With internal combustion engine trucks set to play a key role in long-haul transport well into the future, squeezing every last bit of efficiency from the 130-year-old diesel engine is key.
And the latest Euro 6 models set to be on display at this year’s Brisbane Truck Show from May 15-18 cut fuel use and emissions beyond what was thought possible just a couple of decades ago.
The good news for Australian operators is that the latest Euro 6 trucks are not only cleaner than ever, but they’re more powerful too.
Modern turbocharger technology and precise fuel delivery means flatter torque curves, which ultimately improves productivity.
The horsepower on offer continues to jump too, despite contracting emissions regulations, with up to 780hp now available with Volvo’s new powerhouse D17 engine.
Let’s take a look at what some of the leading truck manufacturers are doing to clean up the diesel engines of tomorrow.
Western Star
Penske’s latest Western Star X-Series line-up and MAN TGX range of heavy-duty trucks bring Euro 6 efficiency across a range of powertrain options, with some of the best safety equipment in the game.
On the Western Star side, the X Series has showcased the latest Detroit Diesel Gen 5 engines since the range launched back in 2022. The 13-litre DD13 and 16-litre DD16 engines are both US EPA-10 emissions compliant, while also satisfying the Euro 6-equivalent ADR 80/04 regulation.
The Gen 5 DD13 in particular is a fuel-saving star, with outputs ranging from 450hp right up to 525hp, designed for longevity and economy rather than outright grunt.
According to Business Manager of Detroit at Penske Australia and New Zealand, Bob Gowans, customer testing of the new engines has seen between six and eight per cent fuel savings compared with older models.
The engine also uses less Ad-Blue than ever, freeing up chassis space while allowing operators to complete a trip without refilling.
“The DD16 is generally three to five per cent and DD13 tends to sit around five per cent (Ad-Blue use), as a percentage of fuel used,” he says.
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz has remained ahead of the emissions curve, launching its second-generation Actros range back in 2016 with various Euro 6 engine options (eight-, 11-, 13- and 16-litre) and more safety technology than operators had seen in a heavy vehicle.
At the time, autonomous driver aids were found in high-end passenger cars, but few trucks featured technology like lane-keep assist, so the Actros revolutionised the concept of advanced safety systems in heavy vehicles.
Onboard technology aside, the Euro 6 engines and ultra-smooth Powershift AMT transmissions won the applause of media and customers and continue to deliver.
Another major update in 2020 saw more revolutionary technology introduced like ‘MirrorCam’, which does away with traditional side mirrors in place of A-pillar-mounted cameras that have a far less detrimental effect on aerodynamics. Other high-tech features like Active Drive Assist, which is a car-like Level 2 autonomous safety system offering more proactive assistance, were also rolled out.
At the 2023 Brisbane Truck Show punters were given a look at the latest Mercedes-Benz 13-litre engine, which claimed fuel use savings of up to four per cent compared to the old model, slotting in between the 11-litre and 16-litre engines. The engines continue to get cleaner, but Mercedes- Benz isn’t stopping there.
More recently the truck maker lifted the curtain on its futuristic Actros L model in Europe, which brings a new design and new active safety systems. Despite sharing its sleek ProCabin cab with the all-electric eActros, diesel power will also be offered for the Actros L as it takes ICE efficiency to new heights.
The Actros L is a case study in aerodynamic design, from the pre-spoiler on the roof that sits before, you guessed it, the actual roof spoiler, to the various extended wind-deflecting flaps and panels around (and under) the cabin. Mercedes-Benz even extended the front of the cab by 80mm to allow it to cut through the air more efficiently.
Keen-eyed readers will notice the absence of a front grille, so how will the latest-generation 15.6-litre OM 471 stay cool? Mercedes-Benz says the engine compartment is ‘decoupled’ from external airflow using a range of seals, which improves aerodynamics, presumably funnelling air in via a less traditional path.
The result of all of the aerodynamic efforts? Around three per cent in fuel savings, according to Mercedes-Benz, which when coupled with its latest Euro 6 engines, will make it the most efficient ICE-powered Actros ever.
Combine the four per cent fuel use saving of the revised 13-litre and the aerodynamic benefits of the ProCabin, and Mercedes-Benz could manage a total seven per cent fuel use saving with its latest ICE offering.
Volvo Trucks
Volvo has long been a leader on the sustainability front, offering Euro 6 options across its 11-, 13- and 16-litre models for half a decade, as well as pioneering the battery-electric space in Australia.
However, it’s the truck maker’s willingness to continue to push the envelope that makes its latest Euro 6 range so impressive. The latest Volvo Trucks line-up boasts serious horsepower, efficiency, aerodynamic and safety improvements across models – especially the FH16 top dog.
