KING OF THE ROAD

The traffic was bumper to bumper, and in the last few months before the NorthConnex tunnel took over from the infamous Pennant Hills Rd, in Sydney’s North. It was Friday afternoon at the end of a 1000 km round trip road test at the wheel of Mercedes-Benz, latest Actros and the last thing a B-Double driver wants to hit is an hour of crawling, ever stopping traffic, stuttering its way from traffic light to traffic light.

In just about any other truck that scenario would have been a painful test of patience and temperament. However after a solid day at the wheel of the Actros we were able to remain fairly sanguine about the task. The comfort, quietness, user friendly controls and the revolutionary new technology MirrorCams made the hour long idle speed crawl, along this thoroughly clogged major artery a great deal easier to endure than it would have been in an older truck.

The test of the newly updated Actros had started the day before and we had piloted the new Actros 2663 pulling a B-Double set, tipping the scales at 47 tonnes, north from Sydney up the Pacific Highway to Coffs Harbour.

The Pacific is a natural environment for B-doubles these days with most Sydney Brisbane freight operators taking the ‘coast’ road in preference to the New England, given it is largely dual carriageway and will be totally motorway conditions by early in 2021. So it seemed logical to do a return trip in the new Actros up the Pacific and back.

This ‘new-gen’ (or is it a ‘re-gen’?) Actros is similar in many ways to the Actros launched here in 2016. The cab and driveline are largely the same as that all new Actros from four years ago, but there have been a number of new features added and some important updates to the spec with this latest update. The MirrorCam is clearly the headline new technology debuted with the new Actros, largely because it is so new and different to anything that came before it in terms of rear vision for drivers.

However there are a whole lot of other features that make the latest Actros a very complete proposition on the road.

Climb up into the Actros cabin and get behind the wheel and the first thing

MERCEDES-BENZ HAS ENJOYED A REPUTATION FOR PRODUCING ADVANCED ENGINEERING, PERFORMANCE AND SAFETY SINCE GOTTLIEB DAIMLER AND KARL BENZ PRODUCED THE FIRST REAL AUTOMOBILE 135 YEARS AGO. THAT TRADITION HAS BEEN CONTINUED IN THE TRUCK ARENA WITH THE LATEST MERCEDES BENZ ACTROS WHICH HAS TAKEN A REALLY GREAT TRUCK AND MADE IT EVEN BETTER. WE HIT THE PACIFIC HIGHWAY FOR A TWO DAY ROAD TEST OF THE LATEST MIRRORCAM EQUIPPED ACTROS AND CAME AWAY IMPRESSED.

you notice is that there are no big door mirrors blocking your vision through the door windows. Only once they have been removed do you realise just how much blind spot is created looking forward to the right and left of the truck. Instead the two vertical display screens, on the inside of the A pillars, deliver a crisp and crystal clear picture of what is going on aft of the cabin, but more of that later.

There is no doubt the Daimler driveline is, if not the smoothest and best matched on the market in heavy trucks, then it is damn close. Although at 47 tonnes the new Actros was a little shy of a full B-double load, it was still a substantial load and probably a weight that many operators run at up and down the Pacific every night.

A mid-morning departure meant we had the best of the M7 and Pennant Hills Rd and quickly escaped Sydney’s suburbs for a run up the M1 Motorway heading to Newcastle and beyond. The Daimler 15.6 litre pulls beautifully from standstill and with the PowerShift 12 automated manual shifting efficiently, quietly and quickly shuffling up through the ratios the engine delivers on both efficiency and performance.

The big Benz straight six pumps out 625 hp and 3000 Nm of torque in its Euro 6 guise, which it delivers with such smoothness, urge and willingness that it makes it a pleasure to drive, instilling confidence in the driver, making you feel like it could tackle just about anything.

As we hit the insistent and consistent climb up from the Hawkesbury on the M1 the smoothness and willing power and torque delivery coupled with that slick shifter produced an impressive climbing performance. Although we were only grossing 47 tonnes it is still a decent load and a very decent performance.

On the flat of the freeway past Wyong and heading for Newcastle, the Actros just hummed along with no fuss, delivering incredibly quiet running and impressive economy.

