On with the show!

Innovation. Connectivity. Efficiency. Safety. Autonomous driving. These were the buzzwords at this year’s IAA. CHARLEEN CLARKE could easily have spent a month at the show …

More than 2 000 exhibitors! Over 320 world premieres! A whopping quarter of a million visitors! This year’s IAA – which took place from September 25 to October 2, in Hannover, Germany – didn’t disappoint. Here are just some of the highlights of the fair.

BPW

Brake-lining wear sensing was one of many innovations on the BPW stand. Thanks to this development within the field of telematics, sensors on the brakes can continually measure the amount of wear on the brake lining of each individual wheel.

The information gathered is presented on a display in the driver’s cab and via an online portal. In this way, the system provides helpful information for the predictive maintenance planning of vehicles. Drivers and shipping companies receive information about the entire vehicle through the telematics system.

DAF

DAF had a delightful stand, full of colour and always packed with visitors. Occupying an area of 2 500 m², it showcased the company’s complete Euro-6 product range. The DAF trucks on display included the new LF for distribution transport, the versatile CF and the flagship XF model for heavy and long-distance transport. DAF’s new Euro-6 range has been expanded with a full range of three- and four-axle vehicles.

DAF also launched Predictive Cruise Control – which works in combination with Predictive Shifting. This option is available in January 2015 on Euro-6 CF and XF models with an automated AS Tronic 12-speed gearbox.

Predictive Cruise Control uses Global Positioning System (GPS) technology to determine the exact position of the vehicle and to know which driving circumstances have to be taken into account the next one to two kilometres. In fact, the system “looks ahead” and anticipates slopes and descents.

The driver sets the desired speed in advance, as well as the permitted deviation above and below this value, with three pre-programmed options available for the permitted downward deviation. Within the specified range, Predictive Cruise Control determines the ideal speed and Predictive Shifting selects the ideal gear.

DAIMLER

Daimler had the largest stand at the IAA, yet again, with the highlight being its self-driving truck. Read more about Daimler’s IAA stand on page 18.

DONGFENG           

Dongfeng’s stand had a decidedly Chinese feel to it, which was terrific. It launched the Dongfeng KX, the company’s new Cummins-powered truck tractor, at the IAA. Read more about Dongfeng’s IAA stand on page 22.

FORD

Ford launched the longest series Transit ever (7,8 m) as well as the Transit Kombi and van, which can be driven with a passenger car licence. It also launched a double-cab derivative of the Transit Van, which has up to seven seats and can transport a volume of up to 10,6 m³.

HYUNDAI

It was great to see yet another manufacturer exhibiting at the IAA for the very first time (the other was Dongfeng). The company launched its H350 van, which was developed specifically for the European market and will be built in Turkey. The design of H350 is intended to be efficient and practical, while also appealing visually to customers.

Echoing its passenger-car counterparts, the H350 features a hexagonal grille integrated into the front bumper, flanked by stylish headlamps, complete with LED daytime running lights that wrap around the front of the new vehicle. Side mouldings run down the flanks to the rear, segmenting the cargo van’s panels and incorporating the practical sliding side-door.

It looks ideal for South Africa too …

IVECO

Iveco had a real head turner on its stand in the form of the Iveco Vision concept vehicle. Described as “a laboratory for the study and development of new technological solutions and future modes of transport”, it boasts the Dual Energy system, a technology which allows for the use of two different types of traction. One is exclusively electric, ensuring zero local emissions and low noise levels, and the other is hybrid (thermoelectric) and suitable for longer journeys and for extra-urban missions, reducing consumption and CO2 emissions by up to
25 percent.

The real star of the stand was, however, the New Daily. This third-generation light commercial vehicle made its début before the international public at large, following its official presentation of the beginning of June. It is a completely new vehicle which presents itself with a load space capacity at the top of its category, best-in-class for volume and capacity, car-like comfort and driveability and fuel consumptions reduced even further.

Some 80 percent of the components have been completely redesigned, but the New Daily keeps its classic chassis structure; an integral part of its DNA, ensuring strength, versatility and durability over time, as well as recognised bodybuilding flexibility (for the chassis cab versions).

KNORR-BREMSE

Knorr-Bremse presented two new solutions specifically designed to meet market needs in the BRICS states (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa). The specially developed global Air Processing Unit (APU) is a particularly compact modular unit comprising an air dryer and a multi-circuit protection valve. This Air Processing Unit is not only inexpensive, but also easy to maintain. Another fully scalable product is the “BRIC TABS” ABS system for trailers, offering various mounting options and a correspondingly attractive price.

JOST

Jost premiered its new, ultra-light JSK 34 fifth wheel coupling. Other highlights of the stand included Jost safety systems, including the series-production-ready, fully automated KKS II coupling system and the Jost SDR roof diffuser, which reduces the air turbulences at the rear of the vehicles (which, in turn, reduces fuel consumption).

