Multicar is a small German company that is specialized in multifunctional equipments. Multicar’s lineup consists of three models namely the Fumo, M27 and Tremo.
The Multicar Fumo is a compact and versatile utilitarian vehicle. The Fumo features three attachment points that permits it fast conversions for over 100 possible implements. Thanks to its flexible and versatile character, the Fumo can be converted for various applications with just a few manual operations.
The vehicle is available in both Single and Crew cab configurations and is powered by a 145 turbo diesel engine which is compliant with the latest Euro 5 emission norms. You can also choose between short and long wheelbases or between 4 x 2 and 4 x 4 drive configurations.
In the world of trucking there are a few brands which are instantly put into the “not good” category and don’t even get the chance to prove themselves. Of course that everyone loves the well known and proven European models from DAF, Mercedes, MAN and so on, but what about the less known trucks? Are those trucks that bad to deserve to be treated with ignorance?
Let’s take a closer look at Tata’s Novus model, which is part of the heavy duty league and it’s the first Indian truck that passed the 300 hp barrier and went against the legendary European giants.
After has acquired the truck section from Daewoo, the first model launched by Tata was the Novus. The new truck is based on the Daewoo Novus model which is sold in South Korea.
The Tata Novus features a cab over engine configuration and is available in a wide range of version being able to suit various heavy duty applications. The truck is powered by a Cummins C8 engine which develops between 320 and 420 hp.
The BMC Professional is a highly versatile range of commercial vehicles designed for medium and heavy duty applications. The BMC Professional is available with both sleeper and day cabs and comes with a cab over engine configuration.
The truck has a payload of up to 50000 kg and it’s powered by a range of Cummins engines which develop a maximum output of 410 hp and 2000 Nm of torque. The BMC professional is also offered with a choice of 4x2 and 6x4 axle configurations which makes it eligible for a wide range of jobs.
Foden has started to build trucks back in 1856 but after a history of 150 years the production was halted.
A significant milestone in the company history was the year 1980 when it became a division of Paccar Inc and has started to build models with its new partner. The last truck built by Foden and Paccar was named the Alpha and it was a cabover engine model powered by Cummins engines. The truck was sold in UK and New Zeeland until July 2006 when the company retired from truck production.
The Foden Alpha had a pretty versatile nature and thanks to its flexible chassis and the wide range of axle configurations it was suited for various heavy duty applications.
At the moment, the company continues to supply spare parts and service for its old trucks throughout the UK.
Despite being recently facelifted, the first generation of the Tatra Terrno is still sold along side with the new model. While the new versions received a fresher design, the old Terrno continues to look dated and features a pretty spartan cab.
The truck was built for extreme conditions and it features a high ground clearance and heavy duty axles which permits it to tackle the harshest terrains with poise.
At the heart of the Tatra Terrno 1 sits a directly air-cooled Tatra on Airtm engine which offers plenty of power and torque to play with. To suit a wide range of applications, the medium duty Terrno 1 is available in 4x4, 6x4, 6x6 and 8x8 configurations.
The Tatra Jamal is a three-axle truck with conventional cab configuration which is available as a tipper or construction dump designed to tackle the most difficult construction sites.
This vehicle is part of the heavy duty category engineered for off-road operation and off-road transport of loads. The truck’s body volume is 14 m3 with a payload of approximately 24 t. The Jamal can be also driven or public roads, but the signaling lights must be permanently on.
Powered by a 12 litre, air cooled, turbocharged V8, 440 hp diesel engine the Jamal has the potential to deal with the biggest payloads and the hardest working conditions without backing down.
In 2009 the old Tatra Terrno 1 benefitted from a small facelift, as it received improved aerodynamics and a host of technical upgrades.
The Terrno 1 features a cab over engine configuration and is offered with a choice of 4x4, 6x4, 6x6 and 8x8 drives. Due to its versatile character, the medium duty truck can be used for various applications on any terrains as its King Frame combined suspension (mechanical leaf or coil springs and high-pressure air bellows) gives it capable off road abilities.
The T 810 is a cab over engine medium duty truck with a highly versatile character. Thanks to its wide range of versions, the Tatra T810 can be used for various applications and makes duties even in war zones as a military vehicle. Tatra designers combined a ladder frame with rigid portal axles to offer the truck a very high ground clearance which gives it capable off road abilities.
