Mercedes Benz opens its doors to allow customers and journalists to test its range of trucks and vans
By Gary Worrall | May 25, 2010
With the most diverse range of commercial vehicles in Australia, covering everything from light commercial vans to road train-rated prime movers, Mercedes-Benz decided to showcase the capabilities of its products.
Held at the Australian Automotive Research Centre (AARC) at Anglesea in rural Victoria, the ‘Drive It’ day was an opportunity to sample the different technologies in controlled circumstances.
With a range of surfaces—from skidpans to a replica of a dual lane highway and mud and clay off-road circuit—the AARC allows manufacturers to highlight virtually every facet of their vehicles.
Mercedes-Benz showcased the all-wheel-drive trucks, including 4×4, 6×6 and 8×8 versions of the Actros, as well as the Sprinter 4×4.
The vehicles were put through their paces on tracks made extra greasy by rain and constant use.
On the highway sections, participants had the opportunity to test out the latest safety technologies.
This included sensors to detect inadvertent lane changes as well as a radar-based cruise control that automatically matches the truck speed to the vehicle in front and maintains a set gap between the vehicles.
As well as the engine and braking performances of the trucks, there were chances to test the road holding of the light commercial Vito and Sprinter on the skid pan and brake circuits, including a ‘brake and swerve’ test.
For the full report on the Drive It day, see the June edition of ATN.