The Jost Group also presented hydraulic systems by Edbro for the first time at an IAA. Edbro has been part of the Jost Group since November 2012 and it presented the newly developed CS 17/18 Ultra series – the lightest front lifting cylinder in the class of tipping weights up to 60 t.

MAN

Fuel efficiency was the central theme at the MAN stand, which covered an area of some 10 000 m². Its star exhibit was the top-of-the- range TGX D38 truck, which made its public début in Hannover. Read more about MAN’s IAA stand on page 14.

RENAULT

Renault launched the stunning K 8×6. This new configuration is particularly suitable for customers whose vehicles operate off-road on very rough terrain in quarries or mountainous areas, as well as in wet and muddy conditions where an 8×4 could not deliver the performance needed for this activity. The Renault Trucks K non-permanent 8×6 offers its users additional pulling power on demand.

With the front axle capable of being driven and ground clearance increased by 70 mm, compared with an 8×4, the 8×6 configuration allows operators to benefit from obstacle-clearance capacity virtually equalling that of an 8×8 vehicle, while at the same time limiting additional weight and fuel consumption. Customers therefore have the advantage of a tool that features very high pulling power, while keeping operating costs under control.

SCANIA

Scania launched its V8 Euro with biodiesel and the marvellous Scania Citywide Hybrid, the only certified hybrid bus for parallel operations with biodiesel. Read more about Scania’s IAA stand on page 24.

VOLKSWAGEN

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles launched the e-Load up!, which offers practical solutions for inner-city, zero-emission delivery or customer service traffic. Equipped with a zero-emission electric drive, it is highly suitable for any small commercial vehicle running of routes of up to 100 kilometres.

Volkswagen also launched the Tristar, a beefy bakkie with an extended cab, styling bar and short wheelbase. It has a permanent four-wheel drive with mechanical rear-axle differential lock and 30 mm of additional ground clearance. It’s a good looker too, with its sharp, wrap-around lines and funky, monolithic dashboard.

VOLVO

The big news at Volvo was the launch of its I-Shift Dual Clutch – the first dual clutch system for heavy vehicles. A dual clutch transmission is a major improvement for trucks, offering far smoother and easier driving. The heavier the transport task, the tougher the route and the more gear shifts, the more you gain with I-Shift Dual Clutch.

I-Shift Dual Clutch is a further development of I-Shift and can be described as two parallel-linked gearboxes. When one gear is active, the next gear is pre-selected in the other gearbox. During the gear changing itself, the first clutch is disengaged at exactly the same instant that the second one is engaged, so gear changes take place without any interruption in power delivery.

Volvo Trucks also launched the new Volvo FH 16 with Euro 6. Plus it lifted the lid on the Volvo 7900 Electric Hybrid. This electric hybrid city bus boasts plug-in technology, is wonderfully silent, and offers a reduction in fuel consumption and carbon dioxide of up to 75 percent (versus a conventional diesel bus).

WABCO

Wabco launched OptiLink, the industry’s first mobile application that remotely controls and monitors a suite of vehicle safety and efficiency functions on truck-trailer combinations,

It’s the first such product to provide a single user interface via a mobile device, such as a smartphone, to monitor and control multiple functions on both the truck and trailer. Available in 11 languages, Wabco’s new OptiLink application offers easy operator access to 18 functions, providing the industry’s widest range of functions for tractor-trailer combinations through a single mobile device.

“Wabco’s OptiLink technology marks another milestone in remote management of safety and efficiency functions on truck-trailer combinations worldwide, while also offering considerable opportunity to improve return on investment on daily fleet transport business,” noted Nick Rens, Wabco president, trailer systems, Aftermarket and Off-Highway Division. “Our new OptiLink mobile application enables fleet managers and drivers to further improve vehicle safety and efficiency, while enhancing driver effectiveness and comfort.”

ZF

ZF displayed its Innovation Truck, a truck-trailer combination that can manoeuvre without a driver at the wheel. The diesel engine is not used, either! At low speeds the truck can be controlled remotely from a tablet computer and manoeuvred using electric power only.

And the winners are …!

One of the highlights of the IAA is the announcement of the winners of three of the most prestigious international awards in the commercial vehicle industry, namely Truck of the Year, Bus of the Year and Van of the Year.

In each case the judges are renowned commercial vehicle journalists and editors-in-chief from all over Europe, who put the products through numerous tests to examine them in detail.

Here are the winners:

International Truck of the Year 2015 – Renault Trucks T

International Bus of the Year 2015 – MAN Lion’s City GL CNG

International Van of the Year 2015 – Iveco Daily