Power games
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Mercedes has trumped Volvo in the 4x2 tractor power stakes with its Black Edition Actros. Launched at the Hanover Show last autumn, Mercedes has gone for a limited production run of 250 units of this flagship vehicle. And flagship it is because underneath its ‘exclusive paint’, decals and chrome sits an electronically tuned up version of the Mercedes 15.93-litre V8 OM502 engine that powers the standard Actros at 500, 540 and 580hp.
At 612hp Black Edition has got the mainstream production truck power crown – for now – and a badge to prove it, but Black Edition has had its maximum torque output limited to 2700Nm (1990ft-lb) – the same as its 580hp sibling – because the Mercedes 16-speed G260 Telligent auto box has reached its Newton metre limit.
But in anyone’s language 2700Nm is enough to pull a train. Volvo’s FH16 610 still wins on torque output over the Mercedes by 100Nm but it can only be specced with a 12-speed manual box.
For everyday operation 2700Nm is available in the standard Actros 1858 so what the Black Edition is really all about is status, style and telling the world that you have arrived.
Oh we forgot one very important point: the 15 Actros Black Edition tractors allocated for sale in the UK are all left hand-drive.
From the driver’s perspective Black Edition is the S-class of the truck world. On the outside you get a bespoke chrome front grille, 8-tonne front axle, a Voith retarder, chassis side skirts, air cab suspension, chrome mirrors, 385/22.5 super singles on the front axle with 315/70s on the rear, Alcoa wheels, aluminium air tanks, an electric cab tilt and roof mounted chrome air horns.
Inside Black Edition sports an exclusive trim level, leather seats and steering wheel, electric blinds, air con, tinted glass, electric sun-roof, ambient lighting, a fridge, pullout table and comfort passenger seat with longitudinal damping.
From the driver’s seat
Once at the top of the four-step Long Distance Executive cab you can see why Mercedes is pleased with its creation. The cab interior is smart in an understated way that says class rather than extravagance.
Easing into the leather driver’s seat the comfort level is immediately noticeable and it does not take long to get the driving position organised and the electronic mirrors adjusted to the correct positions.
Mercedes positions its Telligent transmission control on the driver’s arm rest and once folded down, a flick of the wrist selects drive and the starting ratio. We took our Black Edition around part of our heavy test route, allowing us to assess its performance over familiar territory.
The main thing that impresses is the Black Edition’s mid-range acceleration. Freighted to 40-tonnes, initial progress is on par with other tractors of this power, the electronics controlling and limiting the torque output to protect the driveline until the truck is making reasonable forward headway. Then the full power and torque kicks in.
In heavy truck terms, between 30 and 45mph the acceleration is blistering, the auto box managing the up-shifts as the engine powers the vehicle onwards.
We felt that the Actros quietens down after 45mph and progress to its limited speed of 56mph is more restrained. This is probably due to the torque limiter and you just feel that the truck could give more; a lot more.
But we found that on the hills this is its undoing. Don’t get us wrong, 612hp and 2700Nm flattens most hills, but you somehow expect something special from a truck like this.
On the hilly section of the M3 approaching Southampton, we were on par with the other heavies on the road but we were not blasting past them as we expected to.
On our 50mph test route hill climb towards Hindhead on the A3, the section that normally calls for a split or full downshift did.
Once wound up again Black Edition quickly re-took top and we were back in the cruise, but it left us thinking that the advertised 612hp, in practice, does nothing to enhance the truck’s performance other than giving it excellent mid-range acceleration.
Braking and handling is what you would expect from Merc’s top tractor and we found the Voith retarder performed superbly on the long descent from Hindhead towards Guildford.
Stability and steering get top marks, which is not always the case with a 4x2, and we detected hardly any movement from the tall ‘Long Distance’ cab.
ROADWAY says
If you took a standard high spec tractor and enhanced the trim and equipment levels you could easily spend a fortune. At £84,000 it all comes packaged for you in Black Edition and if left hand-drive suits your operation there are 14 of these left in the UK.
We have expressed reservations about its performance. The Actros Black Edition looks very special and in terms of comfort and finish is the S-Class of Mercedes’s truck range. We were expecting a very special drive to match and although overall it is undoubtedly a superb machine we finished feeling a little disappointed.
SPECIFICATION
Actros Black Editon
Manufacturer: DaimlerChrysler UK Milton Keynes
Model: Actros 2561 Actros Black Edition 4x2
Engine type: OM502
Capacity/cylinders: 15.93-litre V8
Power at rpm: 612hp at 1800rpm
Max torque: 2700Nm (1991lbft) at 1080rpm
Gearbox type: G260 Telligent 16-speed automated
Ratio spread: 9.75 to 0.57 to one
Front axle: Mercedes I-Beam
Rear axle: Mercedes single reduction
Ratio: 4.833 to one
Cab: Long Distance Executive
List price: £84,000
