Scania aims at truck and dog with G 540 XT

Scania is aiming squarely at tipper and dog operators looking for a tough truck with improved total operating economy with the new G 540 XT, now available across Australia.

Obviously with the Volvo 540 in its sights, the 540hp six-cylinder SCR-only Euro 6-compliant engine delivers 2700Nm of torque.

The G 540 XT rides on an elevated chassis for superior ground clearance, and the truck is equipped with quarry and construction-site friendly features that protect the lights and the front of the vehicle, supported by a 150mm protruding steel bumper with integrated tow-hook, as well as a front bash-plate.

Scania introduced the XT range of hard-working trucks ideal for the booming construction, civil engineering and infrastructure sector in late 2018 and it has been very well and widely accepted by builders and contractors.

Now equipped with the most powerful six-cylinder in Scania’s family of lightweight, fuel efficient modular engines, Scania says the 540 XT is ready for the toughest tipper duties.

Scania’s typical tipper and dog specification for the G 540 XT has a 25,900kg GVM and a 75,000kg GCM.

Related reading:
First Aussie Scania XT heads to work
Scania tested at over 200 tonnes
Scania R 540: Review

As with the 540hp engine fitted to Scania’s intra and interstate prime movers, in the 540 XT, the 2700Nm of torque means hauling up an access ramp out of a quarry or out of a construction zone is made that much easier, as well as alloying smoother acceleration away from the traffic lights in built-up areas.

Peak torque is available between a low 1000 and 1300rpm.

The 540hp engine is suited to operations where there is a high demand for power and driveability, and where front-axle weight is critical. The inline six-cylinder engine saves around 300kg over the front axle compared with the Scania V8s which have been popular with tipper operators to date.

The 540hp engine adds 40 extra horsepower and 150Nm more torque to the previous six-cylinder flagship, which continues to be offered.

The performance enhancement to boost output from 500hp to 540hp comes courtesy of Scania XPI fuel injection, and a new ball-bearing fixed-geometry turbocharger which delivers more useable grunt while retaining fuel efficiency.

Updates include new friction-reducing coatings on pistons, rings and bores, increased compression rates and higher cylinder pressures, the adoption of smart auxiliary pumps, and modified inlet and exhaust manifolds, all of which work to reduce fuel consumption by up to 2.5%.

Exhaust software control and updated aftertreatment also contribute to the overall fuel savings.

The 540hp engine is mated to a Scania GRSO905R overdrive 14-speed gearbox, with ratios selected via the Scania fully automated Opticruise gearshift, and braking is assisted by the Scania R 3500 Retarder.

The G 540 XT tipper is fitted with a high level of active and passive safety systems, including side curtain roll-over protection airbags and a steering wheel-mounted airbag as standard. Further advanced safety features include advanced emergency braking (AEB), electronic stability program (ESP), lane departure warning (LDW), adaptive cruise control (ACC), driver and passenger seat belt pretensioners, auto hill hold, and LED head and taillights.

“Scania is very pleased to add the 540hp engine to the very successful XT family for construction and civil engineering tipper work. We expect this combination to be very popular as it offers an excellent mix of performance and economy,” said Dean Dal Santo, Director of Truck Sales for Scania Australia.

“Scania continues to provide greater torque than its rivals at identical horsepower outputs and the new 540 XT is no different, giving our customers an advantage in terms of driveability and fuel efficiency,” he concluded.

Type: Inline 6-cylinder diesel engine
Cylinders: Four valves per cylinder
Fuel injection: XPI Common Rail
Turbo: Fixed Geometry Turbo (FGT) with wastegate and ball bearings
Capacity: 12.7 litres
Bore/Stroke: 130 mm / 160 mm
Compression ratio: 21.0:1
After treatment: DOC/DPF/SCR (no EGR)
Exhaust brake: 242kW at 2400 rpm
Maximum output: 540hp (397kW) at 1800rpm
Maximum torque: 2700 Nm at 1000-1300 rpm