Mercedes has well and truly embraced the ‘down speeding’ concept with its engines and is reaping the rewards of it in some exceptional fuel economy. This is all about lower engine revs, and using technology like the predictive cruise control to harness momentum and gravity off the hills, to lower engine revs and fuel usage.

Unfortunately for us, the GPS-assisted Predictive Powertrain Control cruise was not fitted because it was ordered specifically on this truck. Even so we had an eye on the economy and worked away at buttoning off as we crested known hills and letting the truck glide downhill using the 47 tonne mass to roll as far as possible before easing back on to the throttle to maintain a consistent road speed.

The PPC is meant to, through a combination of ‘learning’ routes and using GPS data know where hills are and manage the cruise control functions to maximise fuel economy and efficiency. We’ve experienced it on an earlier ‘test’ version of the Actros in Melbourne last year and it is impressive, but we would like another crack at it on an intercity drive at some stage.

Our efforts still netted us fuel economy of just on 2.0km/litre on the way up the Pacific and on the way back we bettered 2.1km/litre closing in on 2.2litre/km at times. We were pretty impressed with this because the truck was still able to maintain a good clip and averaged good speed on the highway.

Again part of the good fuel economy and also the low wind noise can be put down to the MirrorCam system, without that big rectangular plate of steel and glass jutting out into the breeze the wind noise is dramatically reduced as is the drag, which after all were the primary reasons to develop the system.

At cruise with the speed held on just under 100km/h the engine was ticking over at just 1450rpm, with the 12 speed sitting in overdrive top. The truck’s 3.583:1 diff ratio was also doing its job, keeping those revs low and using the flexibility and torque of the 630hp 16 litre to maintain a high gear as long as possible.

The MirrorCams have divided opinion and it seems you are either for or against them depending largely on your ability to embrace new technology and concepts. We love them and find them a huge leap forward in helping drivers to be safer and more aware of what is around them.

One of the things we really like is the ‘digital’ indicator bars shown on the mirror display, which can be configured by the driver to suit their own preferences. In short the lines on the bottom of the mirror show the driver the exact end of the trailer and other lines can indicate distances back from that, so the driver can set them to say 50 metres, 100 metres or whatever. This means you can easily judge how far behind other vehicles following really are. It is very clever.

The other benefit is the wide angle they provide and the fact that they alter the range of focus when the truck turns, so you aren’t looking at the side of the tautliner and you can actually see the very rear of the last trailer. This came in handy when starting up in Coffs on the second day, when negotiating the tight departure road from the road house we stopped overnight at. The MirrorCam showed us just how close the rig was as we manoeuvred our way around some parked cars, giving us confidence that we could thread the needle without strife.

Some have been critical of the MirrorCam for backing, but it hasn’t been our experience. We had no issue backing using the new technology.

One thing some have questioned about MirrorCam is the potential for damage with a complex camera jutting out on a wing above each door. However the reality is the wings are hinged and designed to fold in if hit, while the cameras are well and truly recessed into the wings. Benz people tell us that in the unlikely occurrence of actually damaging a wing then it is easily and cost effective to change, cheaper in fact than replacing a traditional mirror and we all know that can be a costly experience.

The MirrorCam is an optional extra that apparently will cost between about $4000 and $5000, which is a fair whack, but if you factor in the reduction in fuel consumption and the resulting cost savings at the diesel pump it wouldn’t take too long to make the cost back.

It will be interesting to see the take up of the MirrorCam but if it was our call we’d be ticking that box straight away.

The superb ride comfort and road manners that are delivered ensure that driver fatigue is minimised, while its excellent steering and consistent and predictable tracking, no matter what the road surface, makes the Actros a treat to drive. This came into its own as the afternoon wore on and we neared Coffs. It wasn’t a particularly long drive, but when you are at the wheel of the Actros it just feels like you could go all day.

Inside the cabin the impressive dash and multi-media display gives the driver all the information and interface you need. It is a system that is being adapted across all strands of the Mercedes Benz world. if you jumped out of the Actros and into a new Benz E300 sedan or a Sprinter van, then the dash, multi-media display and various interfaces pretty much carry across all of the vehicle types and underneath the electrical architecture. It is very different to the way truck dashes have been executed in the past and that is not a bad thing. The Benz engineers have done a great job with this and it is very easy and safe to use.

