European Truck Racing Association’s staff expressed their delight with the new Ford F-Max, the 2019 International Truck of the Year award-winning tractor unit that serves as FIA ETRC’s Official Truck this season.
European Truck Racing Association’s operational staff have expressed their delight with the new Ford F-Max, the 2019 International Truck of the Year award-winning tractor unit that serves as FIA ETRC’s Official Truck this season.
The F-Max was designed and tested by 500 Ford engineers over a five-year period. Tests were carried out in 11 countries and on four continents using 233 prototype units. This involved 15,500 hours of lab testing and 5 million km of road testing.
That resulted in a user-friendly truck that from the moments of its debut became a very strong competitor on the market.
“I enjoy driving the truck very much,” said Herbert Kolligs, an ETRA employee tasked with driving duties of Ford’s official vehicle.
“It’s a truck newly-developed by Ford with components supplied by ZF, and it has everything a driver could ask for,” he concluded.
Focus on efficiency
12-speed ZF automated transmission and different drive modes such as Eco-Mode and Power-Mode help optimize fuel consumption. The new F-MAX is also empowered by a variable-geometry turbocharger, a water pump and compressor with multiple working speeds
The new F-MAX offers a high-performance engine with 500PS, 2500Nm and 400 kW braking power. Superior aerodynamics, powertrain calibration and technical features also ensure outstanding performance in terms of fuel consumption with a 6% margin of improvement over previous models.
Driver-centered approach
But it’s not just the technical spec that makes the F-MAX an attractive proposition for truck drivers.
The F-MAX offers comfort with its 2.5m-wide cab along with its modern design and driver-focused approach.
Its flat floor providing 2160mm of floor-to-ceiling height and 260 mm of seat adjustment. Furthermore, the F-MAX offers drivers very generous airplane-style patented storage, and an innovative 90-degree foldable upper bed.
The vehicle’s three-level door opening angle means that when it comes to getting into and out of the cab, the F-MAX is amongst the leaders.
Ford Trucks F-MAX Official Truck to feature in every 2019 race and be an integral part of FIA ETRC paddocks.