Never shy of chasing big horsepower, Swedish truck maker Scania’ has announced and even higher horsepower version of its V8 truck engine family,by revealing this week a 770 horsepower version of its much loved 16.4 litre V8 turbo diesel.
The new 770hp V8-powered R-series prime mover assumes the role of the company’s newest flagship, and arrival in Australia comes a full 12 months ahead of expectation.
The initial arrival will be used as a company demonstrator, but the order books for the 770 hp are now open. Truck and Bus News will be one of the first to sample the new truck when we slip behind the wheel next week and will bring you full coverage and driving impressions in the 7th December issue of Truck eNews, just as soon as the media embargo expires.
Dean Dal Santo, Scania Australia’s director of truck sales, is rightfully excited by the new arrival and its early touchdown in Australia.
“We often say ‘You’re never late in a V8’, but this time we’ve outdone ourselves, bringing the 770 hp variant to Australia a good 12 months ahead of the rest of the revamped V8 family, and ahead of our target,” Del Santo said.
“We’re very excited to be able to open our order books for the 770 for delivery during the second half of 2022. The 770 is the absolute pinnacle of Scania V8 performance and efficiency, together with low emissions and so it is easy to understand why we are so pleased to have it here so early,” he says.
“The new 770 hp 16.4-litre V8 resets the benchmark for on-road power output and its 3700 Nm of torque, available from 1000-1450 rpm, makes it the ideal truck for drivers who need the ultimate performance for heavy loads.
“The Scania V8 range was unveiled in updated and improved form late last year in Europe and this R 770 is the first of the new breed to arrive in Australia. We will bring other variants to the market during 2022, but we’re leading from the front with the 770,” Dean says.
“We launched its predecessor, the R 730, in Australia in 2011, and it has been a very successful brand icon for Scania over the past decade, with many examples covering huge distances and pulling immense loads. All of their drivers have one thing in common though, it’s the look on their face, especially while climbing the biggest hills.
“Now we are raising the performance bar still higher, and have refined and improved the technology which allows the increases in outputs. The Scania R 770 will deliver all that the R 730 did and more, and will retain and improve on the fuel efficiency so admired of all Scania V8 diesel engines.
“We anticipate an improvement of 2 percent in fuel efficiency compared with the 730, despite the increase in output, assisted in part by a new 3.07 rear axle ratio, and also by a significant 75 kg saving in weight, over the steer.
“For the 770 we have re-engineered the exhaust emissions process to be able to achieve Euro 6D without Exhaust Gas Recirculation, relying solely on SCR.”
“We will be showing the R 770 off to selected customers in the immediate future and plan a more widespread opportunity for customers and prospects to experience the whole V8 range later on in 2022,” Dean says.
“We could have waited to launch all of the new V8s together, but the 770 hp variant was available to us in our market specification and right-hand drive now, so we have jumped at the chance in order to meet the needs of existing high output truck customers during 2022,” Dean confirms.
“The 730 V8 appealed in different ways to different operators over the past decade, from owner-drivers to line-haul fleets and mining operators, all of whom prized the engine’s amazing power and torque and fuel efficiency. The new R 770 will give our customers even more of that Scania V8 magic,” Dean says.
While Scania is pursuing new fuels and powertrain solutions as part of its shift to a sustainable transport future, the use of diesel will remain critical within high horsepower and heavy payload environments for the time being.
“While shifting to fossil-free transports, we must do everything to improve our current solutions,” says Alexander Vlaskamp, Scania’s Executive Vice President, Head of Sales and Marketing. “You cannot let your house burn down simply because a new one is under construction. The transition must be seamless.”
Scania’s attention to fuel use minimisation continues unabated, and the new V8 range, including the 770 hp variant, offers improved fuel efficiency derived from extensive fine-tuning and development by Scania’s engineers.
Within the all iron V8 engine there are more than 70 new parts, and significant reductions in internal friction, higher compression ratios, improved aftertreatment-systems and a new powerful engine management system (EMS).
“A typical long-distance truck in Europe covers around 150,000 kilometres per year,” Alexander says. “A reasonable saving on markets where longer and heavier combinations are permitted can be up to 3,000–4,000 litres annually for a truck with our new V8 – a tremendous achievement in every respect.”
The new 770 hp variant is probably the most powerful, factory-built truck engine in production today, but it’s not ubiquitous, as Alexander Vlaskamp readily admits.
“The 770 is, of course, not for everyone, but we see a growing demand for trucks capable of handling GCMs of 60 tonnes and above, especially for road-going combinations,” he says.
“The fastest way to increase transport efficiency is with longer and heavier truck combinations. The added fuel for a heavier vehicle is compensated by the greater payload capacity. The CO2-per-tonne calculation is favourable, and in addition there is the opportunity to run your Scania V8 truck on renewable biofuels.”
Scania’s V8 engines are in high demand in countries where greater GCMs are permitted – particularly in Scandinavia. The Scania V8 is also very popular in Italy and Spain (and markets like Australia and New Zealand), due to hilly terrain with many steep and challenging roads.
“There is a strong rationale for ordering a truck such as the R 770,” Alexander says. “These customers are looking for the best total operating economy, well aware of the fact that more payload means better efficiency, increased revenue and higher residual value. But I know that some of our customers also will be delighted by the sheer joy of operating such a magnificent working tool.”
According to Göran Lindh, chief engineer for Scania’s V8 engines, the increase in performance also coincided with a significant reduction in fuel use across the V8 output range.
“The increased power comes together with huge fuel savings, a result we were able to reach thanks to the introduction of the latest technologies. The new
770 hp engine has SCR-only after-treatment, a robust, fixed geometry turbocharger and the same kind ofsingle-bank exhaust manifolds as the other three V8s,” Lindh said.
The powerful 16.4-litre V8 produces its 770 hp with the help of bigger injectors and a fixed geometry turbocharger using ball bearings. The result is faster response and improved combustion. Shedding certainheavy components and simplifying others has lowered the weight by a healthy 75 kg, compared with itspredecessor.
“The new single-bank manifolds actually come with an additional advantage,” Göran explains. “Not only are they lighter and more efficient but they also contribute to the distinctive V8 sound, the typical ‘blatt’ that somany Scania customers and V8 fans appreciate. It does not generate more noise, but this is rather the resultof how the exhaust gases are allowed to collide, due to the firing order, inside the manifold on their way out,”Lindh added.
Scania’s R 770 is available to order in Australia now for delivery in the second half of 2022. It will be available in the usual range of axle configurations including 6×4 and 8×4, and in all-wheel drive for specific applications.
