On September 1, in Colorado Springs, Colo., Freightliner unveiled its new Cascadia. Company officials described it as: “the most advanced truck Freightliner has ever designed.”
Plus, they said it will further lower the Real Cost of Ownership (RCO) for customers, and has achieved “significant fuel savings over the already industry-leading Cascadia Evolution.”
You can learn more about the new Cascadia here.
Inside
After the unveiling, I was given opportunity to go for a spin a new Cascadia. It had a downsped 400hp Detroit DD15 diesel engine rated at 1,750 ft/lbs of torque with a Detroit DT12 automated manual transmission and the latest generation of Intelligent Powertrain Management. This uses a GPS-based system to anticipate upcoming road terrain and maximize the powertrain’s ability to utilize fuel most effectively.
The tractor was hooked to a van trailer. The gross vehicle weight of the rig was 75,000 lbs.
Freightliner officials told me that the interior of the new Cascadia received more attention than any previous Freightliner truck, and it is evident. The interior, which has an automotive style to it, has been designed for style, comfort and functionality.
The ergonomically designed wraparound dashboard has a switch layout, instrument cluster and informative dash display interface – to keep drivers informed as they drive – that is impressive, and steering wheel controls are intuitive.
A Freightliner engineer told me the interior was designed with help from a company that designs cockpits for aircraft.
The rig had plenty of power, and the ride was extremely quiet, due in part to a new engine mount design, new front suspension and improved seals and insulation.
Moreover, the interior is designed for living and working, with customizable living-space options.
Uptime design
Another thing I found impressive about the new Cascadia was that serviceability and uptime were among the design criteria. Freightliner master technicians inspected and rated every component on the truck for ease of serviceability and maintenance improvement recommendations.
The new truck was “technician evaluated and technician approved.”
New splayed frame rails create more room in the engine compartment to allow technicians easy access for maintenance tasks. Most electronic control units are now stored securely in the cab in the new eVault for easier convenience and protection from the elements.
In front of the eVault is the fuse and relay box which is easily accessible, with no hand tools needed. To increase dash component accessibility, the dash panel was designed to be easily removed.
A video on how technicians participate in the new Cascadia development can be view here.