The vehicle is offered with two wheelbase lengths and a three-point superstructure mounting system which is combined with gross vehicle weights of up to 27.5 tonnes. Thanks to its versatile nature and the generous payload capacity, the Tatra T 810 also offers the possibility to be equipped with special superstructures or various bodies.
For Tatra it was very hard to survive to the difficult economic conditions and had also need to face a very strong competition coming from its European drivers. Luckily, in 2011 DAF acquired 19% ownership in TATRA and now it also supplies engines and cabs for the Czech manufacturer.
Tatra’s main product is now sold globally under the name of Phoenix. The Tatra Phoenix is part of the heavy duty league and can carry massive loads on both regular roads or on harsh terrains.
The truck features a unique chassis design which requires no sub-frame for affixing tipper body. This translates into more payload capacity hence lower costs per km.
The Chinese manufacturers are starting to conquer more and more markets and their vehicles have finally begun to offer satisfactory performances and prove that these guys are fast learners. However, some faults regarding the build quality and reliability still remain, but some sacrifices had to be done to keep the price as cheap as possible.
The new generation of Heavy Duty trucks from JAC is a major improvement over the previous models, but while we appreciated the technical upgrade and the more comfortable cabin, we’ll have to criticize the exterior design. There isn’t anything inherently wrong with it, but it’s almost identical with Scania’s trucks and you won’t need to be an expert to spot the resemblance.
Not many of you heard about JAC, mostly because it’s a Chinese manufacturer which until recently didn’t managed to catch much attention. The company however, has recently made a joint venture with Navistar and started to use Cummins engines for its lineup of trucks.
At the moment, JAC is also in full expansion and plans to conquer new markets. Its lineup of vehicles includes light, medium and heavy duty models and all of them are fairly versatile.
The Heavy duty range of trucks is offered in tractor, mixer, dump and lorry configurations with gross vehicle weights ranging from 13000 kg to 50000 kg.
In the latest years everybody has starting to talk more and more about the use of electrical vehicles on a daily basis. Until recently, the electric vehicles were designed only as small passenger cars, but thanks to the advance in technology, now we can also drive electrical vans or even trucks.
Aixam was among the first companies who focused on developing electrical vehicles and its lineup also includes the Mega Multitruck model which is a versatile light commercial vehicle that can deal with a wide range of applications.
Aixam’s Mega Multitruck was designed for those looking for a small and light truck than can serve for short delivery missions with minimum costs. The LCV is offered with both diesel and electric engines and is available in four different body styles with van, pick-up, dropside and chassis cab options.
Avia isn’t as famous as other truck companies, but in fact it is among the oldest European manufacturer. Initially the company was founded in Czechoslovakia in 1919 and its main purpose was to build aircrafts. After a while, Avia has also started to build trucks. One of the most significant steps in Avia’s history was the year 1995 when it was purchased by the Koreans from Daewoo who developed the D Series models.
At the moment Avia is owned by Ashok Leyland, an Indian company which had a benefic impact for company’s trucks as it brought new technologies and facilities.
The Avia D Series includes three models namely the D75, D90 and D120 (4X4) with maximum GVW (gross vehicle weight) that can go to up to 11990 kg. All are medium duty trucks and were developed especially for urban commercial applications.
The trucks are powered by a range of Cummins ISBe4 engines which come in three power outputs developing 160, 185 hp and 207 hp.
While Piaggio is mostly known for its three wheelers and scooters, the company also builds a small light commercial vehicle named the Piaggio. The Piaggio is a versatile micro-van that was engineered to go against models like the Suzuki Carry or DFSK Loadhopper and features a bulky design combined with a pretty spacious interior.
The small truck is available as a panel van, chassis cab, tipper, MPV, top-deck and pickup and is powered by a 1300 cc petrol engine which develops 65 hp. The Piaggio Porter has a payload capacity between 560 kg – 1120 kg and comes with two wheelbase lengths measuring 1810 mm and 2180 mm.
The Scania G Series is the perfect compromise between the bigger R Series and the smaller P Series. The truck is as versatile as its other two siblings and features the same fluid design that is so appreciated by truckers from all over the world.
Under the hood, the Scania G-Series is powered by either a 13-liter inline 6-cylinder or a 9 liter engine. Thanks to its versatile character the truck is offered in four pre-configured specifications for a variety of applications. The Scania G Series is also available in 4x2, 6x2, 6x4 or 8x4 configurations with Day, Sleeper or Highline cabs.
