Mercedes-Benz Reflects On 25 Years Of Actros Trucks In The UK
On 21 September 1996, Mercedes-Benz debuted its Actros commercial truck at the IAA transport show in Hanover, Germany. The innovative vehicle continues to impress drivers and owners five model generations later.
“We are immensely proud to be celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Actros,” says Mercedes-Benz Trucks UK’s Head of Marketing, Katie Purcell. “Few, if any, trucks generate such loyalty and passion among customers, plenty of whom have been running Actros through all five model generations. We love hearing and sharing their positive stories about our flagship product.”
Early Actros Models
The first-generation Actros was a “clean-sheet” design that sold well from the start, according to Mercedes-Benz. It was the first truck of its kind to have disc brakes on all wheels as standard, improving safety with a 25% shorter stopping distance. The first Actros also featured new V-8 and V-6 engines, as well as a new transmission and suspension, which were overseen by Mercedes’ Telligent systems.
New aerodynamic cabs, including a MegaSpace cabin with a flat floor, contributed to the new truck’s fuel economy. The Actros also boasted longer intervals between required service points. Mercedes’ new truck won the International Truck of the Year award in 1997, with the UK representative on the jury saying, “The Actros takes truck technology into the 21st Century.”
In 2003, Mercedes-Benz debuted its second-generation Actros with aesthetic changes, an upgraded interior, and Euro 3 emissions compliance. Later, the Gen-2 Actros was available with Euro 5 engines and Mercedes’ new PowerShift automated manual transmissions.
The third-gen Actros arrived in 2008 with a PowerShift 2 gearbox and Euro 5-compliant BlueTec engines as standard features. The PowerShift 3 transmission came along in 2012 in the redesigned fourth-generation Actros, along with up to 7% better fuel economy with a Euro V motor.
Today’s Actros
The fifth generation of Actros reached UK shores in 2019. It offers Euro Stage VI six-cylinder engines, five cab roof shapes, and Mercedes technological advancements. The innovative MirrorCam system replaces the truck’s side mirrors with cameras, improving aerodynamics and some blind spots. The cameras automatically adjust when the truck is turning or reversing, keeping the rear of the trailer in view.
The latest Actros comes with the Active Brake Assist 5 emergency braking system, which uses radar and video cameras to identify pedestrians and objects in harm’s way and automatically brake the vehicle. Another standard feature is Mercedes’ updated Predictive Powertrain Control, which shifts the transmission’s gears according to 3D road maps and satellite positioning to improve the truck’s fuel economy by as much as 5%.
The Actros’ optional interactive Multimedia Cockpit sports an upgraded 12-inch digital instrument panel, navigation, Traffic Sign Assist, and access to the Mercedes-Benz TruckApp Portal.
Find The Right Mercedes-Benz
Truck Locator presents a bevy of new and used Actros tractors and rigids and other Mercedes-Benz trucks for sale.
Source: Mercedes-Benz