New Actros in dealerships now

Mercedes-Benz has introduced the new Actros, the recipient of the 2020 Trucksales Innovation Award and the first truck available in Australia with cameras instead of side mirrors.

It is the first road-registered vehicle of any kind in the country with MirrorCam, which is both a fuel-saving measure and vision-improving safety feature. No cars available in Australia feature this technology as yet.

“We are proud to lead the pack and offer our customers another innovation that is not available on any other truck,” says Daimler Truck and Bus Australia Pacific President and CEO, Daniel Whitehead.

“The remarkable suite of new technology in the new Actros means the best cab-over truck available in Australia is now even better,” he says.

However, Mercedes-Benz says the optional MirrorCam system is not the only stand-out feature to be introduced with the new Actros.

The truck, now available for sale across the Daimler Trucks dealership network, also comes with Predictive Powertrain Control which uses topographic map data to help the truck anticipate terrain and select the optimum shift pattern and engine response for maximum fuel economy.

Also new for the truck industry is the Multimedia Cockpit consisting of two large customisable tablet screens giving the driver more control and information.

The new Actros introduces the fifth-generation of the Mercedes-Benz Active Brake Assist system, a radar/camera system which can now automatically perform full emergency braking for vehicles and pedestrians.

Related reading:
New Mercedes-Benz Actros: First drive
Australia's first mirrorless vehicle: Quick spin
Will mirrors become a thing of the past?

Mercedes-Benz is introducing the new Actros after an extensive local validation program with customer fleets, which yielded positive results and orders for the model.

The recently-appointed Director of Mercedes-Benz Trucks Australia Pacific, Andrew Assimo, says the new truck will further increase comfort and deliver new levels of safety while using even less fuel.

“We’re excited about bringing our Australian customers the world’s best heavy truck technology and give them an edge by driving down costs and helping increase their profitability,” he said.

“The existing Actros has been great on fuel, but the new one is even better. That’s certainly the message we’ve been receiving from our validation fleet participants.”

The advanced six-cylinder engine hardware continues unchanged, in 8-litre, 11-litre, 13-litre and 16-litre forms, featuring X-Pulse variable high-pressure injection. The outputs, including the most popular 530hp rated 13-litre and 630hp-rated 16-litre units, remain largely unchanged.

The new Actros will also be made available with the new SoloStar restful cabin concept, which has been well received since it was introduced last year.

SoloStar represents a new way for the driver to rest in the cab. By moving to a fold-down bed instead of a permanent bed, there is ample space for a driver to spread out during rest breaks or before bed using the café style lounge seat which is positioned at the back of the cab on the passenger side.

The idea is to create more useable space for the driver during the day.

When it is time to sleep, the driver seat is pushed forward and the passenger seat back folded forward to allow for the drop down bed, which features a generous 850mm-wide mattress.

Other changes for the new Actros include new LED daytime running lights within the headlight cluster, the addition of keyless start and a new electronic parking brake, which automatically engages when the engine is switched off.

Mercedes-Benz will offer customers an extra incentive to buy the new Actros with a complimentary Best Basic service plan that applies for 500,000km or five years, whichever comes first.

The MirrorCam system brings advantages in two main areas; safety and fuel economy.
Removing the traditional side mirrors and replacing them with small wings featuring integrated cameras brings a substantial aerodynamic advantage and help save fuel.

There is also an improvement in drivers’ vision. This comes, firstly, from the removal of the traditional mirror and its housing from the driver’s view. This improvement is especially evident at intersections.

The camera is also able to deliver improved rear vision at night and also in the rain.

The MirrorCam wings do not protrude out as far as the traditional mirrors and are higher up on the cab, making them less prone to impact. They can also flex in order to limit damage. In the event they are damaged, the cost to replace MirrorCam is no more than replacing a traditional side mirror.

PPC improves the way the engines and the fully automated transmissions are controlled in order to save fuel, by adding anticipation technology to the fuel saving mix.

PPC uses topographical information, including pre-mapped three-dimensional GPS data, to enable the truck to make the best, and most economical, choice of throttle application and gear selection.

On steep hills, ahead of a hilltop, coasting down a hill, in dips or on the flat, PPC recognises impending driving situations in good time and takes anticipatory action. This could mean holding on to a gear, rather than changing up, just before the crest of the hill, or briefly selecting neutral to save fuel in the appropriate conditions.

The system already contains data for Australia’s A and B roads and many more. Additionally, the system learns the routes the truck travels on. PPC can be used in conjunction with cruise control at speeds between 25km/h and 100km/h.

Mercedes-Benz offers complimentary training to enable drivers to best realise the lowest cost of ownership, by achieving optimum performance and maximum safety. The TruckTraining program has proven popular among customers of the existing Actros.

Mercedes-Benz is launching the new Actros with a complimentary Best Basic service plan that applies for five years or 500,000km, whichever comes first. You can find all the details, including exclusions, at the Mercedes-Benz Trucks website. While this offer is available, customers have the option of upgrading to the Complete Service Plan at a reduced rate.

Service plans, which were introduced in Australia by Mercedes-Benz Trucks back in 1979, give customers the assurance that their vehicles are serviced by factory-trained technicians using genuine parts and lubricants in order to remain in top condition.

The new Actros features the same engine family that was introduced in 2016 and has runs on the board delivering both performance and economy.

The range starts off with the 8-litre OM 936, which features one or two turbochargers depending on the model (using asymmetrical turbo technology) and high pressure fuel injection. This engine is available with 300hp to 350hp depending on the application.

It then goes to the OM 470 11-litre, which uses a single asymmetrical turbocharger and X-Pulse variable high pressure injection. This engine uses a higher compression ratio and delivers higher torque at lower engine revs. This unit ranges from 400hp to 460hp

For those hitting the highway with heavier loads, the OM 471 13-litre and OM 473 16-litre will take care of the job. The 13-litre unit output ranges from 510hp to 530hp, while the 16-litre is rated between 580hp and 630hp.

The new Mercedes-Benz range uses Selective Catalytic Reduction with AdBlue fluid, Exhaust Gas Recirculation and a Diesel Particulate Filter.

The new Actros continues to use the PowerShift 3 Automated Manual Transmission units that were introduced locally in 2016.

These include 8-speed, 12-speed and 16-speed options.