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NEWS
Scania announces new L-series
An all-new low-entry cab series developed for urban environments may find its way to AustraliaThe Scania L-series is making its debut in Europe offering a new truck for city and urban environments with applications in distribution, waste or construction.
And with Scania’s New Generation truck launching here next year, the L-series will, in all probability, find its way to our shores.
“The L-series can be said to be the crowning glory of our urban offering,” says Henrik Eng, Product Director, Urban, Scania Trucks. “The L-series has precisely the characteristics required for distribution and applications that, more often than you might realise, operate mainly in an urban environment, with heavy traffic where many different road users have to share space.”
“There is a clear trend towards low-entry cabs, which were traditionally used for refuse trucks but are now finding their way into more and more applications,” says Eng. “A decade or so ago many people would have raised their eyebrows at a tipper truck with a low-entry cab, but soon it will be an everyday sight in some big cities. The concessions you need to make in terms of ground clearance and attack angles are outweighed by the advantages for those who mainly drive in town, allowing them to be more level with their surroundings.”
L-series cabs are two metres long and are available with three different roof heights: low, normal and high. If you order one with the kneeling function (which is automatically activated via the handbrake) it is just one step to get into the cab via a single step – the floor height itself is then around 80 centimetres (depending tyre choice). Apart from being low, the boarding step is also 79 centimetres wide. Without kneeling, two boarding steps are required; the floor height then ends up at a still-low 93 centimetres.
Both sides of the cab offer the same boarding step heights. It is also easy to move across the cab via a connection in front of the engine tunnel.
The L-series is powered by Scania’s updated 9-litre engine, which is available in three different power levels for different applications. All varients can be combined with Scania Opticruise or with an Allison automatic gearbox.
“With its slightly softer appearance, this type of truck that is not as high as others [and will be] appreciated in urban environments,” Eng says. “And for the drivers themselves it’s also a matter of improved ergonomics, especially if you often climb in and out of the cab.”
A further advantage of Scania’s L-series is that in drive mode, with standard spec, it still offers a ground clearance of around 24 centimetres at the front. Bodybuilders are also well served as the bodywork can start at an imaginary line that runs only 42 centimetres behind the centre of the front axle.
A window of safety
Another innovation in the field of safety is that Scania is now introducing the option of a City Safe Window in the passenger door of all versions of P and L cabs. A low-placed window in the passenger door enhances the driver’s ability to detect vulnerable road users such as children, cyclists and pedestrians in the immediate vicinity of the truck.
“For drivers who often drive in urban environments, a window in the door provides greater safety margins and significantly reduces stress levels,” Eng says. “Solutions involving cameras and sensors do not in any way reduce the value of being able to see and even establish contact with other road users.”
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Written byTrucksales Staff
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Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
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