Mitsubishi Future Truck

The concept car that brought to you by famous manufacturer are usually reserved for sport cars, but Mitsubishi is showing you a different next generation of a car that you prefer not to see … dump truck concept. Mitsubishi fuso canter dump truck concept car is far away from our perception, it’s sleek, futuristic, and comes in glossy silver color. I like seeing this dump truck concept car on the road someday…

Behold...the future. (Or not). Browsing through the Biglorryblog collection of the weird and the wonderful I found myself drawn (like a moth to a large, incredibly bright and very expensive halogen headlight unit on a Volvo FH13) to these various glimpses into the future. Will you be driving one of these in 10 or 15 years time. More importantly, would you WANT to be driving one of these in 10 years time? And whatever happened to rhetoric questions?

However, in no particular order of merit I bring you the Daf XFC or eXtreme Future Concept from RIK (whoever he is----but probably one of the Cloggies bright young designers).

Next we have the Mercedes 'F1 Truck' from that nice man Mr Bertrand, doyen of truck designers...Now we have the Volvo BeeVan from North America. Crazy name...crazy truck.

Now click through here to see two 'trucks of the future' that you definitely WON'T be getting!

Ahhh yes. The famous Luigi Colani concept trucks from the late 80s and early 90s. The one on the left was based (I think) on a Daf, the one of the right on a Mercedes. And why does BLB say you won't be driving them in the future? Because if they were 'the future' then, we'd be driving them now, 15 years later...it's called logic. I don't expect you all to understand.

Meanwhile, do you have a favourite 'truck of the future'? if so send me a picture and I'll post it up!

