Million-pound Mercedes-Benz truck for Plant Speed 18 March 2013

Heavy haulage specialist Plant Speed is running the most expensive truck ever sold by Mercedes-Benz in the UK – an Actros Titan that, together with its Scheuerle modular equipment, represents an investment by the Bristol-based company of more than £1 million.

Supplied by South West dealer City West Commercials, the 8x4 Actros 4165S has a flat-floored MegaSpace cab and is powered by a 650bhp 16-litre V8 engine. It is also the firm's first 250-tonner.

That is mated to a Mercedes PowerShift automated transmission that works in conjunction with Voith's new turbo clutch.

The truck was specified with a full complement of options and cost some £220,000, while the bill for the German-built trailer – which can be coupled with up to 10 axle lines – came in at £800,000.

Managing director Paul Lomas says the truck is already opening the door to new business. "We can now transport equipment on behalf of wind turbine manufacturers and steel industry customers, for example, that weighs in excess of 200 tonnes," he explains.

"The new transmission means the truck is also very easy to drive. It's highly sensitive, so low speed manoeuvrability is excellent, while the automated gearbox is also a lot smoother than a manual," he adds.

The 16-speed transmission and turbo clutch combination has replaced the manual transmission and torque converter clutch previously installed on Titan heavy haulage models.

This arrangement required a separate retarder for additional braking, but this is no longer needed, because the turbo clutch has its own integrated retarder.

According to Mercedes-Benz, as well as freeing up space on the chassis and saving weight, the turbo clutch is wear-free, more fuel-efficient, and offers finer control characteristics when pulling away and during low-speed manoeuvring under heavy loads.

It is capable of handling and delivering some 3,000Nm of torque, more than a traditional torque converter.

Author
John Challen

Related Companies
Mercedes-Benz UK Ltd

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