Volvo subsidiary, Mack has announced that it has rolled out a new range of drivetrains including a new range topping 780hp 17-litre MP11 engine with a massive 3800Nm of torque. While Mack has not annunciated it, the new 17 litre most likely a Mack badged version of the flagship engine from its Swedish master, Volvo’s power train range.
Mack has revealed that its Super-Liner had already held the title of Australia’s most powerful conventional truck for more than a decade and by the company’s own endorsement, has carved out an ‘enviable reputation for power, durability, and efficiency in some of the toughest transport tasks Australia has to offer’.
A revamped 13-litre eSCR Euro 6 MP8 has also been announced as joining the new big-block engine, which it says, is like the rest of the new Euro 6 range, benefitting from new low friction cylinder liners, wave top pistons, a more efficient turbocharger, and a revised electronics system to provide more precise fuel delivery and combustion according to Mack.
Mack went on to say that its Anthem model’s potential as a fuel efficiency ‘champion on the highway’ has also been given a shot in the arm with the arrival of the new MP8HE (High Efficiency) engine platform.
The company says that its MP8HE utilises turbo compound technology, like some of its Volvo counterparts, to scavenge extra energy from the engine’s exhaust flow and transfer power directly to the engine crankshaft. The result is a torque figure of 2800Nm, which is significantly higher than the standard Mack MP8 engine until now.
While Mack has long played second fiddle to its parent Volvo brand’s safety ascendency, the company claims that it has adopted a “keen focus on the progression of safety features”, which it claims, continues to be an important hallmark of its offerings. This despite the fact that are no SRS Airbag safety systems in the new Macks. Safety airbags for driver or passengers in the cabin have been conspicuously absent from Macks, in stark contrast to its siblings from Volvo.
However the company does say that the evolution of the Bendix Wingman Fusion integrated driver safety systems suite, which has been fitted to Mack’s as an option and latterly as standard for several years, will continue to be fitted as standard. In addition there is also a new Mack infotainment system, which comes with a standard rearview camera and optional additional cameras, which the company says will benefits its customers with an improved level of visibility and safety on job sites. The Mack PR spokesperson tells us the front camera on the system is speed activated and gives a forward view from 20km/h.
The company says that the fully integrated 70-inch, walk-through sleeper will also be available for order with Mack Euro 6 Super-Liner and Titan models. The new sleeper, which took Australia by storm at the 2023 Brisbane Truck Show, features multiple configuration options, including single and double bunks, and according to the company, is set to ‘redefine the competitive landscape, delivering a whole new standard of driver comfort’.
“To say we’re excited to bring this range of engines to market here in Australia would be an understatement,” said the vice president of Mack Trucks Australia, Tom Chapman.
“To be able to now offer both power and efficiency across such a broad array of transport tasks in this country is truly game changing for Mack,” said Chapman.
“Ultimately, the biggest winners here will be our customers,” he added.
“From demanding heavy haulage in our nation’s interior to the vital inter-capital freight arteries Mack Trucks has now more than ever the ability to deliver a better driving experience, more time on the road and lower running costs,” he said.
Mack says its new Euro 6 range is available now to order, adding that the first of the new vehicles are expected to hit Australian roads in early 2025.
