The first images of the new cross-coupe KamAZ-6520 2022 with turbo engines from Mercedes-Benz have been published

Daniil Minaev, photo by the author

The past year has been special for the Kama auto giant. Exactly 50 years ago, construction began on the largest automobile plant in Europe. Now KAMAZ is among the world's Top 20 largest truck manufacturers in terms of production volume and variety of model range.

Since 2022, cherry color has become the signature color for the new line of KAMAZ dump trucks. A quick glance at the photo - and there is no doubt that this is a KAMAZ from one of the latest 6580 families. But no!

You won’t be full of ornaments

Five years ago, KAMAZ began implementing a strategy for producing trucks at several price and technological levels: from budget vehicles to premium ones. Now in Naberezhnye Chelny they are already assembling trucks for every taste and budget. Such consumerism allowed the plant not to jump from one extreme to another, but to smoothly regulate the production of equipment depending on the changing waves of growth and decline in market demand.

Aimed at the upper segment of the economy class, the KAMAZ-6520 “Lux” nevertheless fell into the middle price segment, which until recently was divided by used Euro brands, Chinese licensed equipment and MAZ dump trucks with 4th generation cabs. The lettered ornament “K 3539” is attached to the cabin door. By analogy with the Daimler AG concern, marketers convinced that the first two numbers should indicate the total weight of the car, and the next pair of numbers should indicate the rounded engine power in horsepower. The letters in front of the marking numbers in the new family determine the purpose of the trucks: M – long-distance vehicle group, K – heavy or all-wheel drive group, T – promising models. But while developing this trend, the plant was faced with the fact that the indices of the three families produced at the plant began to coincide or intersect, and all meaning of the innovation was lost.

The fundamental differences between the new “Lux” and the KAMAZ line with the 6580 index are the classic frame and 13-ton drive axles from the previous KAMAZ-6520 model, produced since 2007, and a different set of engines.

For example, for the KAMAZ-6580 (K4141D) family in 2022, KAMAZ offers only one option. The large 12-liter Mercedes-Benz OM 457LA V3 of Euro 5 level develops a power of 401 hp. with a torque of 2000 Nm at 1100 rpm.

And the outwardly similar KAMAZ-6520-V K3539 “Lux” is equipped with a medium-displacement engine - an 8.9-liter Cummins ISL400.50 turbodiesel with a power of 390 hp. As an alternative, a modernized classic V8 KAMAZ-740.73-400 is proposed. In essence, this decision allowed the vehicle to be registered at the beginning of the middle price range, since the lower one was already occupied by the classic KAMAZ-6520 with a K3 cab.

KAMAZ tried out restyling on all-terrain vehicles [photo]

Details Category: News Published 06/05/2020

All-wheel drive KAMAZ-43118 received a restyled cab.

Let us remind you that the project “Restyling-2” first became widely known in 2022. Then for the first time we published photographs of the restyled KAMAZ-65116 (6x4) truck tractor, did a detailed review of the restyled KAMAZ-43253 (4x2) onboard truck, and in the summer at the STT-2018 exhibition the KAMAZ-6520 (6x4) construction dump truck after restyling was officially presented .

After that, we haven’t heard about “Restyling-2” for a long time. But, apparently, work on the project continues. Thus, the updates were “tried on” to the all-wheel drive family of trucks, the portal found out.

The updated KAMAZ-43118 all-wheel drive trucks with a 6x6 wheel arrangement were shown yesterday to the President of Tatarstan, who visited the auto giant on a business visit.

The fact that this is “Restyling-2” is immediately indicated by the black edging of the headlights. The headlights themselves received LED turn signals and daytime running lights.

In addition, you can see a new three-section metal bumper, which replaced the plastic version. Metal construction is the best option for construction sites and off-road conditions. Where plastic can crack from the slightest impact (and the entire bumper will have to be replaced), a steel bumper will only bend. In addition, it is three-sectional, meaning that if it is severely damaged, only one of the three parts can be replaced.

Let us remind you that plastic bumpers on KAMAZ vehicles appeared after the first restyling, which caused a mixed reaction among buyers of this equipment. In the Restyling-2 project, the plant finally heard the opinion of the consumer.

In addition to the exterior, Restyling-2 provides for a significant improvement in cabin equipment. So, on the cars presented earlier, the cabin had the following improvements:

• new steering wheel;
• new steering column switches;
• new plastic steering column cover;
• modified instrument cluster;
• new door trims;
• electric windows;
• heated and electrically adjustable rear view mirrors;
• modern sun blinds with adjustable height;
• modern lighting lamps;
• storage shelves;
• box with cup holders between the front seats;
• new gear shift knob.