Details Of The Mercedes-Benz Safety Truck Details Of The Mercedes-Benz Safety Truck Posted on May 11, 2006 at 10:30 AM CST Although not as well known here in the states, DaimlerChrysler's Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicle lineup is among the most diverse and technologically advanced in Europe. Their most recent project, the Mercedes-Benz Safety Truck, is the latest testament to this fact, offering the truck's operator and surrounding drivers the highest level of safety currently found on any commercial big rig. In addition to the numerous safety features already available on production Mercedes trucks, such as Lane Assistant, proximity and stability control, daytime driving lights, optimized exterior mirrors, the hill-holder, Brake Assist and splash guards in the wheel arches, the Mercedes Safety Truck also demonstrates a number of new technological innovations, including the Active Brake Assist system. Similar to a safety feature already found on Mercedes passenger cars, Active Brake Assist automatically initiates emergency braking if a collision with a vehicle traveling ahead is unavoidable. The result is a considerable reduction in the severity of the accident, and ultimately, a decrease in accident-related deaths. While I could continue elaborating on all the benefits the Mercedes-Benz Safety Truck possesses, I think it's best if I let DaimlerChrysler's comprehensive press release take it from here. To learn more, keep scrolling for Daimler's full five-page press kit, followed by a number of photos demonstrating the Safety Truck in action. As always, click any photo enlarge. Enjoy. 1. Short Version 2. Safety 3. Mercedes-Benz Safety Truck 4. Traffic Accidents Involving Trucks 5. The Safety Technology of Tomorrow The Mercedes-Benz Safety Truck - no truck is safer The Mercedes-Benz Safety Truck shows what is possible nowadays The new Active Brake Assist (emergency braking aid) will save lives Number of accidents with fatalities is declining significantly Safety features right up to a rescue guideline The safety technology of tomorrow is being developed today Brussels, May 11, 2006 The goals are certainly ambitious. On the one hand the European Union forecasts that goods traffic will increase by around 75 percent by the year 2030, but on the other the number of road traffic fatalities is to be reduced by half between 2001 and 2010. Accordingly Mercedes-Benz is second to none in driving new safety developments onward, with the vision of accident-free driving as the greater objective. The Mercedes-Benz Safety Truck has a particularly important role within this context, as it shows the high level of safety already feasible today. The new Active Brake Assist (emergency braking aid) will save lives The future has already begun: the Safety Truck by Mercedes-Benz is already a reality today, as a unique vehicle which combines all the driver support and safety systems currently available. The latest development highlight is the new Active Brake Assist system. This automatically initiates emergency braking action if a collision with a vehicle traveling ahead is unavoidable, thereby considerably reducing the severity of the consequences. It is therefore entirely realistic to claim that Active Brake Assist will save lives. As a major advantage, the Safety Truck is based on the Actros heavy-duty truck and is already available from any authorised Mercedes-Benz outlet throughout Europe. Active Brake Assist is yet another of many milestones with which Mercedes-Benz has driven development in the field of commercial vehicle safety onward as the innovative leader over the last few decades. No commercial vehicle manufacturer worldwide invests more in the development of new support and safety systems, which save lives on a daily basis. The primary emphasis is always on active safety – preventing accidents from occurring in the first place, or alternatively developing systems which will intervene of their own accord to significantly mitigate the direct effects of an accident. Significant reduction in fatal accidents In this way Mercedes-Benz is reinforcing an already positive trend, as the number of truck-related accidents resulting in personal injury or death has been declining considerably for some years. The European Association of Automobile Manufacturers (ACEA) reports that the number of fatalities in accidents involving trucks in Europe declined by one quarter between 1992 and 2004. Evaluations by the Federal Statistical Office in Germany and surveys conducted on an international basis identify rear-end collisions as the most typical type of accident involving trucks, especially on motorways and other trunk roads. The new Active Brake Assist system, as well as other driver support and safety systems, is designed to address this problem. Extensive array of safety features The Mercedes-Benz Safety Truck is equipped with numerous driver support and safety systems. The Lane Assistant, proximity and stability control, daytime driving lights, optimised exterior mirrors, the hill-holder, Brake Assist, the retarder and splash guards in the wheel arches – all these features have entered series production, and some of them are already standard equipment. Not forgetting automatic climate control and auxiliary air conditioning, which improve driver-fitness safety. And should an accident occur despite all these preventive features, the driver is given the best possible protection by seats with integral seat belts, an airbag in conjunction with a belt tensioner and the robust, life-preserving construction of the cab. And not least, Mercedes-Benz has now developed rescue guidelines for use by the emergency services. These contain detailed descriptions of procedures for rescuing a driver from the cab following a serious accident. In order to prevent accidents from occurring in the first place, Mercedes-Benz has also offered highly successful safety training courses for truck drivers for many years. The safety technology of today is being developed today The Mercedes-Benz Safety Truck and the new Active Brake Assist are by no means the end of development work for even better safety technology, however. There are already new support and safety systems in the offing which Mercedes-Benz will introduce in the coming years. All of them are expected to come on stream before the year 2010, helping to realise the EU goal of halving the number of traffic fatalities in Europe by that date. A stability control system for truck/trailer combinations is undergoing trials, for example. In stop-and-go traffic and in densely populated areas, another system will give truck drivers effective support by automatically braking the vehicle to a stop when traffic tails back. A further development of the successful Lane Assistant already available as special equipment converts this passive system into an active one by adding active steering intervention. In an even later stage, Active Brake Assist will also initiate emergency braking when vehicles ahead are stationary. And in the not too distant future, a parking aid with ultrasonic sensors at the front and rear will assist with slow-speed manoeuvres to prevent expensive and annoying vehicle damage. The Safety Truck of tomorrow is already well on the way to becoming reality. « Previous Page | Next Page » Telligent Lane Assistant: The Telligent Lane Assistant warns the driver when the vehicle is in danger of leaving its lane unintentionally. For this purpose it uses a camera to constantly monitor the distance between the vehicle and the lane markings. If the truck appears likely to cross the lane marking, the driver is alerted by a noise similar to that produced by a corrugated surface on the relevant side. Telligent proximity control: Telligent proximity control relieves driver workload on motorways and other trunk roads. When the system detects a slower-moving vehicle ahead, it automatically brakes the truck with a maximum of 20 percent braking power until a specific distance previously set by the driver has been restored. If the vehicle ahead accelerates, or if the truck driver changes to a clear road lane, the proximity control system automatically accelerates the truck back to its preset speed. This system is also the basis for the new emergency braking aid Active Brake Assist. Mercedes-Benz Safety-Truck - the truck of the future is already available