DAF Trucks has unleashed it’s all-new flagship XF heavy truck. Presented to crowds during September’s IAA Show in Hanover, the Dutch manufacturer said the vehicle has been developed to give optimum efficiency and the highest levels of driver comfort.
The new XF has a completely new chassis, new drivelines including the new Euro 6 PACCAR MX engines, a new exterior design and an overhauled interior.
The manufacturer said it was never the company’s objective to be the first on the market with Euro 6 solutions. Instead, it took its time to ensure it meets the Euro 6 requirements in the best way possible – practical, well-thought-through and with the highest level of product quality.
The new PACCAR MX-13 Euro 6 engine can be supplied with outputs of 410, 460 bhp and 510 bhp, with high torque outputs from 2000-2500 Nm, available across a broad engine speed range (1000-1425 rpm). DAF said a key principle when developing the new driveline was to keep fuel consumption at the same low level as that of the current Euro 5 ATe engines, without compromising durability (its design life is 1.6 million km) and vehicle availability (service intervals are quoted as up to 150,000 km).
The Euro 6 PACCAR MX engines are linked to redesigned manual and automated 12- and 16-speed PACCAR gearboxes, produced by ZF. The new functionalities of the automated transmissions include EcoRoll and Fast Shift, which improve driving comfort and further reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. The same applies to the new rear axles that have new, longer final-drive ratios for lower engine speeds.
The new XF offers several innovations as part of DAF’s Advanced Transport Efficiency (ATe) programme. Included in the package is the Driver Performance Assistant, which uses the central display on the dashboard to provide the driver with advice to improve fuel efficiency (for example, by recommending shifts to higher gears).
Also new are the seats, steering wheel, dashboard display and switches. DAF is also claiming the XF offers unequalled interior space, which has resulted from installing the engine and cooling system in the chassis. This means the height of the cab floor has remained virtually the same, increasing by just 3 cm to 1.47 m.
DAF reckons the low cab floor makes the XF Super Space Cab the most spacious cab on the market, with a total volume of 12.6 m3.
Safety has also been improved. The truck has one-piece door windows, tweaked mirror configuration and position to reduce blindspots, plus Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and Forward Collision Warning (FCW) systems.
The manufacturer stated an Advanced Emergency Braking System (AEBS) will become available later next year, which is designed to brake the vehicle independently from the driver and bring the truck to a complete stop if necessary in an emergency situation.
On the outside, a great deal has changed. The exterior has new lower and upper grilles, a chrome panel sporting the DAF logo, optimised air flows for cooling, a new galvanised steel bumper, completely redesigned lighting (including headlight units with LED lighting – a first for the truck industry), plus new mudguards, side fenders, sideskirts and roof spoiler.
The new XF will go into production during the spring of 2013.
