The forefather of the MAN EfficientLine

Back in 1932, a three-axle vehicle MAN S1H6 made a 60-day tour across Germany and clocked up 6500 km. This unique test drive was used to promote the high efficiency and profitability, as well as to prove the significantly lower fuel consumption, of the most powerful diesel engine in the world (140 HP) at that time in comparison to a petrol engine in long-haul transport.

Efficiency champions en route to the Orient

As a milestone in the development of the EfficientLine from MAN, this was a test drive for two MAN trucks of the 400 Series as well as the 420 bus model, which started from the MAN plant in Nuremberg on 23rd October 1955. Compared to their predecessors, the three new MAN commercial vehicles were all optimised in terms of weight and two of them were equipped with the new M-Series diesel engine. The route then took them to Baghdad and back, which covered more than 16,000 kilometres. The objective of the trip was to test the new 400 Series over long distances and especially on routes abroad. The result was that the spare parts, which were transported on-board, could be returned in their original packaging and mass manufacture could commence.

Reliability under extreme conditions

In the winter of 1960, a MAN 745 L1 started an initial test drive through the Sahara. The truck left from Tripoli and drove right across the Libyan desert. Around 2,400 kilometres were clocked up during 166 hours of driving to test the resilience under extreme heat conditions. The result: The toughest test was successfully passed even during the highest temperatures.

A MAN 635 as well as a 770 L1 truck completed a 6000 km long test drive in Scandinavia in the spring of 1961. The small convoy left Helsinki and travelled through Lapland up to the Arctic Circle, where ambient temperatures as low as -25°C prevailed. Once again the MAN commercial vehicles were able to prove their quality and reliability, as well as endorse their potential as efficient top performers for long-haul transport.

Fuel savings and efficiency right to the top

To test the new commercial vehicles in terms of their performance in the mountains, a MAN 535 HO-R9 Coach, a MAN 10.212 Hauber tipper truck and a 1580 DHK truck covered a 1,000 km journey under load up to the Stelvio pass. No problem for these wonders of efficiency: With a total of 22 people on board and approx. 450 kg of baggage, the MAN bus had an average consumption of only 22.1 l/100 km. The three-axle vehicle (MAN 1580) also had no problem with the steepest turns and gradients between 8–12% despite its total weight of 18 tons and had a fuel consumption of just 41.6 l/100 km. Even more efficiency (32.3 l/100 km) was demonstrated by the two-axle vehicle as it powered its 14 ton payload upwards. Both truck models were equipped with the new, water-cooled 6-cylinder engine with HM technology.

Long-haul test winner on the motorway

In 1973, a MAN-Büssing truck 22.320 UNL embarked on a long-distance test during which the 38 ton long-haul traffic juggernaut (including trailer) drove non-stop from Hamburg to Munich. The total distance of around 750 km was completed by the truck in 10.5 hours and mostly at night. The MAN tractor unit and its 320-HP supercharged underfloor engine U12 DA had a consumption of approx. just 35 litres of diesel per 100 kilometres. In terms of economy and efficiency alone, this was a great performance, which was promptly acknowledged by the German transport newspaper, ‘Deutsche Verkehrszeitung’, with the ‘Car of the Year 1972’ award.

Convincing even when competing against themselves

The Belgian specialised journalist, Leo Nuyens came up with an exciting idea in 1985, in which two MAN long-haul trucks would compete against each other in a unique long-distance test. Both laden with 38 tons total weight, a MAN 19.291 and a 19.331 FLS set off on a three-day test drive from Antwerp to Marseilles and back.

At an average speed of around 77 km / h, the fuel consumption of the two MAN trucks was almost identical. How efficiently the 6-cylinder turbo engines operated was clearly demonstrated by the average fuel consumption of just under 32 litres per 100 km, which was also due to the use of front apron and roof spoiler.

Excellent performance in European long-haul transport

Several European trade journals have subjected the MAN F90, with its 460-HP 10-cylinder engine, to exhaustive testing in long-haul transport. In terms of fuel consumption and efficiency, the truck achieved a peak value for the 40-ton semitrailer class. The conclusion of the journalists: “Super truck that optimally combines power, comfort and safety.”

MAN in pursuit of a record for fuel consumption

The MAN Eco-Challenge Tour from Edinburgh, Scotland to Bari in Southern Italy caused a furore as MAN created a new world record. The MAN F2000, which was fitted with aerodynamic fairings and driven by professional drivers, consumed just 25.2 l of diesel per 100 km – a record unmatched so far in terms of fuel consumption for a 40-ton heavy-duty truck.

