A Formula One Management Actros 1851LS, one of 12 supplied last week.
Sent to me courtesy of a friend, the New Merc Actros launched today, am hoping he can get some interior shots to me…
Just heard will hopefully have some interior pics by the end of the week.
There has been one of these, heavily disguised with tape and the like, running into the place we tip in Unna for the last few months. Every time he went on a bay he pulled the curtains to stop people seeing into the cab. The grill shape, the lights shape, the windscreen depth were among the things disguised by the tape.
Most manufacturers do the same and run them in normal haulage fleets heavily disguised, I remember seeing an ERF EC in Cardiff transports yard with no badges on and the curtains drawn many years ago and the lads there wouldnt let on what it was… a good year before it was launched.
I was also told a while ago that the reason manufacturers dont put these into British companies, is because to many people are too interested in “Something” different in the industry over here and too many photo’s “leak out”.
I may be being cruel here but at first glance it looked like a Actros with a XF105 roof grafted onto it it 
but the devil is in the detail having compared it to a photo of a 2011 current Actros not many panels seem to have survived the facelift although the overall look still has a Actros resembelence
Eyebrows are gone, also that is one mean looking grille
Looks Ok it’s as good looking as anything else.
Rikki-UK:
Most manufacturers do the same and run them in normal haulage fleets heavily disguised, I remember seeing an ERF EC in Cardiff transports yard with no badges on and the curtains drawn many years ago and the lads there wouldnt let on what it was… a good year before it was launched.I was also told a while ago that the reason manufacturers dont put these into British companies, is because to many people are too interested in “Something” different in the industry over here and too many photo’s “leak out”.
In the very late eighties I remember seeing what eventually became a Renault Magnum in heavy disguise and a matt green paint job, sort of military style, running around Dunstable and up and down the A5 and M1 before it was finally unveiled.
rumour has it that the roofline is 4 metre’s high, i dare say we’ll be getting some at maritime… 
grahamzx6r:
rumour has it that the roofline is 4 metre’s high, i dare say we’ll be getting some at maritime…
Looking at the photo’s available there doesnt seem to be much in the way of roof fairing on any of them, but none give that much of a view of the roof alignment, looking at that trailer, and the fact it running in Europe its a fair bet thats a 4 metre trailer so just shy of 4 metre for the cab is a good bet as I suspect they will have left some margin for a bit of aerodynamics. . If so its a good call by Merc to fully use the available space.
I like it to be honest, it looks imposing enough to say I am big, give me some room, without being aggressive. and if I can get over that XF roof it does have some decent styling about it
But the detail will be whats important, I am looking forward to see what they have done with the interior, and also if there is any major driveline changes.
Rikki-UK:
Most manufacturers do the same and run them in normal haulage fleets heavily disguised,
we don´t get the cab interiors but we have been running a XF105.510 engine in a DAF XF95 for about 6 years now, also on our changing sytem between Holland and Spain there are now 2 Super Space cabs running with the new 460 engine which will not be on the market for about another 3 to 4 years
Post on here and people send you stuff… 
I have now a copy of the MERC press release… which includes this
Comfort: Three-room apartment for the driver is truly worth it
The interior of the new Actros has everything it takes to make a trucker’s working day easier and also incorporates the results from the latest driver research studies. The latter have shown that relaxed drivers are not only much safer drivers but also use as much as two liters less fuel than other truckers. An ergonomic workstation and outstanding comfort right up to the best sleeping quality any truck can offer play a major role here. That’s why the railing with the control elements is built around the driver area in an easy-to-reach design. Examples of the various equipment possibilities range from the SoloStar Concept variant with a rounded corner relaxation area on the front passenger side to a driver seat with a massage feature and a level for precise adjustment of the bed position. The beds themselves can be as large as 2,200 x 750 mm and come with a seven-zone cold-foam mattress that offers the great comfort of a high-quality bed at home.
