Mercedes Benz

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

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Successful model series improved even further with respect to economy, comfort, safety and design
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Further improved, automated PowerShift transmission as standard
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BlueTec engines successful in upwards of 100,000 trucks – 700,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions avoided
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Comfort, safety and economy packages for the new Actros
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The new Actros excels with an emotional and practical design

Stuttgart/Wörth am Rhein – The new Mercedes-Benz Actros is at the starting line. The third generation of this vehicle family has been further improved with 37 individual measures relating to economy, comfort, safety and design. As a first in this market segment, the fully automated Mercedes PowerShift transmission is now standard equipment. This further underlines the leadership claim of the Actros, which has become the industry trendsetter since its launch in 1996 and is now the most successful heavy truck model with sales of 550,000 vehicles in more than 100 countries.
The Mercedes PowerShift transmission has been developed further, and is standard equipment in all on-road versions of the new Actros. This makes Mercedes-Benz the first commercial vehicle manufacturer to offer a fully auto­mated manual transmission as standard in a heavy truck. Mercedes PowerShift combines the manual transmission with control electronics which perform numerous operating functions in addition to automated gearshifts and clutch operation. The practical benefit for the customer is more comfortable, economical and safe driving. In increasingly dense traffic, automated gearshifts are a further contribution to greater safety. The new Actros is powered by highly successful and economical BlueTec engines in six output classes from 235 kW (320 hp) to 350 kW (476 hp) with V6-engines, and in three output classes from 375 kW (510 hp) to 440 kW (598 hp) with V8-engines. BlueTec uniquely combines econo­my with ecology. The Mercedes-Benz BlueTec trucks already in worldwide opera­tion have so far saved around 300 million litres of diesel fuel and spared the environment 700,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions. The engines are already available in the Euro 5 version legally prescribed from autumn 2009.
Once again the new Actros sets the standard where comfort is concerned. For the first time in a truck, there is now a level control system to ensure that the (upper) luxury berth remains horizontal. This makes a refreshing night’s sleep possible even on uneven road surfaces. The lower berth now also has a flexible, high-comfort slatted frame. The further improved, temperature-controlled auxiliary air conditioning system ensures constant temperatures and a healthier interior climate. The improved steering of the semitrailer tractors with air suspension is even more direct, ensuring better directional stability and less sensitivity to rutted road surfaces. Accordingly it not only contributes to comfort, but also to greater safety. As a "living-room" the Actros is even more practical with its large, swing-out shaving mirror, the easily erected folding table and two towel/clothing racks. The new Actros is available in Germanywith a choice of " Basic", "Classic" or "Top" comfort packs, all of which improve the driver’s wellbeing and physical/mental fitness. In addition to improving comfort and safety, these additional comfort packs help to make the driver identify with his workplace. Cleaning the cab is made easy by a compressed air connection.
Most of the comfort-related improvements also help to increase driving safety. In the new Actros the safety support systems are now offered in the graduated Safety Packs, the Classic Safety Pack or the Top Safety Pack. The Top Safety Pack includes all the systems currently available, including the unrivalled Active Brake Assist. The Mercedes-Benz Bank AG as well the the insurer Allianz are offering truck insurances that rewards operators who install safety systems.
Operators working with particularly tight cost control can invest in the so-called Economy Packs when ordering their new Actros. The Economy Pack Classic, for example, comprises automatic cutouts, adjustable air deflectors and a Voith retarder, which has a positive effect on brake wear and improves both ride comfort and safety on long downhill gradients. For the semitrailer tractor this is supplemented with a low-maintenance or compact fifth-wheel coupling. For drop­siders the Economy Pack features an auxiliary air reservoir and a particularly lightweight aluminium air tank. The Economy Pack are initially only avai­lable for the German market.
The new Mercedes-Benz Actros is both emotionally appealing and practical in design. The front end of the new Actros is decidedly dynamic: in contrast to the preceding model, the sides of the radiator grille now curve gently and harmo­niously extend to the sun visor. The number of louvres in the radiator grille has been reduced, however these are now much more prominent in shape and have a dynamic contour thanks to upward-pointing wings at the ends. The chrome centre­­piece underlines the impression of quality and lightness. At the lower end, the front-end rests on a new front apron which has the appearance of a discreet spoiler with three apertures and a counter-running tangent, once again suggesting power and solid roadholding.
Production will commence in July of this year. The new Mercedes-Benz Actros will be pre­sented to the general public for the first time at the International Commercial Vehicle Show in Hanover.