Swedish truck maker Scania is very serious about spreading its appeal and aspirations in the Australian heavy duty truck market, not just with its range of Super 11 ‘Vocational’ offerings but also with an expanded line of its Fleetline range that it says offers the conveniences of a fixed spec cab and what it describes as imminent delivery.
The company also unveiled a slightly upgraded version of its flagship 770hp V8 S-Series Big Cab, which is now rated 5-Stars in the Euro NCAP crash testing as well as featuring new lightweight, fuel-saving, bogie drive RD756 axles with taller diff ratios and new locally fitted larger fuel tanks that take capacity to more than 1000 litres for added range.
Scania previewed one of its new Fleetline models along with a demo unit of the upgraded 770 V8 to local truck media last week with a drive from Melbourne to Bendigo and back, with both prime movers hauling B-Double rigs with near capacity payload aboard.
The company has added three models to its Fleetline range, with a Dayline Cab, Sleeper Cab powered by Scania’s economical Super 13 six cylinder power plants, and even a V8 Fleetline model using the 590hp 16.4 litre V8 engine.
We had the chance to test the 13 litre CP-17 Day Cab Fleetline loaded to a GVM of just a shade under 58 tonnes with a 560hp rating and 2800Nm of torque, which we found more than sufficiently and capable of strong point to point times, and with enough flexibility to cope with the undulating conditions on the drive back from Bendigo via Heathcote and Kilmore.
If we had driven no other truck that day, we would not have realised how magnificent the updated 770 V8 CS23 Big Cab was. Its supreme 3700Nm of torque is delivered as if turning on a tap, effortlessly pulls its load, in this instance 59 tonnes, away from stand still with a minimum of fuss or bother.
We have said it before, and we will say it again, the Scania v8 is a real treasure, creating a low, reassuring engine note, whether moving away from the lights or digging in and climbing a steep grade. The fact that the big V8 is both powerful and fuel efficient has been enhanced in the demo truck we drove by the addition of the 2.85:1 rear axle ratios in the new lightweight RB756 axles. These are slightly taller and means that at 100km/h the engine is barely ticking over at 1100rpm.
In this state the truck is, as we agreed with Scania national sales director Ben Nye, just wafting along, cruising with intent but with very little noise and a very meagre fuel thirst, and on our hilly drive to the Victorian Midlands, it returned a consumption figure of 2.0 kms/litre.
Nye tells us that the 770S Big Cab was added to the demo fleet to show off the bevy of innovations which he reckons were designed to create the ultimate 
in long distance heavy haulage, power, safety and comfort. We believe they have got it very right and achieved exactly that.
So along with Scania’s latest gen active and passive safety systems, both the S and R Series cabs have received the Euro NCAP 5, which is the highest truck crash safety rating awarded by the European vehicle safety agency.
More on the 770 Big Cab in a moment. first we wanted to delve into the rationale behind the Fleetline range and after speaking with Ben Nye it is clear that the concept is about providing the local operation more flexibility in its offering to a wider range of customers and fleets.
“We have tailored the Fleetline specification to enable it to be sourced from any Scania global production facility, giving us the agility to meet the market in a timely manner, in order to take advantage of customer demands that require short lead times,” Nye said.
In this instance the Super 13 is manufactured in Scania’s truck plant in China, offering Nye and his team flexibility in supply and delivery times while enabling it to pitch a price that is competitive with other brands that may be perceived to be less expensive than Scania.
“Fleetline is a further expression of our commitment to being a pro-active and customer focused supplier, bringing to market a solution that is not only value optimised but also backed by a significant national network of experienced captive Scania and independent workshops to provide maintenance, repair and genuine replacement parts,” Nye told us
“These will ensure maximum uptime, the most vital element sought by the logistics and transport industry,” he said.
“The new Fleetline models offer excellent value for selected fleet customers and those looking for an entrée into the premium Scania ownership experience, bringing the very latest fuel-saving engine technology and safety systems to a wider audience, while Fleetline maintains Scania’s core product attributes while providing a practical solution tailored to operators focused on reducing their total cost of ownership,” he said.
As we said, if we hadn’t driven the flagship back to back with this new Fleetline 560, it would have felt as good or better than any other 13 litre 500hp plus prime mover, and certainly no less well equipped. However that 770 V8 sets the benchmark and is clearly on another plain compared with most others on the road.
