Passing a long tractor-trailer on a narrow two-lane road can be a scary thing, and dangerous, but Samsung has presented a new idea that essentially makes these big trucks transparent. Installed on the aptly named Safety Trucks in Argentina, this innovative idea uses a forward-mounted camera to feed a live signal to four large monitors mounted on the back of the trailer, giving motorists a clear view of what is happening in front of the semi.
Although the initial testing phase of the Safety Truck prototype has ended, Samsung is still working to develop the technology by performing more tests and coordinating with government entities. According to Samsung, Argentina was specifically chosen as a test location for the technology due to its high rates of accidents on two-lane roads – most of which occurring while one vehicle is passing another.
This is a cheaper and more real-world alternative to vehicle-to-vehicle technologies that have been discussed in recent years, but more importantly, all of the technology is simple and available today. The key advantage of V2V is that it could become a passive safety feature to warn drivers they don’t have enough space to pass or even an active safety device to prevent a crash altogether (or limit the severity). Samsung’s system still requires drivers to pass safely, but it gives them more information about when is the safest time to attempt to overtake a semi. It could also be helpful to warn drivers behind a semi of upcoming road hazards or traffic congestion.
As I watched the video and read about all the safety intentions Samsung has for this Safety Truck, one thought that kept popping into my head was that this technology could open a Pandora’s Box, allowing annoying digital billboards to make their way onto the backs and sides of these trailers.
But other than that, it’s a great idea.
Chevrolet has just announced its re-entry into the low cab forward truck market. Absent since 2009, Chevy will again offer the medium-duty truck based on the Isuzu N-Series for the 2016 model year.
The Chevy Low Cab will come in six weight classes and two cab configurations. Fleet customers can opt for the 3500, 3500 HD, 4500, 4500 HD, 5500 and 5500 HD – along with either a single cab or double cab. The truck also offers wheelbase lengths ranging from 109 inches up to 212 inches. Chevy says the chassis cab truck is ready for nearly any aftermarket upfit, including refrigerated boxes, stake beds, flat beds, and service bodies.
Power will come from three engine choices. The first two are Isuzu-sources turbodiesels displacing 3.0 liters and 5.2 liters. The third is General Motors’ venerable 6.0-liter gasoline V-8 like what currently powers the Silverado 2500 and 3500 HD trucks. Though output specs haven’t been released for the 2016 N-Series, the Silverado’s V-8 offers up 360 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque. A GM six-speed automatic will come mated to the V-8.
Despite the Chevy badge, turbodiesel trucks will be built overseas while the V-8 version will be built in Charlotte, Michigan. The V-8 model will also be the only low cab forward truck offered in the U.S., giving Isuzu and Chevrolet a unique selling point.
For fleet managers concerned with maintenance, the cab forward truck allows for easy access to the engine bay thanks to the forward-tilting cab design. Perched forward 45 degrees, the design allows for unparalleled access to the drivetrain components.
Chevy says more information and details specs will become available closer to the truck’s launch.
Continue reading for more information
Mercedes appears to already be testing an updated version of its Atego medium-duty truck. With its last redesign happening for 2013, the truck features numerous cab and chassis configurations, two dashboard designs, two engine options, and five transmission options. What Mercedes has up its sleeve now is pure speculation.
This camo-covered test mule does have some discernable distinctions between it and the current Atego truck. Most noticeable are the large vent openings on each side of the front grille. Another new opening, this one being a long, short slat, is now perched between the grille and windshield. Otherwise, this test mule looks nearly identical to the current truck.
Perhaps Mercedes is testing a new powertrain that requires more ventilation than the current four- and six-cylinder diesel options. Hybridization of commercial trucks have been explored by a few truck makers from around the globe, so the possibility is there. This theory becomes even more logical when considering many European cities are adopting so-called no-gas zones in inner city areas. Adopting a hybrid system would allow Mercedes to cater to the green community and be able to deliver to the gas-free zones.
Click past the jump to read more about Mercedes-Benz Atego.
The bond between Isuzu and GM continues to be pretty strong and the companies still share rebadged trucks and pickups between them. Even is the success of this business isn’t brilliant and Isuzu’s rebadged i-Series pickup didn’t managed to conquer a lot of hearts, the companies are ready to move one.
Unfortunately, the Chevrolet W-Series medium seems to share the same bad karma with the Chevrolet T-Series whose unsuccessful lead to its premature death in 2009.
With only two months after the N Series was launched in Japan, Chevrolet introduced the W Series in US but shortly after, in January 2009 the American company decided to wind-down its medium-duty truck operations.
The Chevrolet W Series was offered with both single and crew cab configurations in Class 3 (W3500), Class 4 (W4500), Class 5 (W5500), and class 5 (W5500) versions.
General Motors has started to sell its T-Series trucks in 1998. The vehicles were based on the Isuzu’s F-Series medium duty range of trucks and shared the same design and technologies with their siblings.
The Chevrolet T-Series range consisted of three models namely the T6500, T7500 and T8500, all powered by a 7.8 liter Isuzu diesel engine. All Chevrolet T-Series trucks had a cab over engine configurations and were equipped with various Allison transmissions.
The Chevrolet T Series was sold until 2009 and came with GVM (gross vehicle mass) ratings between 24,350 lbs. to 39,000 lbs. and 4x4, 6x2 and 6x4 axle configurations.
