A perfect fusion of efficiency and performance
MAN now presents its newest flagship, the TGX D38. MAN engineers have designed the high-performance truck for challenging transport tasks and developed a customised driveline with numerous new efficiency features. At its centre is the newly-developed D3876 six-cylinder engine with 15.2 l displacement.
This engine stands for superior power and adds 520, 560 and 640 hp to the TGX model range. The D3876 is a fusion of a whole range of ideas from MAN developers, making it an outstandingly reliable and highly fuel-efficient power unit. It represents MAN’s sheer engine skills – from Rudolf Diesel’s design, incredible evolutionary steps have turned diesel technology into an essential power source for commercial vehicles.
The MAN TGX D38 will be launched at IAA Nutzfahrzeuge 2014 in Hanover. The first-customer vehicles will be rolled out simultaneously.
Powerful driveline
MAN’s new flagship resumes MAN’s focus on total cost of ownership (TCO): the MAN TGX D38 does not set new records in terms of horsepower, but combines extraordinary performance with utmost efficiency.
The two-stage-turbocharging makes full torque available at 930 rpm. The powerful torque of the D3876 engine is ideal for all axle ratios, from short axles for traction vehicles to the highest-geared axles for long-haul trucks. The TGX D38 is therefore predestined for extraordinarily efficient long-haul driving at low speeds. The maximum torques of 2,500 Nm (520 hp), 2,700 Nm (560 hp) and 3,000 Nm (640 hp heavy-duty) are fully available in all gears.
MAN has developed the 15.2 litre series six-cylinder D3876 to be an extremely reliable and highly efficient truck diesel engine for the most demanding transport tasks. The new engine brings together numerous design features, all of which focus on lowering TCO throughout the life of the vehicle, besides offering structural reliability and durability, as well as low fuel consumption and engine maintenance.
The company has also incorporated a new generation of safety and assistance system into the TGX D38. The EfficientCruise – the GPS-controlled cruise control system – analyses the inclines and downhill sections ahead and adjusts the vehicle’s speed to save as much fuel as possible. EfficientCruise uses integrated 3D maps to detect inclines and downhill sections in the current route. Using EfficientCruise in long-haul or distribution transport can lower fuel consumption by up to six per cent without losing time on the route. This device provides valuable support for the driver on long routes, taking the challenging task of driving efficiently by giving an idea of the gradients ahead, even for hours at a time.
The Emergency Brake Assist (EBA) comes as standard with the MAN TGX D38. Its aim is to prevent or lessen the impact of serious rear-end collisions on motorways and highways. Around 32 per cent of all truck accidents fall into this category. EBA recognises moving vehicles and stationary objects on the route by means of a centrally-mounted radar sensor on the front of the vehicle. If the driver fails to react to warnings, the device independently initiates emergency braking. The Electronic Stability Program (ESP) of the trucks also controls the trailer brakes.
Further, MAN has made the Lane Guard System (LGS) even more driver-focused, and the Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) automatically adapts the vehicle speed on motorways and dual carriageways and maintains a defined safety gap.
The TGX D38 model range
The range of extremely powerful TGX models is a reflection of its versatility: it is available in right- or left-hand drive and can be used in conjunction with XL, XLX and XXL cabs. MAN offers its customers a wide range of axle configurations for semitrailer tractors and chassis for bodies. Long-haul and traction customers can choose semitrailer tractors and chassis with 4×2 leaf/air suspension and 4×2 full air suspension. The three-axles offer more permissible overall weight as 6×2 with leading and trailing axles.
As 6×4 with tandem-axle drive, the MAN TGX D38 offers optimum traction for semi-trailer tractors and traction chassis. The four-axle heavy-duty vehicles are equipped as 8×4/4 with three rear axles for a gross weight of up to 41 tons and gross train weight of 250 tons.
Heavy duty transport
Heavy duty transportation is another core application for the TGX D38. MAN offers the highest power level of the TGX D38 for this segment: 560 and 640 hp.
The MAN D38 heavy-duty trucks use a converter-clutch unit for power transmission, connected to the MAN TipMatic 2 gearbox. This combination lets the D38 take to the roads smoothly with unstoppable force at the maximum 3,000 Nm torque. The idle speed driving function of the new MAN TipMatic 2 ensures optimum driving for heavy duty vehicles when shunting and operating at crawl speed.
The newly developed high-performance Turbo EVB (exhaust valve brake) is ideal for use in the heavy duty sector and will therefore be put into operation in this field first. It offers extremely high braking power of 600 kW, with continuous use facilitated by its marginal demands on the cooling system.
At IAA 2014 MAN will be presenting a 41.640 8×4/4 D38 heavy duty tractor with a gross train weight of up to 250 tons.
Image courtesy: Richard Kienberger, Foto Text