Examples of the various equipment possibilities range from the SoloStar Concept variant with a rounded corner relaxation area on the front passenger side to a driver seat with a massage feature
OOOOOOH ERRR Missus 
Vascoingles:
Rikki-UK:
Most manufacturers do the same and run them in normal haulage fleets heavily disguised,we don´t get the cab interiors but we have been running a XF105.510 engine in a DAF XF95 for about 6 years now, also on our changing sytem between Holland and Spain there are now 2 Super Space cabs running with the new 460 engine which will not be on the market for about another 3 to 4 years
Yup, thats I think my point is that the manufacturers do realise that a test track/testbed enviroment will not highlight any flaws so they do test in “real” environments.
I have for many years expounded to the manufacturers the fact that T/Net could supply an impartial panel of drivers to critic thier new proposed working environments, but almost all feel they should use drivers from fleets that are their major customers.
the trucks on our changing system run 24 hours a day 6 days a week and can easily run up more than 300,000kms a years which DAF finds very useful
I’ve always quite liked the Actross and they’ve always quite liked me, averaged over 9mpg whilst at Maritime, which I thought was pretty good for the work we did.
A few things needed improving, but overall a good motor, still prefer the windscreen on a BIG MAN XXL though, it’s like being outside 
I like it, looks mean! Although at first glance I thought it was a Renault Premium!
Vascoingles:
the trucks on our changing system run 24 hours a day 6 days a week and can easily run up more than 300,000kms a years which DAF finds very useful
Of course mate, I have taken part in “fuel trials” which involve driving a banked circuit “X” amount of times at" X" speed, pull in measure fuel, then go again at a different speed , rinse and repeat a few times 
then do the same with another maufacturers truck or two
While it may give a scientific result, it doesnt bear any relation to what the fuel results would be in the real world, thats were live fleet trials do matter, in my view matter more. Thats why most big fleets do their own trials by buying seed motors and running them alongside the competition in the real world. At the end of the day its the real world results that can tell you if there is more profit running one marque instead of the other
Scarab:
I like it, looks mean! Although at first glance I thought it was a Renault Premium!
Maybe a Premium on Steroids
Coffeeholic:
There has been one of these, heavily disguised with tape and the like, running into the place we tip in Unna for the last few months. Every time he went on a bay he pulled the curtains to stop people seeing into the cab. The grill shape, the lights shape, the windscreen depth were among the things disguised by the tape.
I saw one end of last year in a truckstop near Mannhiem (sp) wrapped in a black & white, kind of plays with your eyes! I don’t recall it having the high cab!!
Coffeeholic:
In the very late eighties I remember seeing what eventually became a Renault Magnum in heavy disguise and a matt green paint job, sort of military style, running around Dunstable and up and down the A5 and M1 before it was finally unveiled.
I heard many moons ago this is common in France because its illegal to take picture of french military vehicles, could just be a load of old crap, but seems half feasible!!
Vascoingles:
Rikki-UK:
Most manufacturers do the same and run them in normal haulage fleets heavily disguised,we don´t get the cab interiors but we have been running a XF105.510 engine in a DAF XF95 for about 6 years now, also on our changing sytem between Holland and Spain there are now 2 Super Space cabs running with the new 460 engine which will not be on the market for about another 3 to 4 years
I remember when I worked at the local DAF dealer we used to look after a Gist truck that had the then unveiled XE engine fitted, one of the guys I worked with went to Eindhoven to learn about it!! Visbeen used to have new stuff fitted to there trucks!!
Rikki-UK:
Vascoingles:
the trucks on our changing system run 24 hours a day 6 days a week and can easily run up more than 300,000kms a years which DAF finds very usefulOf course mate, I have taken part in “fuel trials” which involve driving a banked circuit “X” amount of times at" X" speed, pull in measure fuel, then go again at a different speed , rinse and repeat a few times
then do the same with another maufacturers truck or two
While it may give a scientific result, it doesnt bear any relation to what the fuel results would be in the real world, thats were live fleet trials do matter, in my view matter more. Thats why most big fleets do their own trials by buying seed motors and running them alongside the competition in the real world. At the end of the day its the real world results that can tell you if there is more profit running one marque instead of the other
90% of our fleet is Volvo with maybe 6 or 7 DAF´s but it was DAF who approached us because of the high mileage possibilities