MAN unveils new flagship

MAN has released details of its new range-topping TGX D38, which will debut at the IAA truck show in Hanover, Germany, in late September

German truck manufacturer MAN has pulled back the covers from its latest flagship model, the TGX D38. The model is powered by MAN's new D3876 engine, with the 15.2-litre, six-cylinder turbo-diesel available in 520hp, 560hp and 640hp formats to suit a wide range of high-weight applications, from construction, forestry and waste to line-haul transport.

MAN says it has drawn on an array of new technologies to produce an engine that offers "extraordinary performance with unprecedented efficiency".

The in-line six-cylinder D3876 adopts the same essential architecture and the same basic materials as MAN's D20 and D26 engines, but features a third-generation common-rail injection system for a more refined fuel induction process and a new fuel pump that requires less power, thereby aiding efficiency.

The engine is 160kg lighter than the Euro 5 D28 V8, while the cylinder head has domed valves to eliminate flexing when the valves open and close. MAN says this is a first in a diesel truck engine, the technology allowing the TGX D38 valve adjustment intervals to be doubled. Oil change intervals remain the same as those for the D26.

A new top-down cooling system is said to better address areas of thermal stress while eight cylinder head screws per cylinder provide more consistent pressure over the cylinder head seal, reducing oil consumption, extending cleaning intervals for the particle filter, and enhancing durability. A proven two-stage turbocharging system, meanwhile, allows the D38 to deliver its peak torque of 2500Nm, 2700Nm or 3000Nm from just 930rpm.

MAN says the new engine is perfect across the full spectrum of axle ratios, from short axles for traction vehicles to long-geared line-haul specialists.

The D38's 12-speed TipMatic 2 semi-automatic gearbox boasts three new functions: Speed Shifting, EfficientRoll and Idle Speed Driving.

Speed Shifting affords a faster shift between 10th, 11th and 12th gears, minimising any loss of momentum and saving fuel, while EfficientRoll sees the gearbox slip into neutral to allow the truck to coast down gentle inclines. Power is restored as soon as the truck exceeds the specified speed or if the driver brakes or accelerates, or if the cruise control accelerates the vehicle to maintain its set speed.

The truck also benefits from MAN's new EfficientCruise feature – a GPS-controlled cruise control that optimises gear selection and speed to make the most out of a route's topography to reduce fuel consumption. MAN says this alone can deliver fuel savings of up to six per cent.

Other innovations include a demand-controlled Air Pressure Management (APM) system. The D38 has a twin-cylinder 476cc APM unit, while a permanent 720cc system is available for applications with higher air requirements. Similarly, TGX D38 customers will be able to choose between a 340kW Exhaust Valve Brake (EVB) or a Turbo EVB with 600kW of power.

The new model receives Emergency Brake Assist as standard while MAN's Lane Guard System has been improved and now offers greater precision and a higher optical range, says MAN.

The new MAN D38 will be available with a choice of XL, XLX and XXL cabs in prime mover or rigid formats in 4x2, 6x2, 6x4, and 8x4, with heavy-duty version able to handle GCM's of up to 250 tonnes.

The Australian distributor for MAN Truck & Bus, Penske Commercial Vehicles, has said the TGX D38 will be reaching our shores some time in 2015, pending final approval from MAN Germany.

MAN unveils new flagship

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