Mercedes is well known for its nice luxury cars that can move you in full comfort from point A to point B. Everyone likes these cars, as they are like small oases of luxury and make you feel relaxed and safe wherever you are.
The German manufacturer however, has also a darker side. This time the intelligence of its engineers was put to work with the main purpose of constructing the ultimate heavy duty work truck. The result was the Zetros which is the toughest truck built by the company. The vehicle has a bullet proof build quality and it’s so tough, that even if you’ll drive it in the middle of a war zone it will feel just like a walk in the park.
The Mercedes Zetros is available in all-wheel drive, two-axle models with a gross vehicle weight of 16.5 or 18.0 tonnes, as well as three-axle vehicles with a maximum of 25.0 or 27.0 tonnes. The payload for the two-axle models is almost ten tonnes, while for the three-axle models it is 16 tonnes (excluding body weight).
Mitsubishi’s range of heavy duty trucks received recently a host of upgrades which make it able to deal better with the competition. The truck received new engines, new transmissions and a host of useful features, most of them being based on Daimler’s products.
Thanks to the new upgrades, the Mitsubishi Fuso Heavy has made an important step forward, being closer to the requirements of today’s transport industry.
Mitsubishi’s Fuso Heavy range includes two models namely the FP and FV models. The trucks come with a choice of three diesel engines and with GCM (Gross Combination Mass) ratings between 40.000 – 58.000 kg.
Heavy duty trucks are the strongest “weapons” of any truck manufacturer and they are usually equipped with powerful engines and an ultra resistant frame which serves as a reliable base for the arduous jobs of the vehicle.
In Hyundai’s lineup, the heavy duty league is represented by the HD range of trucks which are available with a plethora of engines, suspensions and wheelbase lengths. All models share the same exterior design and the same interiors.
Thanks to its flexible character, Hyundai’s heavy duty HD series can take many forms and can be used as a Tractor, Dump, Concrete Mixer or Cargo. The Hyundai HD range is offered with a choice of 4x2, 6x2 or 8x4 axle configurations.
The Hyundai H100 is also known as the Porter and is around since 1977. The H100 was initially launched on the Asian market and became the segment leader pretty fast. Being designed as a lightweight pickup truck the vehicle is especially appreciated for its reliable and versatile character.
With both single (4,760-4,795 mm length) and double (5,085-5,120 mm length) cab configurations and available in Deck, Tipper and Chassis Cab versions, the Hyundai HD100 is equipped with an 80 hp diesel engine that develops a peak torque of 170 Nm. The vehicle is priced from $22.700 and comes with a standard 5 Year or 150 000 km warranty.
The Kenworth C500 is the biggest and the strongest truck build by Kenworth. The truck was designed as a heavy duty vehicle for severe duty activities and features a bullet proof build quality and the character of a true tank on wheels.
The Kenworth C500 has a GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) of up to 150,000 lbs. and is available with heavy duty axles and suspensions which can deal with massive payloads without breaking a sweat. The Kenworth C500 can be equipped with strong engines which develop up to 600 hp and features manual or automatic transmissions, with either front or rear PTOs (power take-off).
The Mercedes Vario is one of the most versatile vehicles built by the German manufacturer. The Vario can be used for a wide range of commercial and construction purposes and is available in many variants which include panel van, box body, tipper pickup and even bus. There are also two cab configurations available which include the standard and the crew cab models.
The model was introduced back in 1986 when it was originally named the Transporter 2. The vehicle received the name Vario in 1996 and since then it was continuously improved and upgraded.
The Mercedes Vario has a starting price of $55.550 and is equipped with a 4 cylinder diesel engine which meets the latest Euro 5 emission standards being among the most fuel efficient units in its class.
The CT660 model is the first vocational truck built by Cat for the American market. Caterpillar has already a solid experience in building construction equipment and despite the fact that many people still consider its new model just an International with a new hood and another badge, the CT660 is able to make a compelling case for itself.
Available with a wide range of specifications, it can be configured to match almost any vocational application required as it’s ready to go head to head with the toughest jobs as a dump truck, concrete mixer, waste carrier or all-around heavy hauler.
The truck is priced at $157000 and is offered with a choice of two CAT CT engines based on MaxxForce units which develop between 330 – 475 hp.