Most likely, the same set of interior modifications was given to the KAMAZ-43118 model. At first glance, there is nothing grandiose here. However, the combination of these improvements against the background of the previous restyling significantly improves ergonomics and comfort for the driver. Those who have worked on old KAMAZ trucks for a long time will certainly appreciate this.

Photo: Administration of the President of the Republic of Tatarstan

One of the CUMMINS-KAMA family

The ISLe series combines the advantages of lightweight and compact motors with the structural strength of heavy motors. The production of a family of long-stroke engines with a working volume of 8.9 liters (cylinder cylinder size - 114x144.5 mm, compression ratio - 16.6) was mastered by the CUMMINZ-KAMA JV in March 2022. This high-spirited engine filled the previously empty niche of 9-liter diesel engines. It is distinguished by high hull rigidity, low specific gravity, better fuel efficiency, exhaust purity and wide range of thrust enhanced by turbocharging. The decision to develop a family of increased displacement was made after the 6.7-liter ISB6.7 engine family was launched here a few years earlier. Consumers back then couldn’t get enough of the seven-liter “younger brother”: quiet, soft, economical, and does not vibrate. But drivers have forgotten a feature of long-stroke diesel engines, namely: a low reserve of effective power. Therefore, such engines with high liter output were driven out by merciless operation with gigantic overload in heavy work. And of course, the plant was then flooded with complaints. So we had to be puzzled by increasing the displacement for heavy equipment. By the way, something similar happened in the history of the USSR with ZIL-375 carburetor engines: in the 1960s, the derated ZIL-130 engine for installation on heavy equipment had to increase the liter of working volume due to the cylinder diameter, in order to maintain liter power and increase traction.

How to reach a million?

The engines of the “L” series with a working volume of 8.9 liters are interesting due to their relatively low dead weight: 738 kg, which is about 40 kg more than the 6.7-liter counterparts of the ISBе series. The ISL series is designed for heavier and more intensive use. The cylinder block of these engines has “wet” liners, and for repairing the crankshaft it is possible to bore it to four repair sizes. These design solutions solve the problem of a “disposable motor”, which is acute in our Russian conditions.

The Cummins ISL cylinder block and head are cast from cast iron, and the head gasket is made from a metal alloy. The camshaft is located in the block, its gear drive is front-mounted, rods and roller tappets are used in the timing drive, and according to the instructions, adjustment of thermal clearances in the valves is provided after 240,000 km, and the total resource before overhaul should be 1,000,000 km. In some modifications, heat-resistant composite pistons with an oil-cooled cavity and bottom are used: oil supply nozzles are installed in the cylinder block. The ISL series engines use Holset turbochargers with a turbine bypass valve, which reduces exhaust emissions and provides a wide range of torque characteristics.

Progressive localization

In 2022, many localized Russian-made components appeared. And we were not talking about primitive pneumatic compressor brackets, generator brackets or electrical wiring harnesses. Mastery of production required pistons, pins, injectors, etc.

The gearbox of the KAMAZ-6520-V K3539 6x4 “Lux” dump truck is a mechanical 16-speed, produced here in Naberezhnye Chelny at the TsF-KAMA joint venture. Today, about 80% of Kama trucks are equipped with a gearbox from this particular enterprise, which produces two models of gearboxes. These are 9-speed Ecomid and 16-speed Ecosplit.

The ZF 16S1820 TO gearbox installed on the Lux is designed to operate with a rated torque of about 1800 Nm. The engine in our case has a maximum torque of 1700 Nm, which leaves even a small technical margin.

Engine

Until 2008, the KamAZ-6520 was equipped with a classic diesel unit that met Euro-2 requirements. This engine was intercooled and turbocharged.

However, then the Kama Automobile Plant decided to modify the engine. Now the car is equipped with an advanced diesel engine that meets Euro-3 standards. The power plant differs from its predecessors in being more environmentally friendly.

Engine parameters:

• working volume – 11.76 l;
• rated power - 400 hp;
• maximum torque – 1225 Nm.

Classic ridge, but reinforced

The frame, long known to specialists from the classic KAMAZ-6520 model, is additionally reinforced with gussets and inserts, the base length is 3600 mm. All necessary brackets and attachments are secured using high-strength bolts. The Hande front axle has a technical load capacity increased to 9 tons, the rear balancing trolley can normally withstand 26 tons (2x13 tons). This explains the technically permissible total weight of the dump truck up to 35 tons with a load capacity of 21 tons. The distance between the axles of the rear bogie is 1440 mm. Anti-roll bars are provided at the front and rear.

The cardan transmission is two-link, the middle axle is through. The front driveshaft is unified in length with some other KAMAZ vehicles.

Description of the truck cabin

Since the start of production of the KamAZ-6520, the comfort and appearance of the cabin have been improved. Now it has a more modern look, additional options have appeared.

