Game Changer

The new Mercedes-Benz Actros features four world firsts and each one of them could lead the way in the future of trucks

- Will Shiers

While the latest Mercedes-Benz Actros might not look particularly new at first glance, it boasts numerous innovations and four world firsts. These features, according to Mercedes, have resulted in the most efficient, safest and best-connected truck ever built.

Let’s start with efficiency. The headline fuel economy improvement figure is up to 5%, but that’s only on rural routes. On motorways the improvements are likely to be up to 3%.

Why the difference? It’s because a significant proportion of the savings have been achieved by improving the satellite-based Predictive Powertrain Control (PPC) intelligent cruise control, now more efficient than before, and which, thanks to additional map data, can now be used on Europe’s rural roads.

Also helping improve fuel economy are new rear-axle ratios. The truck is a little bit more slippery than its predecessor too, thanks to the external mirrors having been replaced by cameras (world first number one), new concave-shaped cab side deflectors and an improved roof spoiler.

Active Drive Assist

In terms of driver safety, the big news is Active Drive Assist (world first number two), which makes the truck semi autonomous at all speeds.

Meanwhile, Active Brake Assist 5 not only helps to eradicate rear-end collisions but is better at protecting pedestrians than the system it replaces (world first number three).

As for connectivity, a new ‘multimedia cockpit’ that includes a pair of interactive screens as standard (world first number four) puts most of the truck’s controls and data at the driver’s fingertips.

At the launch, Stefan Buchner, head of Mercedes-Benz Trucks, said: “With more than 60 innovations, the new Actros brings the future of heavy-duty trucks to the roads today. It is the most advanced truck in the world.”