Mercedes Benz

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

Stuttgart, Germany, Sep 08, 2008

* The perfect construction specialist: robust, economical, compatible
with mounted bodies and comfortable
* Numerous new physical protection details make the construction Actros more robust
* The new Mercedes PowerShift Offroad automated transmission offers drivers more safety and comfort, saves fuel and reduces wear
* Application-specific equipment and bodies ex factory

The new Mercedes-Benz Actros for the construction sector is celebrating its world premiere at the 2008 IAA fair. Just as the new Mercedes-Benz Actros is one of Europe's top-class long-distance trucks, the new construction Actros occupies the same position in the construction sector. Already known as a robust workhorse, the construction Actros now benefits from several dozen new features and improvements, and is more perfectly tailored than ever to construction applications.


Physical protection and innovations in the new construction Actros

The new construction Actros has the same, attractive design as the new Actros, but also has numerous additional attributes which allow the vehicle to cope with the rough conditions of a construction site even more capably. This saves annoying and expensive repairs. The new construction Actros e.g. has a four-millimetre thick, high-strength stainless steel guard plate that protects the radiator and engine against damage. Another typical construction-specific feature is the improved, pivoting entry step. This now also gives way to lateral pressure, is corrosion-resistant and can even be retrofitted to the previous models. The pivoting entry step is available in two versions for all-wheel drive and conventionnally driven trucks. Other practical features include the shrouded exterior mirrors, whose robust housings are of impact and scratch-resistant plastic. The protective headlamp grilles are new: these are of steel and effectively protect the lenses and bulbs from damage. The fuel tank, one of the most vulnerable parts of a construction vehicle, is now protected underneath by a guard plate.

The new construction Actros has numerous innovative features such as the ergonomically designed cockpit. It is the first construction truck with a battery status display, the first to feature the rain and light sensor and is equipped with numerous other items for even more driver comfort. Another very important feature for a construction truck is the one-piece handrail, which is now routed across the cab roof for more safety and comfort.

New powertrain with Mercedes PowerShift Offroad automated transmission and economical engines

The new Mercedes PowerShift automated transmission is now available for the construction Actros in a modified configuration and with different, construction-specific functions. A transmission with fast, precise gearchanges is very important on a construction site, as fast shift times and correspondingly short interruptions in tractive power prevent the truck from becoming bogged-down on difficult ground, or from losing speed unnecessarily on steep uphill gradients.

Features that particularly come into their own under the tough conditions of a construction site are well-proven Mercedes PowerShift functions like Manoeuvring mode, Rocking mode and the four reverse gears. The same applies to the fine transmission control made possible by the integrated tilt sensor or the further improved anti-judder control.

To cope with the hard conditions on construction sites, the transmission is fitted with specially developed, particularly robust and durable, forged steel linkages.
The mature OM 501 LA and OM 502 LA engine range is used for the new construction Actros. This range comprises six 11.9 l V6-engines developing 235 kW (320 hp) to 350 kW (476 hp) and three 15.9 l V8-engines with 375 kW (510 hp) to 440 kW (598 hp). These power units with their particularly economical and environmentally friendly BlueTec technology have proved their worth in hundreds of thousands of vehicles.

Bodybuilder compatibility and ex factory bodies

Compatibility for mounted bodies is a major criterion when choosing a vehicle for the construction sector, as special-purpose bodies are used especially frequently. The new construction Actros is ideally suited for this, for example thanks to the adjustable exhaust pipe behind the cab; its height can be quickly and easily adapted to suit the relevant body. It consists of an end section and an intermediate section with two stainless steel clamps, and can be extended to a height of up to four metres. At the same time the direction of the exhaust flow can be adjusted. This adjustability feature does away with the need for awkward retrofit solutions which may not be executed properly. The model series cover a wide range from the construction Actros 4x2 to the construction Actros 8x8, the four-axle variant with all-wheel drive. Bodies and dedicated equipment for major segments of the construction industry are now available ex factory, a case in point being the new dump truck body by Meiller.

Examples of the Mercedes-Benz construction Actros on display at the 2008 IAA

Three dump trucks on display at the fair provide an overview of the Mercedes-Benz Actros construction trucks. An all-wheel drive Actros 1841 AK dump truck with the M-cab and a Meiller three-way dump truck body is representative of the two-axle variants. The Actros 2646 LK 6x4 is an air-sprung, three-axle dump truck with the M-cab and a Meiller three-way tipper body. The top-of-the-range model among the classic dump trucks is an Actros 4148 AK 8x4/4 with the M-cab and a rear dump truck body by Carnehl. Like all the four-axle variants, this has the familiar axle load compensation between the front axles.

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