Freightliner Upgrades M2 and SD Collection With ‘Plus’ – Gear

The Plus collection takes Freightliner’s medium-duty and vocational lineup presents improved driver consolation and elevated productiveness.

Picture: Jim Park

Freightliner is upgrading and rebranding its medium-duty M2 and vocational SD fashions. Greater than 20 years have handed because the M2’s introduction, whereas slightly greater than a decade has passed by because the SD made its debut. Each have seen incremental enhancements over time, however this announcement represents a big step ahead in supplies, options, and expertise for the 2 platforms.

The improved variations of the M2 and SD fashions are collectively referred to as the Plus collection, together with the M2 106 Plus, M2 112 Plus, 108SD Plus, and 114SD Plus. The Plus collection is designed to take Freightliner’s medium-duty and vocational lineup to the subsequent degree with improved driver consolation and elevated productiveness potential.

Enhancements embody the total suite of Detroit Assurance 5.0 energetic and passive security options together with the improved connectivity of Detroit Join. The DD13 Gen will energy the 114SD. And for the primary time, a lineup of Cummins engines will probably be supplied in some fashions together with most Detroit Assurance security options.

Each fashions get all-new interiors, with higher seating, extra enticing and useful inside materials and supplies, and upgraded sprint boards and car controls.

“We listened to fleet house owners and drivers, and redesigned one of the vital extensively trusted medium-duty vehicles available on the market to make it even higher,” mentioned David Carson, senior vp, gross sales and advertising, Daimler Truck North America.

The Plus collection brings fully new interiors to the M2 and SD product line, starting with all-new supplies centered on improved match and end. It has improved cab insulation for a quieter work setting, and an general give attention to the human-machine interface, mentioned Arron Scates, vp, vocational and medium-duty product market growth.

“A lot of the suggestions we’ve acquired on the M2 over time has been, ‘if it isn’t damaged, do not repair it’,” he informed reporters in the course of the latest unveiling of the Plus collection. “However extra lately, we have gotten suggestions that we have to make a serious leap ahead when it comes to expertise and options. That’s actually what the Plus collection is all about.”

The M2 Plus lineup contains M2 106 Plus, M2 112 Plus in single- or tandem-axle tractors in addition to truck chassis with GVW as much as 66,000 lbs.

Picture: Freightliner

Inside Upgrades

Enhancements for all fashions embody new trim ranges designed for buyer desire and functions, with improved insulation that higher muffles exterior noise whereas offering better thermal effectivity. The sprint is upgraded with an easy-to-read driver data middle, and several other of the controls are actually built-in into the steering wheel. All fashions now embody the acquainted Detroit transmission management stalk, which is appropriate with all automated and automatic handbook transmissions.

“That is the primary main replace of the M2 and SD inside, and it is one of many core parts of the brand new Plus product,” mentioned Greg Trinen, head of vocational and medium-duty product advertising. “We’re now utilizing a brand new plastic materials that is designed for diminished squeaks and rattles. It’s much more strong and proof against chemical substances, grime and particles that may put on and tear materials contained in the sprint. We even have normal, insulation within the roof now designed to scale back noise within the cab.”

The client-configurable sprint panel presents 2.5 instances extra space for truck tools producers to position their management {hardware} and a completely customizable swap format.

The M2 Plus and SD Plus fashions include a recent inside design utilizing materials designed to withstand squeaks and rattles. The sprint has an easy-to-read driver data middle and several other of the controls are actually built-in into the steering wheel.

Picture: Freightliner

Detroit Assurance Debuts

With the brand new electrical structure, Plus collection vehicles give clients entry to the Detroit Assurance 5.0 suite of security methods. Along with being obtainable with all Detroit engine fashions, for the primary time, clients will be capable of order sure Detroit Assurance options when spec’ing Cummins engines.

“Even when your fleet has completely different powertrain wants, you will nonetheless be capable of get the identical efficiency and expertise, and in addition practice your drivers in the identical means about use the tools, no matter your powertrain alternative,” mentioned Scates.

Normal chosen security options, together with Lively Brake Help, Lane Departure Warning, and non-obligatory Facet Guard Help, permit for elevated security on the street or jobsite. Extra options, equivalent to Adaptive Cruise Management, which robotically adjusts cruising velocity to keep up a secure following distance, will turn out to be obtainable with Plus collection at the beginning of manufacturing within the third quarter of 2023.

