Paccar in Australia is clearly introducing a step-change in DAF Trucks on offer with this new range, it is talking about at least a 10 per cent improvement in fuel economy, a big call from a normally conservative organisation. Many of the major changes are going to give the brand a much better fuel consumption and the ability to compete on this score with other European brands who have seen considerable growth in market share on the back of much improved fuel figures.
The entire drive line is now geared, in more then one sense, to getting more out of each litre of diesel. The upgraded 13 litre MX 13 engine is going to be joined by the new MX 11, an 11 litre engine which is considerably lighter, without much of a power and torque penalty.
Available in the CF models is the six cylinder 12.9 litre engine, the MX 13, which gives out 480hp (353kW) of power at 1600rpm. Meanwhile, the torque available is 2500Nm (1844 ft lb) all the way from 900 to 1125rpm. Importantly, all of the engines on the new DAFs are compliant with Euro-6 exhaust emission rules.
This level of emissions is now standard in Europe and the US and the latest emission engines also come with the much more sophisticated electronics capable of running all of the latest safety and truck control systems.
Over and above the 480, in the CF range, there is an option to go to the top MX 13 option, rated at 530hp, in terms of power and with just a bit more torque on tap at 2600Nm (1918 ft lb). The higher torque becomes available at a slightly higher rpm level at 1000rpm. This larger horsepower engine is the standard fitment in the larger XF models in the new range.
The enhancements in the new MX 13 engine involve the introduction a more efficient turbocharger, a new EGR system and a new valve actuation design. Thermal efficiency has been enhanced by developing a new combustion system, including new pistons, injectors and injection strategies, while higher compression ratios are employed.
New highly efficient variable speed cooling, steering and oil pumps are also used to achieve lower fuel consumption. Decreasing parasitic load in the engine further assists in reducing engine load and reducing fuel consumption.
Behind the new engines is the ZF Traxon AMT, which offers even smoother and intuitive changing while minimising the time between ratios to an almost seamless change up and down the gears.
One of the major steps in reducing the fuel burn in these trucks is new taller gear ratios becoming available in the new higher efficiency rear axles. All of these elements in the drivetrain are integrated and use the much enhanced computing capability on the new range to improve all round performance. This is clearly demonstrated as the AMT chooses gears to enhance the performance of another vital part of this drive line, the engine brake.
According to DAF, by introducing a step-change in DAF, the improvement to the driveline contributes 68 per cent of the fuel savings, while integration and software contribute 21 per cent, aerodynamics seven per cent and the climate control system four per cent.
This is an enhanced engine brake that proves to really effective in pulling up a fully loaded truck when needed. The strength of this new engine braking became clear during the limited test driving available to the media at the time of the launch. (For a more comprehensive test drive of the new DAF XF, look out for the next issue of Diesel Magazine.)