1000 miles with maximum efficiency

Members of the international press were able to see the efficient MAN trucks for themselves at the ‘Mille Miglia’. Six MAN trucks from the TGA range with 360, 410 or 460 HP were provided for the 1000 mile long test drive through Italy. The result: Average fleet consumption of 34.74 l / 100 km at 68.6 km / h.

The world premiere of the MAN TGX EfficientLine at the IAA 2010

MAN took the opportunity at the IAA 2010 to present the TGX EfficientLine, a commercial vehicle that proves that targeted advanced development of drive technology and consistent customisation of equipment for fuel savings and establishes that not all the potential has been exploited in terms of efficiency and economy in modern long-haul transport. MAN has opened new horizons with this vehicle – so far no vehicle manufacturer has implemented the known physical correlations so consistently on the vehicle.

MAN has equipped the powerful truck with many additional extras and a comprehensive package of efficient features that also make it a cut above the competition in terms of carbon footprint. The truck consumes up to three litres less diesel per 100 km, which facilitates an annual reduction of up to 12 tonnes of CO2 emissions per vehicle.

MAN TGX EfficientLine is a best-seller and named ‘Green Truck’ of the year

The trucks, which are specially equipped for more efficiency in long-haul transport, have been well received by the market. 1,000 models of the EfficientLine Series were already on Europe´s roads in 2011.

In the same year, three MAN TGX semitrailer combinations, including two MAN TGX EfficientLine models, started the MAN Consistently Efficient Tour. The test drive proved that fuel consumption in long-haul transport could be reduced by up to three litres per 100 kilometres.

The MAN TGX EfficientLine was also named the ‘Green Truck’ of the year from of a test field of 14 vehicles in total. The key to this success was the high economic efficiency, the lowest fuel consumption and the least CO2 emissions in the test field. With a mileage of around 150,000 km and a utilisation period of four years, reduced fuel consumption of up to three litres means savings of up to 18,000 litres of diesel and up to 47 tonnes less CO2.

The 10,000th MAN EfficientLine and a breakthrough in Korea

Only two years after being launched in the market, the 10,000th unit of the MAN TGX EfficientLine rolled out of the production halls. Clear evidence that the continuous advanced development of innovative technologies to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions is a clear benefit for all parties in long-haul transport.

The continuously expanding long-haul transport sector in Korea provided the MAN TGX EfficientLine with the opportunity to prove its high efficiency, low fuel consumption and reduced emission levels. On the way along the busy expressways between Seoul and Gwangyang, the efficiency champion has only one goal and that is to make the transport boom more economic and cleaner.

Freight forwarders set their sights on the rolling fuel-saving wonder

The German transport company JURA put the MAN TGX EfficientLine to the test as part of a large practical test programme. The efficiency wonder impressed the fleet operators with its low fuel consumption at maximum payload.

MAN TGX EfficientLine vs. MAN TGX EfficientLine 2

Four years after launching the TGX EfficientLine, MAN presented the successor model at the IAA Commercial Vehicles trade fair in Hanover. Equipped with new technologies to reduce fuel consumption such as the optimised D26 engine with the torque enhancement TopTorque, the GPS-controlled MAN EfficientCruise® cruise control and MAN TipMatic® 2 with new fuel-efficient gearbox functions, the TGX EfficientLine 2 sets new benchmarks for load-carrying transport.

Shortly before this, the new TGX EfficientLine 2 and its predecessor were sent out on a 5,217 kilometre long, topographically demanding comparative test drive across Europe. The tour, which required a height of over 31,000 metres to be overcome, confirmed that the new MAN TGX EfficientLine 2 consumes much less fuel and is kinder to the environment than ever before.

MAN TGX EfficientLine 3 Tour 2016: a test drive to compare two fuel-saving wonders

At the IAA Commercial Vehicles in 2016, MAN presented the new MAN TGX EfficientLine 3 – more powerful and economical than ever before. Proof of this was provided by a comparative test drive in July 2016 between the MAN TGX EfficientLine 3 and its predecessor, which witnessed the two trucks covering a total distance of 4,106 kilometres on a tour across Europe. More power with even less fuel consumption: the new MAN TGX EfficientLine 3 is not only a genuine power pack but also a real cost saver.