DAF has achieved an International Truck of the Year double, scooping both the ‘Truck of the Year 2022’ gong and the ‘2022 Truck Innovation Award’, both being presented in Lyon, France, this week.
During the press day of the Solutrans Commercial Vehicle and Bodybuilder Show in Lyon, DAF’s New Generation XF, XG, and XG+ have been elected International Truck of the Year 2022 by a jury of 24 commercial vehicle editors and senior journalists, representing 24 major trucking magazines from throughout Europe.
The prestigious award was handed over to Harry Wolters, President of DAF Trucks.
With a winning score of 150 votes, the Dutch long-haul heavy-duty truck range fought off the challenge posed by Iveco’s recently-launched T-Way construction series and Mercedes-Benz’s battery-electric eActros (second generation).
Based on the International Truck of the Year (IToY) rules, the annual award is presented to the truck introduced into the market in the previous 12 months, which has made the most significant contribution to road transport efficiency. This judgement relies on several critical criteria, including technological innovation, comfort, safety, driveability, fuel economy, environmental ‘footprint,’ and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).
Taking full advantage of the EU’s new mass and dimension regulations, DAF has created a truck range that dramatically improves aerodynamics, fuel efficiency, active and passive safety, and comfort for the driver.
During recent extended test drives in Spain and central Europe, the IToY jury members appreciated the excellent visibility provided by a large, curved windscreen, side windows with low belt-lines and the kerb-view window. These features, along with the digital vision system that replaces the traditional rear mirrors and the new corner view camera, offer excellent all-around visibility, protecting vulnerable road users.
PowerTorque has published our European Correspondent, Will Shiers’, test drive impressions in the latest issue of PowerTorque, available here. Or look out for Will’s upcoming articles on our website in the next few weeks.
“Although the headline grabber has been the XG+ with its 12.5cubic metres of cab volume (which is palatial by European standards), the real story is arguably the new XF, which looks set to become the volume seller,” said Will in his recent article.
The IToY journalists also praised the performance of the new highly efficient powertrains, based on the Paccar MX-11 and MX-13 engines, coupled with TraXon automated gearbox, and the advanced features of predictive cruise control with extended Eco-roll functionalities.
“With the introduction of the New Generation, DAF has delivered a high-tech heavy-duty truck range that sets a new benchmark in the truck industry,” said Gianenrico Griffini, International Truck of the Year Chairman. “In addition, it is future-oriented, as it also represents a complete platform for new generations of alternative drivelines”.
The International Truck of the Year (IToY) award was initially launched in 1977 by the British journalist and legendary editor of Truck magazine Pat Kennett. Today, the 24 jury members represent leading commercial vehicle magazines throughout Europe. Moreover, in the last few years, the IToY Group has extended its sphere of influence by appointing ‘associate members’ in the growing truck markets of China, India, South Africa, Australia, Brazil, Japan, Iran, and New Zealand. Altogether, the combined truck-operator readership of the 24 IToY full-jury members’ magazines, as well as those of its eight associate members, exceeds 1,000,000.