Outfitted with the Detroit Join Suite of Connectivity Programs, together with Digital Technician, Detroit Join Analytics, and Security Occasion Viewer, Plus collection vehicles will present fleets with key details about car efficiency for higher decision-making and fewer downtime.

Powertrain and Transmission Choices

Additionally new to Freightliner’s Plus vocational lineup is the DD13 Gen 5 engine. Will probably be obtainable within the 114SD Plus when the truck goes into manufacturing subsequent fall. It is available in scores from 370-525 hp and 1,250-1,850 lb-ft. and presents entrance and rear engine energy take-offs (FEPTO / REPTO).

Among the many new options of the DD13 Gen 5 is ThermoCoasting, which makes use of the engine brake to maintain exhaust temperatures excessive when coasting or in low-load circumstances. This retains the aftertreatment system at its optimum temperature and considerably reduces the necessity for parked regens.

The Detroit DT12-V (vocational) transmission is normal on the 114SD/DD13 Gen 5 mixture. It has an Off-Highway Mode that options aggressive shifting for sustained momentum and higher efficiency on any terrain and Hill Begin Assist to protect towards rolling again on steep grades. The Rock-Free Mode reduces downtime attributable to wheel-stuck conditions. Paver Mode permits dump vehicles to shift from impartial to drive with out urgent the brake pedal.

Plus collection vehicles convey the Detroit Assurance 5.0 suite of security methods to medium-duty and vocational vehicles. For the primary time, sure Detroit Assurance options will probably be obtainable with Cummins engines.

Picture: Freightliner

Relying on truck mannequin, the Plus collection lineup presents Cummins’ B6.7, L9 and X12 diesel engines in addition to L9N and ISX12N natural-gas-powered engines. Eaton handbook and automatic handbook transmissions and Allison automated transmissions are additionally obtainable in Plus collection vehicles.

Extra Environment friendly Upfits

Freightliner officers mentioned the Plus collection was engineered for extra environment friendly upfitting with the introduction of the QuickFit Electrical System. QuickFit encompasses a new multiplexed structure that makes integrating truck tools to the car simpler than ever.

QuickFit delivers simpler entry to essential connection factors, extra energy sources, programmable switches, customizable parameters, and interlock options, making upfits quicker, extra versatile, dependable, and sturdy.

“The truck tools producer can create their very own harness and plug in on to our Deutsch-style connector. Once they obtain the truck from the supplier, it is primarily a plug-and-play system,” Scates defined. “The TEM can then transfer proper on to doing the validation of their tools. In different phrases, they do not need to tear aside the sprint so as to add switches and do a bunch of non-value-added work on the wiring facet.”

The brand new QuickFit electrical system encompasses a multiplexed structure that makes integrating truck tools to the car simpler than ever.

Picture: Freightliner

The Daimler Truck North America CHEC Software offers a user-friendly interface to view and modify electrical configurations and alter parameters in minutes, retaining customization quick, seamless and environment friendly. With the facility of QuickFit and the CHEC Software, duties that have been as soon as thought of too advanced, costly or unimaginable might be completed extra simply and effectively, in response to the corporate.

With Plus collection vehicles, key electrical elements have been additionally relocated to supply improved isolation from exterior variables and street particles that may trigger downtime.

The B-panel area is extremely configurable, with room for as much as eight teams of 4 switches, for a complete of 32. If extra are wanted, they are often positioned within the header panel above the motive force.

“You’ll be able to transfer issues round,” mentioned Scates. “You’ll be able to transfer switches to the place you need them utilizing the CHEC Software and all the pieces goes to work because it ought to. All the things’s all multiplexed in now; there is no precise hardwiring or something anymore.”

Manufacturing of the Plus collection will start within the third quarter of 2023 on the DTNA Mount Holly, North Carolina, and Santiago Tianguistenco, Mexico, vegetation. The complete Plus line might be ordered starting instantly.

The SD Plus household embody the 108SD Plus, and 114SD Plus with GVW as much as 69,000 and 92,000 lbs respectively.

Picture: Freightliner