5” or 12.3”, while the secondary screen is either 7” or 12.3”.

Neither are touchscreen, and are instead controlled by a pair of Smart Select dials.

MAN says it does not consider touchscreens to be suitable for trucks, due to the difficulty of operating them accurately while seated in an air-suspended seat.

The quality of the interior has been stepped up, and the revised switchgear is more tactile than before. A new multifunction steering wheel features two banks of switches.

Those on the left are for driving the truck, while the right ones are dedicated to infotainment. Headlight, hazard light and door lock switches are located on the bottom of the driver’s door, operated from outside the truck when the door is open.

The truck now features a dash-mounted electronic handbrake, but like the dash-mounted screens, in some markets it will be a delete option.

MAN also launched the Individual Line flagship truck, which features a few extra bells and whistles.

It also revealed face-lifted versions of the rest of the range, comprising TGL, TGM and TGS models, all featuring the availability of digital dash screens.

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CM PRODUCT INNOVATION DAILY TWO 29 APRIL 2020