It’s all about reimagining, prototyping, and making. From our design team to real-world testing, this innovative truck was a collaborative effort between Daimler Truck divisions and skilled industry partners from around the world. Our Michelin partnership is just one of many collaborations that enabled us to explore new technologies.
Although our teams keep a sharp eye on the future, they also remain solidly in touch with reality and practicality when it comes to innovations that can be brought into production. In fact, a number of innovative features from the first SuperTruck design are available today in the market-leading Cascadia, including enhanced aerodynamics, improved engine thermal efficiency and powertrain integration technologies, such as down speeding and predictive powertrain controls.
It’s built for the real world and with real customers in mind.
At the heart of the vehicle is the powertrain, and our Detroit Engineering team was critical to making the improvements to the engine, transmission, and axles that enabled us to meet our overarching goal of doubling freight efficiency.
New powertrain technologies include integrated adaptive tandem axles and dynamic load shifting. The integrated adaptive tandem axles automatically shift from 6x4 to 6x2 at highway speeds to increase fuel efficiency. Dynamic load shifting automatically engages at highway speeds and allows the tag axle with less rolling resistance to do most of the driving, which extends the life of the tires.
It’s these improvements to key components of the powertrain that make SuperTruck II more fuel efficient.
One of the things about building an original is that it’s truly a one-of-a-kind vehicle. And that’s how we put it all together – with precision from start to finish. Parts and system improvements never before assembled were integrated, tested, and tweaked by hand until the last panel fell perfectly into place. What was once just a vision is now a reality.
One of the primary goals of the SuperTruck II project was improving aerodynamics. That’s why we have our own wind tunnel and spent hundreds and hundreds of hours testing new shapes, sizes, and surfaces to build our most aerodynamic truck ever.
Then we drove it over thousands and thousands of real-world miles. We learned from experience and engineered better, more effective systems and technologies. .