Buses Commercial Vehicles Events IAA 2014 Trucks

MAN presenting a wide range of state-of-the-art trucks and buses at the IAA Commercial Vehicles

September 25, 2014
motorindia

Efficiency and passion – MAN at the IAA 2014

New truck and bus technologies save fuel and provide added safetyMAN will be presenting a wide range of state-of-the-art trucks and buses at the IAA Commercial Vehicles in Hanover, the leading trade fair for mobility, transportation and logistics. The full diversity of MAN Truck & Bus models will be awaiting visitors to the fair over an area of some 10,000 square meters. Fuel efficiency is the central theme of the new models that MAN will be presenting at the IAA. Innovative technology has reduced fuel consumption on the part of trucks and buses, resulting in lower running costs on the one hand and fewer emissions on the other.
Flagship with a new heartDuring MAN´s appearance at the IAA, attention will centre on its top-of-the-range TGX D38 truck, which will be celebrating its public debut in Hanover. Delivering outputs of 520, 560 and 640 hp, the new flagship rounds off the high end of MAN´s family of vehicles. This top model offers a tailored powertrain with numerous new efficiency features and is predestined for demanding transport tasks. At the heart of the vehicle lies the newly developed D38 six-cylinder inline engine with a displacement of 15.2 liters. This power unit stands for masterful power delivery, equipping the TGX D38 with maximum traction to meet all needs – without striving to break any records in terms of horsepower. Instead, MAN engineers have focused their attention on reliability, efficiency and low running costs.MAN_D38_Traction

The new MAN TGX EfficientLine 2

The new MAN TGX EfficientLine 2 also reflects this philosophy. All efficiency technologies are included as standard on-board features MAN_EfficientLine– notably predictive EfficientCruise cruise control, torque-enhancing TopTorque and a more powerful version of MAN TeleMatics. MAN´s TGX EfficientLine is the most successful model on the market, being systematically designed to save fuel. Since their market launch in 2010, more than 27,000 customers have opted for highly-economic EfficientLine models and packages.

EfficientCruise – predictive GPS-based cruise control

By installing EfficientCruise in all heavy-duty trucks, as well as coaches, MAN makes a significant contribution to reducing CO2 in commercial vehicles. This GPS-based cruise control calculates approaching upward or downward inclines by analyzing 3D map data and the position of the vehicle. It predicts and automatically controls the speed required on uphill and downhill stretches in such a way that the vehicle´s momentum is used to save fuel. Using this system, a fully-laded 40-ton truck can realize fuel savings of up to six percent, without losing any time en route.

Together with other efficiency technologies, such as torque-enhancing TopTorque or the special gearbox functions offered by MAN´s TipMatic 2, customers have access to a wide range of fuel-saving technologies.

“Prize” buses

MAN will also be presenting a new version of its top bus model, the NEOPLAN Skyliner. From June 2015, a Euro 6 version of this coach will be available, which will then have the lowest CO2 emissions per passenger in this class of vehicles. With its award-winning design, the double-decker offers seating for up to 83 people. The model to be shown at the fair is fully accessible and offers two spaces for wheelchair users.

MAN_Skyliner
NEOPLAN Skyliner

Also on show will be the newly-acclaimed Bus of the Year 2015, the MAN Lion’s City GL CNG. This natural-gas-powered city bus impressed the jury of international trade journalists with its extremely eco-friendly, powerful, yet economic drive system. Natural-gas buses are not only more environmentally-benign than diesel-powered buses, but are also approx. 15% cheaper to maintain and operate over their entire life cycle.

 

MAN_Lions_City_GL
Bus of the Year 2015 the MAN Lion’s City GL CNG

 

Hybrid and natural gas – alternative drives for tomorrow´s trucks

Finally, MAN will provide visitors to the fair with a glimpse into the future of commercial vehicles. Based on the MAN TGX Hybrid concept, MAN will for the first time be showing a hybrid-drive system for long-distance transport. In this case, a diesel engine acts as the primary source of power, while an additional drive system operated by an electric motor opens up the possibility of recovering, storing and reusing braking energy. Most freight kilometers are driven on long-haul stretches so that, compared with all other hybrid vehicle applications, the overall potential for reducing CO2 is largest in this sector. Since the electric motor serves merely as a backup for the diesel engine, this gives rise to a lean, weight-saving system whose hybrid components weigh about 400 kilograms.

MAN_Hybrid

In the case of distribution transport, however, other forms of drive offer a preferable alternative. As a result, MAN is expanding its portfolio of CNG vehicles and from 2014 onwards, will also be adding trucks with CNG drive to its existing range of natural-gas-powered city buses. At the IAA 2014, MAN will be offering a preview of CNG technology in trucks based on a TGM distribution chassis. These vehicles can, for instance, be used in the municipal sector, as delivery vehicles in the retail trade or as parcel delivery trucks. The advantages offered, especially in urban areas, include the fact that trucks powered by natural gas are not only much more eco-friendly, but also quieter. A TGM with CNG drive is up to 3dB(A) quieter in terms of both interior noise and pass-by noise during acceleration. This figure means that for human ears, the vehicle is about half as loud. And, as in the case of buses, the benefits of economic efficiency also have an impact, with fuel costs falling by up to 35 percent.

Assistants for added safety

Based on many years of accident research, MAN has specifically improved the active safety of its trucks and buses. This has given rise to today´s assistance systems that are available as standard features and support drivers in precisely those situations which have proved to be the most frequent causes of accidents, namely Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Emergency Brake Assist (EBA) and Lane Guard System (LGS).

Apart from the systems already available as standard features on show at the IAA, MAN researchers will also be offering a preview of systems on which they are currently focusing with the aim of supporting drivers in other accident-prone driving situations. These will act as an extended “electronic eye” for the driver who, from the cabin, has no direct view of certain points around his vehicle. All these systems are conceptual prototypes illustrating the present status of MAN´s research in the field of active safety. They include a lane change assistant for multi-lane highways, a turn-off assistant for turning right in urban traffic, as well as a camera system which, in future, will replace a number of various side mirrors and be able to combine the surrounding traffic flow into a single picture.

Bestseller made by MAN Latin America

MAN ranks among the most innovative manufacturers in the commercial vehicle sector not only in Europe, but also in Latin America. This will be clearly demonstrated by the VW Constellation 24.280 to be exhibited at the IAA – made by MAN Latin America, it is Brazil´s best-selling truck. With its four axles, it can now transport additional loads of up to six tons, while the six-speed automatic transmission makes it highly economic. The facilities offered inside the driver´s cab show that environmental protection meanwhile plays a role in South America too. Parts previously made from plastic – such as door handles and floor mats – have been replaced by fittings made from sustainable, eco-friendly materials.

Very close to the customer – with MAN Solutions

MAN Solutions stands for a service network offering customers valuable opportunities to reduce costs. At the IAA, MAN will be showing numerous innovations in this sector, one example being the new Connected CoDriver service provided by MAN ProfiDrive. This consists of distance training over periods of between one week and three months, during which a trainer supports the driver by essentially acting as a virtual co-driver.