The Commercial Vehicle Show in Birmingham may not be the biggest event in the European trucking calendar, but there were still plenty of debutantes at ‘Brum‘, including DAF‘s latest XF and CF models.

The Commercial Vehicle (CV) Show, held every year at the UK‘s National Exhibition Centre, is the premier British trucking event for Pommie hauliers to visit. And visit they do, in impressive numbers, even though this year four of the leading truck brands were
noticeably absent.

The thinking amongst those who were missing this year is that they don‘t have new products to unveil every 12 months (which is a fair point) and that money saved by not being at the show every year can be spent on exclusive operator events well away from their rivals.

Urban Safe Deliveries

The Co-op is to trial this 26-tonne Scania P320 hybrid diesel-electric rigid with an 8.8m Gray & Adams reefer body with curved front and a
low-noise Gripster alloy floor. It has an underslung Carrier Supra 1150U multi-temperature fridge, 1,500kg Ratcliff power closure column tail-lift, and a JR Industries electric-shutter door.

Terberg has teamed up with Dennis Eagle and controlled-temperature bodybuilder Gray & Adams to create its Urban Safety Logistics Vehicle. The low-entry Elite 6 cab provides excellent all-round vision and easy cab access while a side-loading lift at the nearside of the G&A body permits kerbside unloading.

This Econic low-entry cab urban reefer was featured on the Solomon Commercials stand. The multi-compartment Slipstream bodied rigid has a Carrier underfloor fridge unit and will shortly start working in London. Econic is attracting a lot of interest as an inner-city delivery chassis.

DAF

Birmingham provided the ideal platform for the world premiere of DAF‘s new CF and XF models with aerodynamic tweaks and improved drivetrains that together save up to 7% on fuel.

The latest Paccar MX-11 and MX-13 diesels have more power and torque too, with the top-rated MX-13 now pushing out 530hp. Drivers are in for a treat with the new CF and XF interiors that offer improved comfort, new temperature and climate controls, upgraded dashboards and controls, and the option of a top-of-the range Exclusive Line cab package (seen here) with cognac-coloured dashboard, leather seats and leather-covered steering wheel.

Above: Exclusive trim package enhances what is already a fantastic driver‘s ‘office‘.

Powertrain upgrades on new DAF CF and XF include the adoption of ZF‘s latest TraXon two-pedal 12-speed auto (a 16-speed is optional), along with higher efficiency rear axles with faster ratios. A more compact exhaust after-treatment system saves weight and chassis space and there‘s a more powerful engine brake too.

Above: MX-13 now peaks at 530hp and new models come with ZF TraXon.

Scania – in the wings

While Scania didn‘t attend the CV Show there were still examples of its all-new R range on other exhibitors‘ stands— like this smart 6×2 R450 44-tonne GCW tractor complete with high roof cab and weight-saving 17.5” wheels on the mid-lift pusher axle. The big Swede is set up for bulk tanker work.

Skeletal evolution at SDC

The UK‘s No 1 trailer maker, SDC Trailers Ltd, showed-off its new slim-line neck extendible skeletal trailer with an under-mounted generator that can supply 380 V/50Hz and 220V/50Hz electrical power, at the same time if needed, to reefer and tank containers. Its easily accessible side-mounted control unit offers improved operator safety.

Canny coupler

Specialist body-builder and trailer maker Don-Bur has offered its Safe Ground Coupling System since 2009. The latest MK2 version has a slimmer, low-profile design. In operation a driver simply pulls the coupling plate out and downwards before attaching or disengaging all lines from ground level without having to climb onto the catwalk. The plate is then pushed back into place in front of the trailer bulkhead.

MAN

MAN used the CV Show for the UK launch of its TGE light commercial range from 3.0 to 5.5-tonnes. TGE is based on the VW Transporter, but with MAN‘s own engineering stamp on it. Available as either a panel van or chassis cab with front, rear and even four- wheel drive, its 2.0-litre diesel delivers up to 177hp.

Above: MANs TGE van. Based on VW Transporters,
but with some MAN engineering flair about it.

For the discerning MAN driver the marketing men have come up with the TGX XXL-cabbed PerformanceLine tractor based around the 15.2-litre 640hp 6-pot big-banger from Munich with a ZF TipMatic 12-speed auto. It comes with extra chrome top and bottom lights, special branded leather interior trim, air horns and full air-kit.

Above: MANs big banger TGX XXL
PerformanceLine comes with extra chrome, lights
and trim; but more importantly 640hp!