Volvo also recently introduced the new 17.3-litre D17 engine, which is now the most powerful truck engine on offer in Australia. Based on the proven 16-litre engine, but with a larger cylinder bore, the Euro 6 D17 produces up to 780hp and a gargantuan 3,800Nm.
Keeping the D17 clean, Volvo opted for a new fuel injection system, low-friction cylinder liners and wave-top pistons for optimal combustion. On the exhaust side, the D17 features both exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) and selective catalytic reduction (SCR).
Despite bumping power by 30hp, with the top-spec D16 – not offered in Australia due to cooling concerns – producing a maximum of 750hp compared to the D17’s 780hp, Volvo Trucks claims a fuel-use saving of around five per cent and the new engine is lighter too.
Combine this with Volvo’s slippery FH Aero cab, which it says offers an 11 per cent improvement over the last model, and energy consumption drops further.
Of course, by extension Mack Trucks also gains the 780hp powerhouse – albeit rebadged as an MP11. The engine offers unparalleled efficiency for heavy haulage applications, able to run a final drive that offers serious highway economy without sacrificing pick-up.
The best part? Volvo Group Australia says all power ratings of the D17 are HVO compatible and it is even planning to factory fill every new truck with renewable diesel from the end of this year.
Scania
Scania is best known for thumping V8 engines and mountainous horsepower ratings, but the Swedish manufacturer’s latest range of Euro 6 engines is also incredibly clean as it aims to extend the life of its diesel trucks – and that mighty V8.
The all-new 13-litre six-cylinder ‘Super’ engine was rolled out in 2021, before making its way to Australia in 2023, featuring double overhead camshafts (DOHC) – which is a first for the truck maker – offering fuel use savings of up to eight per cent.
Scania’s ‘Super’ six is available with 420hp, 460hp, 500hp or 560hp, with up to 2,800Nm available in top spec guise, and it’s mated to the latest-generation Opticruise transmissions designed to squeeze maximum fuel efficiency out of the 13-litre engine.
According to Scania, the DOHC four-valve cylinder head technology, coupled with the company’s Twin-SCR system, offers serious engine braking performance and more precise emissions control.
For those wanting a couple of extra cylinders and a soundtrack to match, Scania’s latest 16.4-litre V8 range made its way to Australia in 2021 and has since proven itself as a serious high-horsepower workhorse with up to 770hp/3,700Nm on tap.
Scania redesigned the iconic V8 engine with a compacted graphite iron block, reduced internal friction, higher compression ratios, improved engine management and taller final drive gearing to achieve fuel savings of up to six per cent.
The brand is no stranger to clean engines, with the first Euro 6 Scania models touching down in Australia back in 2014 before being put to work by forward-thinking carrier TNT Australia around Victoria.
However, its new V8 and ‘Super’ six-cylinder engines are proof the Scania diesel has a long life ahead of it.
Like its fellow Swedish truck maker, Volvo, Scania Australia has marketed its entire Euro 6 range of trucks as HVO compatible but the manufacturer also offers FAME biodiesel compatible engine options capable of reducing CO2 emissions by as much as 80 per cent from well to wheel.
Kenworth
The king of ‘old-school cool’, Kenworth, is taking a new-age approach to its trucks despite offering style that still ticks the box for long-time lovers of the brand.
Kenworth’s K220 cabover was launched back in 2022 with the option of a Euro 6 Cummins X15 15-litre engine coupled to the latest 18-speed Endurant XD Pro automated transmission, for operators chasing more efficiency and reduced emissions.
Further enhancing the K220’s clean credentials, Kenworth was able to improve aerodynamic efficiency by four per cent using a new ‘wind cheating’ roof profile designed using computational fluid dynamics.
Of course, Kenworth offers the Euro 6 red engine in its other models, like the popular T610 and big banger T909, but don’t worry – the clean diesel engine options don’t require any of the trademark Kenworth ‘bling’ to be removed!
DAF
Launched in late October, DAF Trucks Australia’s new flagship models, the XG and XG+, are powered by the PACCAR PX-15 which sets a new standard for performance and efficiency.
The Euro 6-compliant new generation engine platform with a sculpted, ladder frame style block, significantly enhances the performance levels of the 15-litre engine. The PX-15 patented architecture allows it to operate at higher cylinder pressures, resulting in impressive performance – 660hp at 1,800rpm and 3,200Nm torque between 900-1,400rpm.
This exceptional performance leads to reduced fuel consumption, optimised efficiency, enhanced durability and improved driveability.
To harness the high torque output from the PX-15 engine, the Australian XG and XG+ are equipped with the ZF TraXon 16-speed automated gearbox.
Locally developed calibrations for high productivity combinations ensure that the perfect gear is always available, making both flagship trucks a dream to drive.
What’s more, the new models are the first to leverage updated European regulations on cab dimensions and feature a redesigned front grille for improved cooling and aerodynamics, 220-litre toolboxes on both sides, and easy access with three evenly spaced steps.