Freightliner Trucks has introduced the successor to its Business Class line of Class 5-8 trucks. The Business Class M2 is intended for a variety of medium-duty applications, including local and regional distribution, food and beverage, fire and emergency, fuel oil, utility, government, towing, agriculture and other vocations.
The initial offering is a 106-inch BBC platform. Extended and crew cabs will be introduced later this year, and a 112-inch BBC model will be available in 2003.
Standard power comes from Mercedes-Benz MBE900, turbocharged, intercooled, in-line, 4- or 6-cylinder diesels, with horsepower ratings from 170-280. Also available is Caterpillar’s 3126, with ratings from 175-300 hp. Transmission choices include Mercedes-Benz and Eaton Fuller manuals and Allison automatics.
Key Business Class M2 improvements cited by Freightliner include:
- Superior visibility, with a sloped hood and 2,500 square-inch windshield;
- Better maneuverability, with a wheel cut of up to 55 degrees;
- A more comfortable (aluminum) cab, with more room, and a redesigned, blend-air-only HVAC system;
- Ease of service, with improved access, color-coded wiring (which has been reduced through multiplexing), easier diagnostics, and elimination of traditional trouble spots, such as the heater water valve. Also, a new, modular air manifold reduces the number of air lines in the cab.
Limited production of the Business Class M2 will begin this June.
Freightliner (www.freightlinertrucks.com)
