KAMAZ showed the interior of a new generation cab - only on video

Daniil Minaev, Photo by the author, Yuri Petrov and Alexander Eremtsov

We continued our acquaintance with the new generation of Kama K5 trucks represented by the first pre-production representative of the KAMAZ-54901 long-haul tractor, personally presented at the Comtrans-2017 exhibition by the General Director of KAMAZ PJSC Sergei Kogogin at the autodrome in Myachkovo near Moscow.

According to the new classification, the model received the index M1845, but this index is unlikely to gain a foothold in driver's slang. If we discard all the pros and cons and look at KAMAZ-54901 a little from above, then the very fact that in the production range of the domestic automobile plant there is a product whose technological level is absolutely comparable to the current model range of the European “seven” cannot but cause positive and restrained patriotic pride. However, the rules of our publication are to understand everything in detail...

Psychological picture

Some time ago, during the CTT-2019 exhibition, I had a behind-the-scenes conversation with a team of engineers from the DK RUS enterprise, the Russian representative office of the freight and bus divisions of the Daimler AG concern. We examined the products of the Kama auto giant. They secretly commented on my question about cooperation between Mercedes-Benz and KAMAZ as follows. If you look at this process through the eyes of an employee of the Daimler AG representative office, it is a shame to see how developments that cost the parent company a lot of work are floating away to Russia. But, if you look at the results of joint work through the eyes of a patriot of your country, it is gratifying to see how new technologies are gradually transforming trucks from Naberezhnye Chelny. When I examined KAMAZ-54901 in detail, and then found myself behind the wheel, I kept mentally returning to this curious position.

There are high hopes for the noisy new product. The cars will be tested until December 2019, and sales will start only after the tests are completed. Therefore, the tractor that ended up in my hands at the Myachkovsky Autodrome is a “children’s” model, pre-production, and at certain moments deserves a condescending attitude. But the other scale is pulled by formidable competitors - the seven largest brands from Europe, Ford and the Chinese, who from time to time show a surge of interest in the Russian market.

New KamAZ 5490 - truck price.

After the new KamAZ 5490 has been examined from all sides, the most important question remains: how much does such a truck tractor cost? Initially it was planned that the price would not exceed 3 million rubles. And so it happened, the starting price of KamAZ 5490 was 2.9 million rubles .

However, it is worth noting that for the same money you can buy a two-year-old Man TGA or Volvo.

As a result, we can say with confidence that KamAZ managed to build a decent truck that can compete with its European classmates. Dynamic, reliable, safe, KamAZ 5490 will appeal to truck drivers.

Ghost fourth generation MP4 – fifth generation K5

The new cabin is the most important detail of the truck’s image and is the result of joint work between the KAMAZ plant and Daimler AG. Frame index - SFTP (like the fourth generation Actros). It is manufactured at a specially built new plant on the territory of PJSC KAMAZ. After welding and painting, the base of the cabin of the future truck acquires a set of external panels and an interior that determines the appearance of either the latest generation KAMAZ K5, or the Mercedes-Benz Actros MP4. The family of cabins for K5 generation vehicles includes 7 options: short F1A with a high tunnel and F1S with a low tunnel, long F1D with a high tunnel and F1T with a low tunnel; the high F1E with high tunnel and the F1I with low tunnel and finally the premium ultra-high F1H with low tunnel for long-haul tractors.

In my opinion, the stylists of Torino Design succeeded in the exterior: stylish and recognizable. Having climbed four high steps, I find myself at the workplace. Brown tones of the upholstery and sometimes recognizable notes, but only notes of the Mercedes interior. Everything else is individual, but, of course, in some places it is slightly “seen” from the best examples of the “seven”.

All controls - the steering wheel, pedals, buttons and levers are configured according to the “easy-sensitive-sharp” principle, the effort is minimal, they require precise dosage, it is unpleasant to drive such a car in bad, rough shoes and outerwear. This decision is controversial, but has many fans, as well as opponents: it’s just a design school that is especially typical for Italian cars. Why such a choice of settings was made, KAMAZ people do not comment, but it’s a pity, it’s always interesting to hear arguments from the first mouth of the creators of a new product...

Contrary to expectations and official background information about the range of cab frame options for the K5 generation, the test tractor has a flat floor, which, it feels, steals a little from the overall interior height of the cab. This is understandable: the layout of the neutralization systems and the increased dimensions of the cooling system components for Euro 6 engines take up a lot of space. Although the subject of the test belongs to the fifth environmental class, the groundwork for the rapidly passing time is necessary, or this happened naturally, because the IV generation Actros was originally built only for the sixth environmental class.

