MAN has launched its New Truck Generation TGX, its biggest project since the TGA in 2000.
The truck, which is the product of 12 million man hours (1,300 years), features 20,000 new parts.
Although the 20-year-old cab shell remains unchanged, all of the external panels have been redesigned. It’s more slippery than its predecessor, which together with its Euro-6d engine makes it up to 8% more fuel efficient than a current generation Euro-6c. You can expect this figure to improve further when the redesigned mirrors are replaced by cameras.
The front of the truck supposedly resembles a lion’s face and MAN says this inspired the gold launch colour.
The biggest changes have occurred inside the cab, which now features a new dashboard and a pair of colour screens. The primary one, located in front of the driver, comes in a choice of 5” or 12.3”, while the secondary screen is either 7” or 12.3”.
Neither are touchscreen, and are instead controlled by a pair of Smart Select dials. MAN says it does not consider touchscreens to be suitable for trucks, due to the difficulty of operating them accurately while seated in an air-suspended seat.
The quality of the interior has been stepped up, and the revised switchgear is more tactile than before. A new multifunction steering wheel features two banks of switches. Those on the left are for driving the truck, while the right ones are dedicated to infotainment.
Headlight, hazard light and door lock switches are located on the bottom of the driver’s door, operated from outside the truck when the door is open. The truck now features a dash-mounted electronic handbrake, but like the dash-mounted screens, in some markets it will be a delete option.
MAN also launched the Individual Line flagship truck, which features a few extra bells and whistles.
It also revealed face-lifted versions of the rest of the range, comprising TGL, TGM and TGS models, all featuring the availability of digital dash screens.
See next week’s Commercial Motor (20 February) for a full report and driving impression.
