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Scania has just revised its popular R-series. But what do fleet buyers think of it so far? CM puts the mid-roof Highline under the spotlight
The impreSSiVe array of options for Scania's modular P, G and R truck ranges present fleet artic buyers with something of a challenge - to avoid 'over-speccing' their next truck, but without losing out on residuals.
Until 2007, the cab choice was between the tallest 'R' and the smallest 'P*. Then, in September of that year. Scania launched the intermediate "G' cabin.
With an engine hump height of 3 10mm, compared with 450mm in the lowest-mounted P-cab and 160mm for the semi-flat floor R, the G-cab is the obvious halfway-house for those operators whose drivers spend an occasional night out - but who'd rather not spend it in a P cab.
Although Scania (Great Britain) expected the bulk of G-cab enquiries to come from tipper operators, it haLS been surprised by the amount of interest from artic buyers.
CM asked Scania what its typical fleet tractor is. The answer came back: "Still R-series."
And this explains our choice of the R480 Highline for this month's 'The Office]
The 'Highline' roof is a good compromise for fleet work. Its 1,900mm standing height over the engine hump provides 210mm more headroom than in the normal R-sleeper. If you want more, the tallest Topline offers 2,200mm, although it's hardly a 'fleet' cab.
At the heart of Scania's R-series Euro-5 engine line-up is its 13-litre EGR in-line six, rated at 360hp, 400hp, 440hp and (as in our example) 480hp, which comes with 2,500Nm of torque. For fleets with SCR-equipped trucks, the R-series can also be specced with a 12-litre SCR diesel at 380hp and 420hp or a 420hp EEV engine, again with SCR.
All "Long Haulage* tractors have Scania's Opticruise gearbox as standard, and when the revamped R-series broke cover last year (CM 1 October 2009), it included a much-improved two-pedal Opticruise 'box along with a 'faster' (i.e. numerically-lower) new back axle.
Operators running at 44-tonnes can spec an R-series as a 6x2 mid-lift 'pusher' (with 22.5-inch or lighter 19.5-inch wheels on the centre axle), or as a 6x2 twin-steer. Tag 6x2 and 6x4 chassis are also available.
As part of the revamp,...