Penrite goes Racing with new M-B Actros ProCabin transporter

News

20 Aug

Penrite Racing has introduced a new Mercedes-Benz transporter. It is the Supercar team’s first ProCabin, the new aerodynamic Actros model.

The truck was supplied by team sponsor Velocity Truck Centres, which sells and supports Mercedes-Benz, Freightliner and Fuso brands.

The Penrite Racing Actros ProCabin is the top-of-the-line 2663 model with the tall GigaSpace cabin. It features a 630hp 16-litre six-cylinder engine teamed with a 12-speed Automated Manual Transmission.

The Penrite Racing team ticked many of the option boxes, with the partially autonomous Active Drive Assist feature included on the transporter.

Using an additional electric motor in the steering box, Active Drive Assist helps to actively steer the truck and keep it in the centre of its lane, although the driver is still required to hold the steering wheel.

It is one step ahead of systems that can push a truck back into the lane should it wander out because the Mercedes-Benz system actually helps to steer the truck in the first place.

The Penrite Racing Actros ProCabin features a factory-approved black powder coated DuraBar bullbar as well as a light bar with four LED lights. Stainless steel has been used for the deck-plates and tank sills, while LED lighting has been installed underneath the truck and around the grille to really finish off the look. The colour of the lights can be changed from within the cab.

The Penrite Racing transporter has been well received by the team’s truck driver, Rob Davis.

“This is just a fantastic truck to drive,” he said after the first trip to Perth. “The last Actros was quiet but this is even quieter again. It is just so comfortable, and there is a lot of space with the GigaSpace.”

The Penrite Racing transporter also features Predictive Powertrain Control (PPC), which uses topographic map data and GPS information to help the truck anticipate terrain and select the optimum shift pattern, or coast when safe, for maximum fuel economy.

When designing the new ProCabin, Mercedes-Benz extended the front of truck by 80mm and then rounded off the face to reduce drag.

The ProCabin design also removes unwanted gaps and joints and guides air either around the cabin or straight into the truck’s cooling system. This concentration of the airflow maintains the cooling effectiveness of the Actros.