It seems to be on trend – launch a new range of trucks, then launch some significant upgrades just a year or so later.  We saw it with Iveco, where the details of the revisions to the S-Way were revealed just as the first examples were hitting the UK’s shores.

MAN has released some fairly major upgrades to their TG range of trucks this time around, including their OptiView camera mirror replacement, Over The Air (OTA) Updates and a claimed improvement in fuel consumption of 3.7%.

“We know that our customers’ businesses never stand still, so at MAN we never stop working on enhancements for our products. For this reason, we are making our new Truck Generation more efficient, safer and more innovative and are placing even more focus on simplifying the day-to-day operations of our customers and drivers, thus making us a reliable and competent partner,” says Göran Nyberg, Executive Board Member for Sales and Customer Solutions at MAN Truck & Bus.

What’s New

The improvement that is the most obvious is the absence of traditional exterior mirrors for customers who specify the optional mirror replacement system, which can be ordered from October onwards has cameras at the front and on the sides of the vehicle.  Whilst standard on the Actros, both DAF and MAN have chosen to make their mirror camera systems optional extras – they are expensive to fit, after all.

They show what is happening around the truck on two large high-resolution displays on the A-pillars and also on the screen of the media system. The driver has a selection of view options to choose from, each consistently eliminating blind spots, improving visibility and, above all else, significantly improving safety for other road users. The turn assist function is also integrated into the display concept.

Active Safety Gadgets

The new collision avoidance assistant provides greater safety when changing lanes. As an extension of the previous lane change warning system, the assistant intervenes by countersteering if a collision is imminent.

The new MAN CruiseAssist function provides another form of electronic driving assistance. It can be used to steer, brake and accelerate the TGX and TGS trucks independently in traffic on the motorway, even in the case of traffic jams. Even though the driver needs to keep their hands on the steering wheel at all times, the system takes a lot of the burden off the driver and offers significant safety benefits. Both systems will be available for the TGX and TGS from July. The collision avoidance assistant as well as the lane change support and turn assist functions, which are already available for the TGX and TGS, can be ordered for the TGM from October.

A new turn assist camera system with warning function from MAN Individual provides greater safety ex works, particularly as a retrofit solution for older vehicles.

Further Fuel Savings

MAN originally claimed fuel savings of up to 8.2 percent at the launch of the new TG range last year. With their new dynamic torque adjustment function, which can also be ordered from July, and the speed reduction when cruising at idling speed have a further impact on the reduction in fuel consumption. When combined with the MAN TipMatic 12 gearbox, which is now used by default in standard tractor units, and the aerodynamics, which have been further improved by the removal of the exterior mirrors and the arrival of the new sunblind for the GM and GX cabs, additional fuel savings of up to 3.7 percent can be achieved in long-haul transport situations with the D26 engine series.

OTA Updates

MAN Perform, the tool for analysing driver and vehicle deployment, will be upgraded between the second half of 2021 and early 2022, offering new features such as automated fleet and driver reports, and the ability to integrate additional performance data. The digital maintenance management system MAN ServiceCare, which acts as an interface in analysing and transmitting vehicle data to the MAN service outlet in this new expansion stage, also offers a major advantage in terms of greater vehicle availability: The ServiceCare Center takes it upon itself to contact customers in good time if a fault occurs on the vehicle – before this fault results in a breakdown.

MAN TGX & Trailer 2021 Model Year
MAN has released some fairly major upgrades to their TG range of trucks
New Updates to the MAN TGX 2021
The improvement that is the most obvious is the absence of traditional exterior mirrors for customers who specify the optional mirror replacement system
Interior MAN TGX 2022 Modedl with mirror camera system
The driver has a selection of view options to choose from, each consistently eliminating blind spots and improving visibility
MAN TGX Sunblind improvements
The aerodynamics have been further improved by the removal of the exterior mirrors and the arrival of the new sunvisor