The Iveco Vertis was developed entirely in Brazil and is aimed at those who are looking for a versatile medium duty truck. The Iveco Vertis has a cab-over configuration and it’s powered by a modern engine which offers low fuel consumption and is produced by Fiat Powertrain Technologies in Sete Lagoas.
The Iveco Vertis was launched on the Latin American market in 2010 and features a catchy design that also served as a base for the new Leoncino LCV presented in 2011.
The Vertis cab features an aerodynamic style with large air intakes and the large Iveco badge in the centre. The vehicle was developed on a platform of Iveco joint venture in China and integrated with European technologies. It is available in two versions (9 and 13 tons) and is offered with 1 year full warrantee for the entire vehicle plus an extra year for the drive line.
The Multicar Tremo is a compact implement carrier and transporter designed for tight working conditions. The vehicle has a width of only 1.30 meters which makes it the perfect choice for municipal or light industry applications.
The Multicar Tremo is equipped with a powerful hydraulics system as standard. Thanks to its tandem gear pump (2 x 58 l / 210 bar) and four control functions, the vehicle can be used for a wide range of service application implements such as a snow-plough, grit spreader, forward-mounted rotary brush, and watering equipment.
The Multicar Tremo is equipped with a four cylinder Volkswagen CJDA turbo diesel Euro 5 engine with a maximum output of 102 hp.
The Condor model is part of the past, as at the moment the truck has stopped being manufactured by Freightliner. For its time however, the truck was seen with pretty good eyes thanks to its flexible character and its capable performances.
The truck had a low entry cab configuration designed especially for refuse industry and offered a maximum GVW (gross vehicle weight) rating of up to 98.000 lbs.
To make it cope with tight city streets or congested traffic situations, the truck received a set-back front axle which improved the over-all maneuverability. The Condor was offered with a wide range of Cummins and Caterpillar engines which developed between 275 hp and 375 hp.
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 Iveco Cavallino is mostly sold on the South American market and was designed to deal with short or regional transportations.
The Iveco Cavallino truck is part of the heavy duty league and it features a cab over engine design. The truck is equipped with Iveco’s Cursor 8 engine combined with a 16 speed SF Over Drive transmission. The engine develops a maximum output of 320 hp and 1200 Nm of torque.
To be able to suit to a wide range of applications, the truck is offered with both day and sleeper cabs and a choice of 4x2 and 6x2 axle configurations.
The Iveco Leoncino is a light commercial vehicle with a cab over engine configuration designed especially for the African, Middle Eastern and South American markets. The new model was born from the joint venture between Iveco and its Chinese partner Naveco and will be available with gross vehicle weights (GVW) between 3.5 t and 7 t while the engines options will consists of 116 hp and 140 hp diesel units.
When the truck will launched on the marked it will be also offered with a choice of two types of cabs namely a single cab (1,635 mm wide for the 3.5 t model) and extended cab (1,935 mm wide for the 5 - 7 t versions).
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.
Dennis Eagle is a British manufacturer of medium duty commercial vehicles specialized in refuse trucks chassis and bodies. The company uses a single type of steel cabin which is combined with different bodies. The company uses the Elite 2 chassis which is a highly versatile product that is able to cope with a wide range of operations. The Elite 2 chassis is compatible with both Dennis Eagle body range and those manufactured by other refuse collection vehicle body suppliers.
The main advantage of the Elite 2 chassis is that it offers the lowest cab entry from the market. The Dennis Eagle trucks are available with 4x2, 6x2 and 8x4 configurations and are equipped with Euro 5 diesel engines supplied by Volvo and Cummins.
Aixam is specialized in building only electrical vehicles and besides passenger cars it also commercializes light commercial trucks.
There are two LCVs in Aixam’s Lineup, namely the Mega Multitruck and the e-Worker. The e-Worker is the smaller model and features compact exterior dimensions and a tight turning circle which permits it to deal with the city driving with agility.
Thanks to its robust construction and the practical load bed, the Aixam Mega e-Worker is a versatile LCV which meets the needs of light commercial applications.
The Aixam Mega e-Worker is offered with two wheelbase lengths and a choice of three battery packs. The three battery packs consist of 36 open lead elements of 2v in series for powers of 8.6 kWh, 11.5 kWH and 17.3 kWh.
This small truck also comes pretty cheap having a starting price of only $15,400.
Bremach is an Italian company which is around since 1950. The company was initially only a small mechanical workshop, but after twenty years has started to build off road utility vehicles.
At the moment, the Italian manufacture is selling a badass heavy duty truck which received the name of the ultimate predator that has ever lived on the planet Earth, namely the T-Rex.
As the name suggest, the Bremach T-Rex is an unstoppable truck designed to go head to head with the most difficult terrains without breaking a sweat.
The vehicle is mostly sold in Europe, Africa, and Latin America and is offered in a wide range of engines that include natural gas, diesel, gasoline and also electric versions. Moreover, in the near future, there will also be offered a propane powered vehicle. Fortunately the truck will be also available on the North American market with a choice of GM and Cummins engines.
The truck is available in single and double cab configurations and also in two door convertible.
All of these powertrain options are available in a two- or four-door hardtop or a two-door convertible.
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.