from dealers: The future is already here: the Safety Truck by Mercedes-Benz is already a reality today, as a unique vehicle which combines all the driver support and safety systems currently available. The latest development highlight is the new Active Brake Assist system (emergency braking assistant). This automatically initiates emergency braking action if a collision with a vehicle travelling ahead is unavoidable, thereby considerably reducing the severity of the consequences. It is therefore entirely realistic to claim that Active Brake Assist will save lives. As a major advantage, the Safety Truck is based on the Actros heavy truck and is already available from any authorised Mercedes-Benz outlet throughout Europe. Unique safety feature: the new Active Brake Assist system (emergency braking assistant) comes as standard on the Mercedes-Benz Safety Truck: Safety is the first priority in the vehicle development activities of Mercedes-Benz. Safety for both the driver and all other road users. When it comes to protecting people only the very highest standards will suffice, and the vision of accident-free driving lies behind all these development efforts. As a medium-term goal, accident levels are to be cut by half within a period of 15 years. With the Actros, Mercedes-Benz therefore wishes to produce the world’s safest truck. The Safety Truck based on the Actros shows what is already feasible – no truck in the world is safer. It sets new standards with its driver support and safety systems, as witnessed by the new, unique Active Brake Assist. Soon to be a familiar sight on the roads of Europe - the Mercedes-Benz Safety Truck: In terms of road safety, it would be an attractive prospect if more trucks on the European road network were equipped with every assistance system available on the market. DaimlerChrysler with its Mercedes-Benz Safety Truck is currently the only truck manufacturer to be marketing a vehicle equipped with every assistance and safety system currently available: a truly unique truck. The latest development highlight is the new Active Brake Assist system (emergency braking assistant). This automatically initiates emergency braking action if a collision with a vehicle travelling ahead is unavoidable, thereby considerably reducing the severity of the consequences. It is therefore entirely realistic to claim that Active Brake Assist will save lives. As a major advantage, the Safety Truck is based on the Actros heavy truck and is already available from any authorised Mercedes-Benz outlet throughout Europe. Driver-fitness safety and passive safety: The Mercedes-Benz Safety Truck is also equipped with a variety of safety features to further enhance driver-fitness safety and passive safety levels. The ideal ergonomics of the Actros cab exemplifies this, with its adjustable steering wheel, shift knob integrated in the driver's seat armrest and the comfort air suspension driver’s seat, further underlined by the automatic climate control system and the auxiliary air conditioner to improve driver-fitness safety. If, despite all these precautionary measures, an accident should occur, the driver and co-driver are protected in a strong cab by seats with integral seatbelts, airbags with belt tensioners and, above all, by the robust, protective cell formed by the cab structure. Safety Truck improves visibility when driving in rain with spray guards in the wheel arches: The Mercedes-Benz Safety Truck abounds with seemingly minor but nonetheless impressive details such as the spray guards in the wheel arches, available since the launch of the Actros. These spray guards in the wheel arches help to significantly improve visibility for other road users. They provide effective protection against clouds of spray forming on wet road surfaces. The top photo shows the standard Actros while the lower photo shows a cab not equipped with the spray protection system with its special drain channels. The optional daytime driving lights are already mandatory in many European countries, at least during the darker months of the year. These help other road users to see the truck under unfavourable lighting conditions, e.g. when the sun is low or when driving along tree-lined avenues. Mercedes-Benz Safety Truck - protection for other road usersd writ large: On the Mercedes-Benz Safety Truck, protection for other road users is writ large, one example being the standard front underride guard. This prevents any car involved in a head-on collision with this truck getting trapped under it, thereby keeping the safety cell formed by the car’s passenger compartment relatively intact. Mercedes-Benz has tested this in crash tests involving a truck and a standard medium-size passenger car at collision speeds of 60 km/h. New mirror system ensures a safe all-round field of view: Improved all-round visibility for the driver and a substantial safety bonus for other road users especially pedestrians and cyclists – is assured by this updated mirror system which now all but totally eliminates blind spots. The front mirror, available for the first time ever, shows the driver what is immediately in front of the vehicle and at the transition point to the side. Positioned further out from the vehicle, the two main mirrors improve rear visibility significantly. The field of view is increased still further through the use of mirror elements with enhanced convexity. The standard-fit wide-angle mirrors on the left and right sides of the vehicle with their new position below the main mirrors also help to reduce blind spots to a significant extent. Mercedes-Benz Telligent stability control: The Telligent stability control in the Mercedes-Benz Actros is the equivalent of the familiar Electronic Stability Program (ESP) installed in passenger cars. Within the physical limits, it prevents a semitrailer combination from developing a skid. A sensor detects any tendency to oversteer, whereupon the stability control system first reduces the engine power and then applies brake pressure to specific wheels to keep the vehicle on course. It also intervenes in the braking system of the semitrailer. The above photo shows the Mercedes-Benz Actros Safety Truck with the Telligent stability controlin action, demonstrating how confidently and safely it sails through the VDA lane avoidance/swerve test. The lower photo shows a truck attempting the same without the benefit of the Telligent stability control system. Mercedes-Benz Telligent stability control: Following the success of its passenger-car equivalent, the Telligent stability control system has now also proven itself to be an effective safety-enhancing system in commercial vehicles. Within the physical limits, it prevents a semitrailer combination from developing a skid. A sensor detects any tendency to oversteer, whereupon the stability control system first reduces the engine power and then applies brake pressure to specific wheels to keep the vehicle on course. It also intervenes actively in the braking system of the semitrailer. The photo (above) shows the Mercedes-Benz Actros Safety Truck with the Telligent stability control at work, with the vehicle smoothly negotiating a circular track. The lower photo illustrates what happens if a truck-trailer combination attempts to negotiate the same track without the Telligent stability control system. The emergency braking system mitigates the effects of accidents and saves human life: A topical example of the ongoing pursuit of safety innovations is Active Brake Assist (an emergency braking system), available with immediate effect on the Mercedes-Benz Actros, to date the only truck to be equipped with it. Derived from the proximity control system, this emergency braking system automatically initiates emergency braking action if it detects an impending collision with a moving obstacle. This substantially reduces the speed of collision, dramatically reducing the effects of an accident. The Active Brake Assist system of the Mercedes-Benz Safety Truck uses the three radar beams of the proximity control system. If the system detects a potential collision, the driver is first warned visually, then acoustically. If the driver does not respond, partial braking with approx. 30% of full performance is initiated, followed by full braking if necessary. The forecast is therefore very realistic: this new Active Brake Assist system will save lives.