Looking into the interior of the dump truck, you can see an adjustable driver's seat, an audio system, and an ergonomic dashboard. There is a small cup holder on the side of the driver, and an island table on the front right. Air conditioning can be installed as a special option.

The cabin itself is located above the power unit and is equipped with air suspension. The salon has a high roof and three seats. But the window lifts are still mechanical.

Versatility or thriftiness?

The NEFAZ body with a geometric capacity of 16 m3 is designed to transport 21 tons of cargo and is equipped with a tailgate. Judging by the vertical stiffening ribs, it means working with lumpy bulk cargo. The bottom of the platform is welded from 6 mm Swedish Hardox steel, the sides are made from S500MC steel 5 mm thick. But this is still excess weight. The platform lift angle of 50º and heating by exhaust gases allows you to work in the off-season and in winter and with such plastic loads as alumina. If you look at analogues of similar tonnage, you will find that Chinese manufacturers mastered the Russian market with just such bodies, completely rejecting lightweight body models without developed side rigidity.

Advantages and disadvantages of KamAZ 6520

Main advantages:

• high load capacity;
• high ground clearance;
• ease of operation and repair of the dump truck;
• driver-friendly cabin with air suspension and adjustment;
• noise insulation;
• adjustable steering column;
• a preheater appeared;
• several modifications, also with greater capacity;
• body heating option;
• auto-locking system.
• Among the disadvantages it is worth highlighting:
• As the operation progresses, owners have complaints about the assembly and welding of the dump truck;
• the cabin is not so advanced in comparison with foreign analogues;
• difficult to buy spare parts;
• low speed with maximum capacity;
• There are defects in the fuel and brake systems.

Financial catharsis

So what kind of fruit is this – “Lux” 6520-B5?

This is not yet a new 6580 family and not a further development of the 6520 model, which traces its lineage back to the late 1990s. But what?

The orange dump truck with the index KAMAZ-6520-26012-53, which we considered as a compromise between budget and manufacturability, is equipped with a K3 generation cab, a modernized V-engine of the 740 family and a 20-cubic-meter body. Is it worth kicking the old cabin because it is cheaper by a quarter of a million rubles?

The cherry version of the KAMAZ-6520-B5 “Lux” received a more advanced K4 cab from the Mercedes-Benz Axor. The new K4 cabin is the ultimate in comfort for the dump truck driver. He spends a quarter of his working life in the interior of the car, and the main thing is the quality of the inhabited space. If a classic KAMAZ with a K3 cab is a means of earning money and spending the night, then in the new K4 cab the world seems a little more rosy and allows you to understand what the interior of a modern dump truck should look like.

KamAZ-6520: modern heavy-duty dump truck

Due to the rapid development of the construction industry, the need for heavy-duty dump trucks has increased. The Kama Automobile Plant began developing such a car, the first copies of which rolled off the assembly line in 2003. Since then, KamAZ-6520 has remained a leader in the heavy dump truck segment; the vehicle is in demand and is still in production today. In addition to the construction industry, the truck is often used as a timber carrier, grain carrier, KDM (combined road vehicles), concrete mixer trucks are installed on the chassis, truck cranes are mounted, and other manipulators.

KamAZ-6520

By its design, the KamAZ-6520 is a three-axle chassis with a 6*4 wheel arrangement and a front-mounted engine. A distinctive feature of this model is an all-metal welded platform that can withstand heavy loads. Thanks to the impressive size of the body and large load capacity, the KamAZ-6520 received the nickname Mammoth.

Despite the fact that the production of KamAZ-6520 began in 2003, when the plant had already mastered the production of new cabs, the dump truck was still equipped with an outdated cab, designed back in the late 70s of the last century. However, already in 2004 the car was restyled and it received a more modern and comfortable cabin with a modified bumper and headlights. Two comfortable chairs were installed in the cabin (the driver's seat has adjustments in several planes), the driver received side mirrors with improved visibility and an adjustable steering column with power steering (power steering). Currently, the interior is equipped with air conditioning and a three-section modern instrument panel with anti-reflective coating is installed here. Some cars are equipped with a berth.

Today you can buy a new KamAZ-6520 dump truck at a price of 4,800,000 rubles. On the used equipment market, the price of a truck depends on the technical condition, year of manufacture and mileage. You can purchase a car in working condition for a price ranging from 1.5 to 3 million rubles.

What is the foreman looking at?

From what point of view does a modern operator look at technology? The contractor and foreman care about the load on the machine, taking into account access routes and axle loads. That’s when the point of equipping the truck with a body of less volume than its predecessor becomes clear - only 16 m3. This is a purely construction dump truck for zero-cycle development! These are the ones that are used on unimproved roads when excavating pits.