Both the instrument layout in front of the driver and the multi-media display are tablet style LCD screens that are vivid and easy to use and read. The instruments in front of the driver show a digital ‘glass cockpit’ style display as they say in the aviation industry. Front and centre is a large round speedo ‘analogue style’ display that shows speed on one side and a tachometer reading on the other, with a large digital speed readout in the middle. Other info, such as odometer and trip readouts, fuel efficiency, air brake reservoir readings, time of day, fuel and ad blue gauges, a gear indicator, a display of what radio station or audio you are listening to and cruise control indicator are all there. The screen can be configured different ways for the driver to decide which is easiest for them.

That might all sound a bit fussy and unclear but the layouts are really easy to read and you can change the info on display using the easy to use control on the right hand spoke of the steering wheel.

Move your gaze across to the left hand ‘wing’ of the cockpit and you will be focussed on the multi-media screen that controls all of the audio, navigation, the extensive interior lighting options and also the HVAC functions and the parameters for the MirrorCam including dialling in the correct trailer length.

The nifty thing here is that you can control the info and functions via either touching the icons on the screen, swiping across it to see other icons, or using the buttons at the bottom of the screen or via a similar control pad on the left hand spoke of the steering wheel. Bottom line is it is easy to read, easy to use and above all safe.

Wands on both sides of the steering column control the windscreen wipers and washers on the left side, while on the right the rotary gear selector as well as the retarder are at the driver’s fingertips and easily operated.

The park brake is another feature from the Benz passenger car design portfolio while the push button starter is also a Daimler family design. The remote control key fob is a proximity switch, so access can be gained just by having the key in your pocket. There is also a really handy ‘light check’ function that allows the driver to check all the trucks lights with one easy button push. Very convenient.

Cruising the Pacific with a quiet and very comfortable Actros and the superb audio system playing some good music was our idea of a great way to spend a couple of days. The audio system fills the cabin with superb sound and with such low ambient noise it is very easy to take. It also has a very easy to use and link Bluetooth phone interface so that makes work a whole lot easier as well.

The Actros cabin is large and comfortable with a wide flat floor that makes it easy to spread out, stretch, get changed or dressed after a night in the bunk or to move across to the SoloStar ‘armchair’ on the passenger side cabin to fulfil some paperwork.

SoloStar is a different take on sleeper bunks with an 850mm wide fold down inner sprung mattress equipped bed. The ‘armchair’/lounge is set back into the back, left hand corner of the cab with the wraparound style seat allowing a passenger to travel in with a seatbelt. As mentioned it can be used by the driver to sit back and relax, read, watch something on the lap top or tablet or either eat or do paperwork at the fold down table.

To convert the system to a bed the back of the4 seat is folded down and then the bunk is folded into place. We have to admit we didn’t stay on board during our trip in the Actros. A work writing backlog meant we stayed in a motel, but next time we have resolved to stay in the Motel Actros.

The lighting controls and range of ambient, low impact or almost flood like brightness, allows you to get the right level no matter what you need, and it is easy to use.

By the time we saddled up early the next morning for the return trip to Sydney, drizzling rain was falling on the concrete carriageway of the Pacific. However the sure footedness and excellent steering and tracking of the Actros gave a feeling of confidence and aplomb.

About six hours later as we motored off the M1 motorway into that Pennant Hills Rd traffic jam, we quickly realised that a trip like that in an older truck would have been a lot harder to take, particularly that last slow, creeping traffic ordeal.

Some may decry new technology in trucks and prefer ‘simpler’, old style, low tech trucks, but I would reckon anyone who makes those statements usually hasn’t had the chance to drive a new age machine like the latest gen Actros.

There is no doubt that a truck like the Actros delivers the driver and their load with a lot less stress, fatigue and with a whole lot more safety and efficiency

It is in our view a truck that leads the pack in terms of its performance, ease of operation, safety and efficiency and with the new age technology like the MirrorCam, and the PPC it is clear the Actros is very much King of the Road.