BTS: Mack Anthem draws a crowd

The new Mack Anthem has made its first official Australian debut, with visitors to the 2019 Brisbane Truck Show eagerly seizing the opportunity to inspect the new model as it continues its validation program, ahead of its local release in 2020.

First unveiled in late 2017, Mack Trucks says the Anthem is "a re-engineered, redesigned and reimagined interpretation of what today's highway truck should be".

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Two Mack Anthems are currently undergoing testing in Australia, with a further five to join them in coming months – part of a robust validation process taking place both here and in the US.

"We have trucks on the highway in north Queensland, predominantly the Bruce Highway and down the Newell, running with customers for validation," said Mack Trucks Australia Vice President, Dean Bestwick (pictured below).

Bestwick is quick to stress the high level of local input that is going into preparing the Anthem for service in Australia.

"These trucks are designed by Australians, built by Australians, for Australians and particularly for Australian conditions," he said.

The Anthem will release here in 6x4 and 8x4 formats, with Mack's MP10 engine and mDrive transmission, along with a host of other Volvo Group components.

Mr Bestwick said the truck's modern styling was attracting plenty of attention.

"It's a ripper looking truck, it really is," he said.

"We've taken the heritage style of the Mack truck and given it a chiselled look. But it looks even better in the flesh; it drives well and the functionality of this product is something that we've been sweating on for a long time for here in Australia."

The split-cab display truck at the Brisbane Truck Show highlights the significant effort invested in the Anthem's ergonomics, with the spacious sleeper cab allowing even taller drivers to stand up straight right from the driver's seat, with the steering wheel folded forward.

The sleeper itself is large, with excellent storage and plenty of room to stretch out, while the modern instrument display is complemented by an angled bank of switches that are within easy reach of the driver, along with a flat-bottomed steering wheel with integrated controls.

Bestwick said Mack engineers and designers have worked tirelessly to optimise the truck's 'human machine interface', or HMI.

"The ergonomics and the electrical architecture that's in this truck is something we've really been pushing to get hold of."

Trucksales will bring you more news and details on the Mack Anthem as it comes to hand.