However, no one is offended: the distance in the cabin from floor to ceiling is 1980 mm, and the internal width is 2270 mm. Wide “sleeping bags”, shelves and niches, lampshades with duplicate controls, pull-out sections for things, an on-board information system with a 10-inch touch screen - everything is delivered and equipped in a flagship, premium design.

The only thing that was somewhat confusing was that the refrigerator was offered as an option. But we will return to the topic of options for KAMAZ-54901, but now it’s worth talking about the power line and chassis.

Water bus KAMAZ-6290

Passenger capacity 80 people. Number of seats 33–35 Overall dimensions (LxWxH) 12400x2550x3400 mm Hydrogen power plant power of at least 45 kW

Powered by hydrogen fuel cells, equipped with 6 cylinders for storing compressed hydrogen, cruising range of 250 km.

Power line and chassis

The long-stroke turbodiesel KAMAZ-910.12-450 is the fruit of cooperation between the auto giant and the German-Swiss concern Liebherr. The Liebherr 946 engine, produced since 2012, was used as the basis. The engine design is in many ways similar to solutions from other manufacturers. Layout - 6 cylinders in a row, separate cylinder heads with 4 valves per cylinder, timing drive - gears on the flywheel side. The dimensions of the CPG are 130x150 mm, the working volume is 11,946 cm3. The engine has a cast-iron cylinder block, “wet” liners, and a power supply system with a Common Rail fuel rail.

Power settings range from 380 to 550 hp. s., maximum torque indicators 1700–2540 N.m. The tested KAMAZ-54901 had a power setting of 450 hp. With. (331 kW) at 1900 rpm and maximum 2060 N.m of torque at 1300 rpm.

Dry numbers of power and torque indicators average and generalize the data, placing this engine in a certain conditional general order. Therefore, I recommend taking a look at the graph of the external speed characteristics of the engine. As you can see, after 1300 rpm the maximum torque curve goes downhill. The most favorable torque mode for the KAMAZ-910.12-450 engine is the zone of 1050–1250 rpm. A little low for a long-haul tractor, it is more suitable for leisurely and high-torque special equipment, for which the Liebherr brand is famous. The test drive confirmed the low-end nature of the engine, but partly this feature is compensated by the capabilities of the ZF Traxon automated gearbox, which is equipped with the KAMAZ-54901, as well as the high gear ratio of the main pair - 2.278.

A little about the additional functions of the ZF Traxon automatic transmission used on the KAMAZ-549010 K. It is important that this gearbox, in relation to models of the KAMAZ-54901 family, has a significant margin of safety, since it is capable of operating with a torque of up to 2800 N.m in direct transmission and up to 3500 N.m at accelerating.

For maneuvering in narrow passages, a minimum speed limit function is provided; on an ascent, the road train will not be allowed to roll back by HSA Hill Start Assist; in certain cases, the gearbox will allow you to coast in order to reduce rolling resistance and save fuel; the rocking mode will help you overcome a jam and jump out of a hole; creeping mode Greeping mode makes it possible to start moving when you release the brake pedal without using the accelerator, which is convenient in traffic jams.

Now I sincerely don’t understand why, with such a rich set of premium assistants, even a simple engine brake is not provided in the basic configuration? For now, I’ll attribute this to the “childhood diseases” of the new model...

Fog lights with cornering function are built into the bumper, headlights with lenses

Control and comfort systems

The cabin of the new tractor is equipped with a pair of full-fledged sleeping places-shelves that are not inferior in comfort to home beds, while one of the shelves is fixed in a raised form. Air-suspended seats from Grammer, providing comfort for the driver and passenger, are equipped with all the necessary adjustments and folding armrests. The two-meter height of the cabin makes it possible to move around it at full height. Above the windshield there are compartments for things, a car radio, a digital tachograph, and a ventilation hatch powered by an electric drive is built into the cabin roof.

The cabin is also equipped with air conditioning to normalize the temperature during the hot season. The constant speed control system “cruise control” is introduced not only to save fuel, but also to make driving easier. For this purpose, electric windows and a steering column with a pneumatic lock are provided, designed to regulate the optimal setting of the steering wheel. All this makes the KAMAZ 5490 much more comfortable and easy to use.

During long-distance flights, the driver can appreciate the capabilities provided by electronic comfort systems:

• EBS - an electronically controlled braking system - shortens braking distances and reduces brake lining wear.
• ECAS - air suspension control - provides cornering stability, a soft ride, convenient loading and unloading, reduces braking distance, and maintains a given ground clearance.
• ESP - Electronic Stability Program, an attachment to EBS - provides active safety by neutralizing skidding while driving and maintaining control of the truck.

Experts say that the new series of tractors is a real production breakthrough in the domestic automotive industry, and that it is able to confidently compete with similar models in its class.

