Mercedes-Benz Actros voted “Truck of the Year 2009” at the International Commercial Vehicle Show

Mumbai: Mercedes-Benz Actros has been voted as the "Truck of the Year 2009" at the International Commercial Vehicle Show in Hanover. A panel of experts comprising specialist journalists from 21 European countries chose the Actros due to its environmental compatibility, safety and comfort along with the innovative technology.

The Mercedes PowerShift 2 automated transmissions installed as standard in the Actros, will ensure total driving comfort for truck drivers. The new Mercedes-Benz Actros is in its third-generation version for road transport and has been available since March 2008. Other members of the Actros family such as the construction vehicles and the Actros heavy-duty tractor unit with its 250-tonne GCW will also make their debut at the International Commercial Vehicle Show in Hanover .

The truck has sold more than 600,000 vehicles since entering the market in 1996. All three generations of the Mercedes-Benz Actros have been named "Truck of the Year" and making it a hatrick for the Mercedes- Benz truck.

Incidntally, Actros is the only truck with active brake assist - also known as emergency braking assist. Through the "Safety Technology" initiative, the Mercedes-Benz Actros has made a name for itself as a safety truck far beyond its field.

In the new Actros, the improved Mercedes-Benz PowerShift 2 transmission is installed as standard, offering an integrated inclination sensor as well as an optimised shift strategy. A refined sensor system leads to a gentler and yet noticeably quicker change in gear ratios.

It is power by the OM 501 LA and OM 502 LA engines, which comply to Euro 4/5 standards. The range encompasses six 11.9-l V6 engines from 235 kW (320 hp) to 350 kW (476 hp) and three 15.9-l V8 engines from 375 kW (510 hp) to 440 kW (598 hp). The engines have proved themselves with their exceptionally economical and environmentally friendly BlueTec technology in over 200,000 trucks.

The new Actros was the first and remains the only series-production truck which can be equipped with Active Brake Assist as an option. It is based on the Telligent proximity control and independently triggers emergency braking in the event of acute danger of a rear-end collision with a vehicle ahead.

Further optional safety systems are available to support the driver: by means of an acoustic signal the "Telligent" lane assistant warns if the vehicle is in danger of leaving its lane. The "Telligent" stability control is an active driving safety system which reduces the risk of a semitrailer skidding. The "Telligent" roll control provides vehicle damping appropriate to the circumstances. Safety assistance systems are also supported by insurers in the form of discounts on premiums.