START THE NEW GENERATION
Words: Jack Sunderland
O
ften, 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 18
DAF DRIVER AUTUMN 2021
Photographs: DAF Trucks
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