Here it is appropriate to recall another dump truck, mass-produced from 1998 to this day - KAMAZ-65115. This is the child of a long evolution.

In 1974, the 8-ton KAMAZ-5510, designed at ZIL, in Naberezhnye Chelny, contrary to GOST standards for the permissible axle load, decided to increase the load capacity to 10 tons. This was required by the economy and therefore the 10-ton KAMAZ-5511 was replicated in hundreds of thousands at the Neftekamsk branch. Pumping it up to 13 tons in 1988, the result was KamAZ-55111, which in 1998 underwent modernization and, with an increase in load capacity to 15 tons, was presented as KAMAZ-65115.

The latest model had a different front axle beam compared to the KAMAZ-6520 model (axle load 6.2 tons versus 8.9 tons) and a weaker (292 hp) Cummins ISB engine with a displacement of 6.7 liters. The KAMAZ-65115 balance trolley is designed for a load of 19 tons, while for the KAMAZ-6520 it was 26 tons. It can be compared with the KAMAZ-6580 - its balancer is designed for 32 tons.

The 6520 family of dump trucks, with bodies of increased volume, a more load-carrying chassis and more powerful engines, can easily be classified as general-purpose dump trucks.
But the “non-luxury” version is more appropriate to use on a small shoulder outside the city, where it’s a sinful thing to pile up, and the newfangled 6520-B5 “Lux”, outwardly indistinguishable from the even more advanced model 6580, is more suitable for a medium shoulder, where a fairly high speed is required delivery of bulk cargo, or for urban construction. Moreover, the 16-cubic-meter body is more objective for weight control. Comparative technical characteristics of KAMAZ 6x4 dump trucks

Technical characteristics of KAMAZ-6520-V K3539 6x4 “Lux”

Video

The truck's operating systems and components are designed for harsh operating conditions. KamAZ-6520 is not a modernization of the current version, but a completely new model developed from scratch. Initially, it was equipped with an old-style cab, since the main efforts were aimed at developing an innovative chassis. Subsequently, the cabin was replaced with a restyled one.

KamAZ-6520 became the basis for a whole family of trucks belonging to the heavy class. Its design ensured compliance with the most stringent requirements of domestic and foreign legislation. The vehicle's service life before major repairs was 500,000 km. The first maintenance should be performed after 5500 km, the second after 16500 km.

The distinctive technical features of the model are:

1. the ability to transport bulk and bulk cargo, regardless of the quality of the road surface;
2. service life increased by 15% in comparison with “predecessors”;
3. economical diesel unit;
4. large fuel tank;
5. an oval-section platform, which reduces the build-up of transported cargo and increases body rigidity;
6. high-quality gearbox and reinforced frame;
7. the presence of a hydraulic cylinder for the façade structure, which increases stability during unloading;

Taking into account the low fuel consumption and resource savings, the model is one of the best in the segment. That is why the KamAZ-6520 is in demand not only in Russia, but also in the foreign market.

The car is offered in the following modifications:

• KamAZ-6520-006,
• KamAZ-6520-60006,
• KamAZ-6520-001,
• KamAZ-6520-026-06,
• KamAZ-6520-032,
• KamAZ-6520-007,
• KamAZ-6520-036,
• KamAZ-6520-037,
• KamAZ-6520-120.

The differences between them are manifested in minor design changes.

Let's summarize

The plant continues to pay attention to cars of the classic family and its production does not seem altruistic. For many operators, interchangeability of parts and availability of service play an important role, while others no longer want to put up with an outdated cabin and low-power, noisy engine. Therefore, the strategic direction of development, where the maximum use of the traditional chassis and component base of classic KAMAZ vehicles, but with a new cabin and smooth modernization in order to meet all modern standards, is fully justified.

The externally similar KAMAZ-6580 dump truck with a 6x4 wheel arrangement will soon receive 16-ton axles, a new frame and a more advanced engine, which will allow a total weight of at least 41 tons, but the price tag will be significantly higher. But now foremen will have a visible choice.

Type of dump truck

KamAZ 6520 is a truck with a 6x4 wheel arrangement. The dump truck has family features of trucks from the Kama Automobile Plant, which ensures excellent recognition. A dump body with rear unloading is mainly used as a superstructure. For agricultural needs, the machine is equipped with a body with the possibility of side unloading. The body rollover is controlled from the driver's cab.

There are other options for tipper superstructure. So, in 2007, the body was equipped with a heating system, which became an effective solution for working in the cold season. The body itself is equipped with a canopy over the cab for driver safety.

The components and components of the dump truck are designed for harsh operating conditions. The driver's cabin acquired features characteristic of cars of this family, and new lighting fixtures appeared. Improvements also made it possible to make boarding and disembarking the driver and passengers more comfortable.