It has almost gone unnoticed Down Under but Paccar’s Euro brand DAF unveiled an updated range in its native Holland in early June, revealing new generation XF, XG and XG Plus models, which are set to go into production in Europe before the end of the year.
DAF says the new trucks promise a 10 per cent improvement in fuel efficiency, boast a full suite of passive and active safety features and the company claims they offer the “next level” of luxury in truck design.
DAF also claims it is the first European truck maker to introduce a next generation of trucks developed using the additional freedom offered by new European Commission regulations for ’emissions reduction, road safety and driver comfort’.
The new trucks are said to have a 19 per cent improvement in aerodynamics, achieved by the new cab shape and measures taken to realise optimal engine compartment and under cab airflows.
The truck maker’s existing Paccar MX-11 and MX-13 engines feature new injectors, a new cylinder head and block – allowing higher cylinder pressures – and a new design of pistons and liners.
The new DAFs also use a new generation of efficient turbo chargers for best air management and new air compressors, oil pumps and alternators to ensure parasitic losses are reduced to a minimum according to DAF. The company says that the exhaust-after-treatment system has also been redesigned on the new trucks.
The comp[any says the new trucks offer lower vehicle weights, and enhanced driver assistance systems that have resulted in total efficiency gains of up to 10per cent , which it says represent the largest fuel efficiency improvement in the history of the company.
Performance has also been improved, thanks to torque increases of between 50 and 100Nm in direct drive top gear, while the top-rated 390kW/530hp version now offers 2,550Nm in every lower gear and 2,700Nm in top gear.
The new DAFs are also the first to receive over-the-air-updates for the engine and after-treatment systems, and boast service intervals of up to 200,000 km. or once-a-year.
The Dutch based company has also followed Daimler’s Mercedes Benz in introducing a mirror cam system to replace conventional mirrors. DAF will offer its DAF Digital Vision System, replacing the main and wide-angle mirrors to further enhance direct vision, as well as increasing aerodynamic performance, and boosting fuel efficiency.
The New Generation DAF XF features a new cab design with a 160mm elongation at the front for improved aerodynamics, with a 75mm lower cab datum compared to the XF Super Space Cab and Space Cab. In combination with a large windscreen and ultra-low belt line, this results in unmatched direct vision, according to DAF. Standing height in the new XF is between 1,900 and 2,075mm, depending on the position within the cab.
The company has also introduced the XG and XG+, which benefit from new mass and dimension regulations. in Europe and creates a new top-class market segment according to DAF.
Next to the 160mm elongated front, both flagship models feature 330mm extra length at the rear of the cab. The cab datum of the XG and XG+ is 125mm higher than the New Generation XF, while the semi-flat floor provides easy access with three steps.
The DAF XG cab interior offers a standing height from 1,980mm to 2,105mm.
DAF says the new XG+ “outperforms every truck on the market” when it comes to interior space. The height of the roof has been increased even more to offer a standing height of up to 2,220mm. As its top-of-the-range model, it also offers a high level of living comfort and spaciousness says DAF.
Series production of the 4×2 and 6×2 tractor and rigid offerings of its new XF, XG and XG+ in the last quarter this year.
When they will arrive in Australia is hard to say. DAF unveiled a new range of DAFs at the start of 2020 so it is unlikely to usher in the updated range anytime soon, however it is believed the new trucks may be seen on Australian roads sometime toward the end of 2022.
