Actros ups truck safety stakes

By Colin Windell 

The all-new Mercedes-Benz Actros unveiled at the IAA Commercial Vehicle Show brings semi-automated driving at all speed ranges into play.

Mercedes-Benz Actros introduces semi-automated driving and improved safety.

Among several other firsts for Mercedes-Benz Trucks, the all-new Actros shown at the IAA Commercial Vehicle Show in Hanover, Germany introduces MirrorCam that replaces the outside mirrors with cameras to improve aerodynamics, safety and vehicle handling.

To support drivers as well as further to enhance safety and comfort, Mercedes-Benz Trucks is bringing semi-automated driving to series production and the new Active Drive Assist can brake, accelerate and steer. The system offers semi-automated driving at all speed ranges.

The fuel consumption of the new Actros has again been reduced compared to previous models and it achieves savings of up to three percent on motorways and as much as five percent on rural routes.

The main mirrors and wide-angle mirrors have been replaced on the new Actros by the MirrorCam as part of the standard equipment. The MirrorCam represents a tremendous improvement in terms of aerodynamics, safety and vehicle handling.

This system provides a significantly improved all-round view and consists of two cameras mounted to the exterior of the vehicle and two 15-inch displays on the A-pillars inside the cab.

A boon for the driver is the inclusion of Active Brake Assist 5 that supports the driver in case of a potential rear-end collision or a collision with a person who is crossing in front of the vehicle, coming towards it or staying in the same lane – if required initiating maximum full braking to standstill automatically.

It works with a combination of a radar and camera system. This enables the system to monitor the space in front of the vehicle even better and respond to people even more effectively.

The new Actros with its fully updated Multimedia Cockpit offers the driver a unique level of operational convenience and display comfort. Two interactive screens as standard serve as the central source of information in the driver's digital cockpit of the future. Assistance systems are visualised here, as well as all basic information which is relevant to the driver.

Connectivity is now reality in the Actros: smartphones can be connected via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto and the Truck Data Centre connects the truck permanently to the cloud and forms the basis of all connectivity solutions.

Real-time monitoring of the truck via Fleetboard and Mercedes-Benz Uptime brings added value for the business owner. The driver also enjoys greater ease of operation thanks to the new remote-control key provided as standard.

Interior

The development of the interior design of the new Actros has revolved systematically around the driver – working from the ‘inside out’ as a principle and this is seen in the new Multimedia Cockpit, which takes the Actros to the digital age.

A reduction in total overall costs, a high level of safety and maximum vehicle availability are crucial factors when it comes to transportation on construction sites, too. That is why numerous product highlights from the new Actros are also available on the new Arocs. For example, every Arocs comes with improved Predictive Powertrain Control as standard, which displays its strengths in construction traffic in particular, characterised by its multiple, often short, interurban runs.

Stefan Buchner, member of the divisional board of Daimler Trucks and Head of Mercedes-Benz Trucks, says: "With more than 60 innovations, the new Actros brings the future of heavy-duty trucks to the roads today.

"The new Actros brings innovations to series production which previously we only showed on our concept vehicles: Active Drive Assist, MirrorCam and numerous other innovations help to make the transportation of goods by road even safer, more efficient and more productive.

"Just four years since the presentation of the Mercedes-Benz Future Truck 2025 we are bringing with Active Drive Assist in the new Actros the first semi-automated assistance system to series production."

Professor Dr Gorden Wagener, Chief Design Officer Daimler AG, added: “"With its strong showing and force the new Actros is the most progressive Mercedes truck. It is clean in the sense of modern and with the new HMI in the interior; it is really high-tech and digital. The MirrorCam and LED daytime running lights are stand-out features."

The first vehicles will be delivered to customers in spring next year. The options for configuring the new Actros are extensive and each customer will be able to order precisely the Actros which best meets the individual requirements.