This truck performed really well, holding strong road speed in undulating country and easily coping with the stop start going through traffic lights and other obstacles in mid-afternoon congestion through places like Kilmore and the outer northern suburbs of Melbourne.
We did get an accurate fix on fuel consumption, both from the onboard trip computer and accurate fill figures, showing that we were returning better than 2.4 kilometres to the litre, which given the load and the topography was a sterling effort we felt
The 560 is the most powerful version of the Super 13 and this CR20H high roof sleeper cab prime mover was mated to the Scania G33 gearbox and its Opticruise self-shifter, and driving through the new lightweight RB756 axles, also running the 2.85 final drive ratio.
The interior is fitted with the Scania digital dashboard along with a 12.9-inch screen and ‘medium’ grade seats, while both upper and lower bunks were fitted in the cabin.
Underneath, the Fleetline uses a standard 795-litre fuel capacity, but this can be swapped for a locally developed 920-litre Hilton tank package, which Nye and his team have worked to develop here with the local supplier.
“Compared with the seemingly limitless options list we offers through our marketed range, the Fleetline models come with a slimmed down features list, although all of our safety features are included as standard,” Nye told us.
“Naturally our industry-leading dual side curtain roll over airbags are standard and continue to save lives and reduce injury severity in serious accidents in the real world on Australia’s road network,” he added.
“For fleet customers looking for a high quality, high-value, safe and frugal fleet specification, we believe the Fleetline is the standout pick in an increasingly crowded and confusing market,” he said.
“With operating-cost pressures affecting all operators, there’s never been a better time to trade up to a new Scania that can offer significant fuel savings over older trucks in an operator’s fleet,” he added.
Nye told us that he believes that another key benefit across the Fleetline range is the inclusion of Scania’s Repair and Maintenance programs over five years or 500,000 km, which he explained provide complete peace-of-mind, while Scania Finance Australia can tailor a purchase plan that will deliver a range of appealing and affordable payment options.
By comparison, while the Fleetline 560 cab and cockpit were excellent and more than adequate, the 770 V8, as we said, does take things to another level.
The flat floor design delivers a ceiling height of 2070 mm within the cab, allowing even the tallest of drivers plenty of space to move around, without touching the roof, and as with many long-distance prime movers, the S-series can be fitted with a full array of storage boxes, on the rear bulkhead as well as above the windscreen. There is also a single refrigerator on the driver’s side under the bunk, while the other side provides more pull-out storage.
The cab is fitted with black premium leather seat and steering wheel coverings, featuring contrasting red stitching giving S-Series interior a high-quality feel, while the steering wheel has a flat bottom, and black premium floor mats with red edging are also included. The door trims have high quality finishes, highlighted by red stitching and the Scania V8 badge.
Locally Scania has also worked with Hilton Tanks on the 770 S Big Cab demonstrator, which is one of the first Scania prime movers to be fitted with its new locally developed 1000-litre fuel capacity. Hilton Tanks has achieved this by using a 550-litre tank on the left and a 450-litre one on the right, with the left-hand tank incorporating a side step to allow easy access to the truck’s catwalk, while the fuel optimisation unit is mounted on the front-facing side of the tank.
In addition two interconnected AdBlue belly tanks have also been fitted with a single filler mounted behind the left-hand fuel tank, delivering up to 140-litres of diesel exhaust fluid.
“The new tanks set-up delvers 1000-litres of diesel fuel which is an increase on the traditional factory set-up but also benefits by offering a greater percentage of usable fuel thanks to the shape of the base of the tanks,” said Nye.
“Customers have been asking for more fuel capacity, and more useable fuel capacity and we have delivered this in concert with our tank manufacturing partner, Hilton Tanks while the increase in AdBlue useable capacity is also a further advantage,” he said.
“Critically the frugal nature of the Scania V8 also helps to extend the range of the combination, so now there is the potential for around 2000 km between refills, depending on payload, terrain and driving style, so the obvious benefit of this for fleet operators who have access to bunkered fuel is that there is no need to fill up at a roadhouse,” the sales director said.
Hilton was also responsible for the design of a new bullbar for the S-series, which provides suitable protection for the front end of the Scania without compromising the front-facing radar or lighting signature.
We hope to be able to bring you a longer and more probing test of these two upgraded Scania’s in the near future but for now we reckon the brand’s already impressive sales figures can only be further boosted by the widening of its range.
