There are two parts of the Anthem system which have been introduced with the latest iteration of the iconic Mack Superliner. One is the 36inch sleeper and the other is the electronic architecture in the truck and resulting change evident on the dash board and truck interior.
After making an appearance at the Mount Isa Rodeo the Mack Superliner pulling a double road train, with two trailers branded up to publicise Mack’s sponsorship deal with the Driza-Bone clothing business, was ready for a trip around the roads of Western Queensland.
This is where PowerTorque picked up the truck for a quick two-day tour of the highways of the west of Queensland. The route headed south out of Mount Isa, down to Boulia on single track bitumen, though open dry country, before heading for Winton, and then back to the Isa.
The whole vehicle now speaks one digital language and, as a result ,the integration between things like the engine, transmission and active cruise control are not only seamless, but instantaneous, fully integrated into the electronic system and all of the data appears on a single screen. All of the Bendix Wingman functionality is just an integral part of the truck’s electronic architecture.
The Anthem system gives us the new dash and multi-buttoned steering wheel, which has now been introduced throughout the Mack range in Australia. As has been mentioned before in the pages of PowerTorque this design brings the look and feel of the controls up to date, while retaining some of the traditional North American style.
The style is half analogue, half digital, there is enough that is familiar to cater for the very conservative tastes of the US truck driver and there are enough modern electronics and screen data to tell you this is a sophisticated system you are plugged into. The traditionalist can just watch the dials and hit the switches, like the old days, but the modernist can set up all of the automatic systems to get the best out of the computers on board to achieve the most relaxing and fuel efficient drive by knowing how and when to leave it to the truck and when to intervene manually.
Scrolling through the digital menu could be daunting for the uninitiated, but there is enough data monitoring and parameter setting available to the automation nerd, if they so desire.
This is the 36-inch integrated stand up sleeper, which came along with the introduction of the Anthem system into the range. This sleeper is a major change for the Mack brand here in Australia. The Anthem cabin allows for a higher roof over the driver’s seat. This means there is plenty of headroom for the driver, when standing between the two seats.
Mack sleepers have not traditionally been fully integrated and have suffered from quite a cramped feel, especially in the shorter BBC models. On the 60 inch sleeper which retains the day cab roof, the fact you cannot stand up next to the driver’s seat is not an issue, simply step back into the space between the bunk and the seats.
Not only does the higher roof make the cabin more spacious, it also means there is a good deal more storage available around the top of the cabin. 36 inch cabins are not particularly big, but are a necessary evil when running up against dimension issues in applications like B-double. This a pretty roomy cabin, for a conventional truck which can fit into the 26-metre envelope.
