Peterbilt offers new aerodynamic, fuel-efficient packages

Pics? Wondering when they're just going to punch holes in it like swiss cheese.

 

Kenworth has a three part test for fuel economy innovations. The first test is a 494-mile run down I-5 from Renton to Portland, then east on I-84 through the windy Columbia River Dalles to Baker, OR, and back. This segment gets a 50% weight in the overall average.

The second test contributes 30% to the average. It is an hour-and-a half at a steady 65 mph on Paccar's 1.6 mile banked oval test track.

A high-load segment contributes 20% to the average. It covers 212 miles up to Snoqualmie Pass on I-90, a 3,000-foot altitude gain. Going up, the truck averages 27 to 34 mph. The jake is used all the way down. They do it three times. The trailer is loaded with 46,000 lbs of concrete blocks.

There are many equipment and driving technique factors that are kept consistent during these tests described in Transport Topics 2/16/09 page 13. The article by Manging Editor Bruce Harmon mentions the driver keeping an eye on exhaust temperature to avoid "active" particulate filter regeneration which requires about a gallon of fuel. Sometimes, a driver can use "passive" regeneration by switching off the extra fuel dose and burning off the built-up soot when the engine heats up while pulling a hill.

Just one more thing for today's driver to think about. It is all new to me.

 

12% is a big deal. And I thought those funky new headlights were it. I wonder what else they did to them? The 388/389 are a decent looking conventional truck. The 384 (daycab-vocational) and the 386 are decent looking but that 387 still leaves me wanting. The interior's REAL nice though.

 

Don't know if you're referring to the 387 interior or the updated 386/8/9 interiors, but I just can't stand the dash color change on the 386/8/9's. Black??? I suppose it would look a lot better if they changed the faux wood panels to a darker material like rosewood or mahogany. But as is, it looks like something is missing or out of place. And this is an improvement?

 

Yeah, I meant the 387 interior, here's a 2008 model for your viewing pleasure...I'd actually PREFER a black dash with medium wood and black faced gauges like this. The light gray just seems out of place in a big truck. Maybe in a '92-'94 Ford Tempo this shade of gray could call home.



Problem is I can't find a picture of a 386/388/389 with the black dashboard. Here is a 2009 386 dashboard:



I checked Peterbilt's site and didn't see one truck with a black dashboard. Just the gray with the yellow stripe.

 

12% Not sure I believe this when you add in the cost to add it on.Then the cost to replace it when damaged.Why are some of the fleets shying away from full aerodynamic designs? Keeping the trailer gap down and side tags work well to.Time will tell!

 

Ever notice when they brag on better fuel economy they only mention percentages , not actual mpg ?

 

The reason they do that is cause of the actual mpg is so minimal. They do it all for advertising and to get peoples attention. Plus a actual mpg is hard to detremine. Look at just the difference between pulling a freight box compared to a step deck. From what I have seen you lose about .2-.5 pulling a freight box compared to a step deck. Some of the manufactures run their tests with freight boxes and some with flat beds. It would be very nice if they could agree upon on set of standard tests so you can actually compare the different brands.

 

The yellow stripe is shipping tape. It is removed during the pre-delivery inspection.

These pics are from Peterbilt's news release:


The "new" Platinum Interior in Sahara Tan



The "new" Platinum Interior in Sahara Tan w/optional accessory package



The former Platinum Interior in Burgundy Wine

FWIW, my dealer tells me the Prestige and Platinum interior options are still the "grays" in Artic Gray & Maritime Blue, along with the "tans" in Sahara Tan & Burgundy Wine--just that they all now have the black top dash, panels, and door sill. Unless, of course, you order (at a premium) the optional accessory package which gives you the upper woodgrain dash panels.