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• Engine
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• Similar models
• Reviews

The rest of the main construct

The frame of the newest KAMAZ-54901 vehicle is made of light high-strength steel, the front axle with a load capacity of 9 tons received maintenance-free hubs. The drive axle is a single-stage Daimler HL6, with a hypoid final drive. Gear ratio options are available from 2.2 to 3.07, depending on the modification. I repeat, the test model 549010 K had an axle with a gear ratio of 2.278.

The driveshaft connections have end splines to reduce the load on the fasteners. The brakes on all axles are disc, the braking system includes a dynamic stabilization system. The basic configuration of the car includes a stability control system and a traction control system. Tire size 315/70 R22.5. Anti-roll bars are present on the front and rear axles.

For comfortable mainline operation, the capacity of the fuel tanks has been increased: one tank for 700 l or two tanks for a total of 1200 l, depending on the version. The test machine had exactly this option.

Articulated electric bus KAMAZ-6292

Passenger capacity 135 people. Number of seats 42 Overall dimensions (LxWxH) 18750x2550x3260 mm

It has high consumer properties and technical characteristics, replenishes energy reserves using ultra-fast charging stations from 0 to 100% in 60 minutes, and has a range of 90 km.

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Electronic wealth

As the production line of the new model grows and is mastered, in the form of the legacy of a strategic German partner, a huge number of electronic systems and mobile applications are offered: a driver condition monitoring system, a turn and traffic jam assistant, a system for remote monitoring of the location and control of vehicle parameters “ITIS- KAMAZ."
All this will happen, but a little later in subsequent modifications. Technical characteristics of the KAMAZ-549010 K M1845 truck tractor

Transmission

For this KAMAZ 5490 series, two types of gearboxes are offered:

• The mechanical non-synchronized 16-speed ZF 16S 2221 is distinguished, in addition to its compactness, by its low force on the gear lever.
• Automatic 12-speed ZF Astronic 12AS 2131 - makes automatic gear shifting easier to control (available in the second half of 2014).

In addition, the gearboxes are equipped with a hydraulic retarder brake (intarder), thanks to which braking is carried out without the participation of the service brake system. The retarder reduces operating costs by increasing brake lining life, average speed, and reducing downtime.

Waiting for the market

The new premium domestic tractor will be launched into mass production at the end of 2022, then in about three years KAMAZ-54901 will completely replace its predecessor KAMAZ-5490. The starting price tag of the new product is 6,436,000 rubles. The price includes a 3-year service contract covering the warranty period. This is only slightly cheaper than German, Swedish, French, Dutch and Italian flagship tractor units. But the gap is catastrophically small, so KAMAZ-54901 cannot afford the “long development of personality”; all the flaws of the “childhood diseases” of the design and marketing errors will have to be eliminated promptly, perhaps at an emergency pace. In general, with this model, KAMAZ is experiencing another era - an era of change, in which it is always difficult to live. But if in Naberezhnye Chelny they manage to overcome this path, they will receive a fundamentally new, modern, and not backward, and at the same time very smart truck, and for a long time...

Exterior of the KamAZ 5490 truck tractor.

At first it was announced that Russian designers would make the cabin, and German specialists from Daimler Trucks would work on the axle and engine. The cabin of the Mercedes Axor was taken as a basis, which underwent a slight restyling; the headlights and turn signals began to look different. However, it cannot be said that the KAMAZ team took someone else’s idea. This is a completely new development of KamAZ, into which 40 million dollars were invested. Russian specialists brought the idea to fruition and brought the cabin into line with the new chassis. The new cabin is characterized by a stylish design and streamlining and, accordingly, improved aerodynamic performance.

KAMAZ-54901 in some figures

The declared service life of the truck is at least 1.2 million km, the engine is 1.5 million km, the service interval is 120 thousand km. In the future, the engine will receive several power settings - from 380 to 750 hp. Fuel tank capacity: one tank for 700 l or two tanks for a total of 1200 l. Tire size 315/70 R22.5. The useful volume of the driver's cabin is 9 m3 (5 m3 in 1976, for comparison). In serial production, modifications with wheel formulas 4x2, 6x4, 6x2 are expected. The car will be serviced by 164 dealership centers in the Russian Federation and 39 service centers in the CIS.

Semi-trailer for KAMAZ-54907 (Continent)

Gross weight of the semi-trailer 39,000 kg Number of axles/wheels 3/6+1 Height of the tractor control unit 1150 mm Capacity of Euro pallets 33 pcs. Platform volume 84 cubic meters. m.

A set of solar modules on the roof of the semi-trailer (solar energy generation system), an aerodynamic plastic body kit with an improved aerodynamic drag coefficient, and the presence of driver assistance systems (ADAS).