discs all round,aCANbuselectricalsystem
and an aerodynamicallydesignedcab.There
was also a Telligentthree-pedaltransmission
that pre-selectedthesynchromesh.
Mercedes-Benzalsointroducedanall-new
family of V6 andV8enginesthatdelivered
impressive fueleconomyandperformance.
Unfortunately,theengineerspushedthe
engines too hardandthereweresome
frustrating enginefailuresinitially.
Mercedes-Benzhadnotbeenableto
undertake localtestingofthetruck,soit
had not been awareofpotentialissues.The
company workedhardtokeepcustomers
moving and itsengineersvowedtonever
introduce a newmodelwithoutasignificant
local testing program.
A raft of changeswasmadeandthegreatly
improved andvastlymoredurablesecond-
generation ActrosarrivedinAustraliain
- This modeldidmuchtowinback
customers forthebrandwithanofferingof
both Euro 4 andEuro 5 enginesthatarrived
well before thatemissionstandardwas
mandatedbythefederalgovernment.The
newmodelwasalsomadeavailablewith
therevolutionaryactivebrakeassist(ABA),
whichusedradartodetectamovingobject
infrontofthetruckandautomaticallyhitthe
brakes.
ItalsointroducedthePowershift 1
automatedmanualtransmission
withconstantmesh,whichwasatwo-
pedalsystem.
In2009,thefirstSLTheavyhaulerarrived
inAustraliawitha250-tonneplusweight
ratingandthreeofthemwereusedon
amegaconstructionjobinthemining
industry.Classic DEALS
The SK became the first
truck sold in Australia
fitted with anti-skid
brakes as standardThere are several prominent
Australian transport operators
who built their businesses
with the help of the tough and
efficient LS 1418135