The scale and capabilities of the car transporterThe flagship of the South Korean company's model range is the Hyundai Xcient truck tractor

Alexander Eremtsov, photo by the author

An open day took place. Such events are usually formal in nature, so the organizers strive to prepare some surprise for guests in the form of a demonstration of new or rare car models. Autocentre Infoprom also prepared such a surprise. The invitation stated that the Hyundai Xcient truck tractor would be demonstrated to the guests. The last time I saw such a car was at the Comtrans`13 exhibition, and the proposed example had already worked in Russia, and it was very interesting to look at it.

But why did this company get the honor of showing such a rare car in Russia? The fact is that Autocenter Infoprom is an official dealer of Hyundai and Fiat commercial vehicles. Considering the service orientation of its activities, the company preaches the principle of providing a comprehensive solution to any technical problems for transport companies, be it purchasing, servicing cars or some other partnership.

I must say, this is not my first time visiting here. Traditionally, the owners showed all the working areas: the service area, the body shop, and the spare parts warehouse. There is no exhibition gloss and even some oil was spilled here and there, but there was business activity, and this was impressive. Then there was a solemn part with speeches and wishes.

The car must work

The flagship of the South Korean company's model range, the Hyundai Xcient truck tractor, appeared at the auto center when it was already dark outside, i.e. at the end of the working day. And this is understandable - it is not good for such a powerful technique to stand idle for onlookers. And as it turned out, he didn’t appear here at all to be stared at by the company’s guests and clients. Just from today, the car has been received for warranty service at Autocentre Infoprom.

This Hyundai Xcient has been in Russia for over a year and has covered 100,000 km, but it looks great. The chief mechanic of the company that owns Xcient said that the cars were previously only serviced in Europe. In order to quickly solve some current problems, the driver contacted a workshop on the Moscow Ring Road, but the car required more careful treatment, and now it appeared here.

At the presentation, a representative of Hyundai Truck & Bus announced that there are about 100 Xcient vehicles operating in Russia, and servicing these vehicles is perhaps the most labor-intensive and complex. It is quite possible that this number also included Hyundai 500 truck tractors, of which there are not many in our country either, but their sales began earlier. According to my data, in the two years since the appearance of the Hyundai Xcient, about 20 units have been sold to Russia, and even this small fleet needs to be maintained. But it will increase.

Configuration and technology [edit]

All previous Hyundai commercial vehicles were either based on Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation models, or were based on Japanese designs, like its predecessor Trago. Xcient was developed over a period of 3 years and cost 200 billion won. Compared to its predecessor, it features increased interior space and upgraded driver comfort equipment. [6]

At the time of introduction, Hyundai offers two engine options: a 10.1-liter diesel engine (with common rail injection) producing 414 hp. and the top version of the 12.7-liter engine with 520 hp. [6] Xcient is available with engines ranging from 360 to 520 hp. in Euro III and Euro IV variants, with a 12- or 16-speed dual-clutch transmission. [3] Xcient offers a total internal volume of over 1000 liters for the 3.92 meter roof version.

A Level 3 autonomous version is in development at Hyundai. [7]

Second acquaintance

Two years ago we already wrote about Xcient . But there was little information, and it turned out more like a sketch about a new car. Personal communication with the vehicle and its owner brings the most information. We didn’t manage to drive, but we managed to spy a few things.

A truck with a standard roof arrived at the auto center and for good reason, because it is a car transporter. The height of the standard Xcient roof is 3,230 mm. In this version of the cabin, it is not possible to stand up to your full height. Nevertheless, driving a truck is quite free. But the Koreans failed to completely get rid of the engine tunnel. The sleeping area is quite large - 800 mm.

If we talk about the appearance of the truck, then in modern times it can rather be called traditional. True, unlike all previous versions and other models, the Xcient received an aerodynamic design: the windshield is inclined, and dynamic lines are used on the front part, contributing to the good streamlining of the car. At the corners of the car I see the now popular corner deflectors, thanks to which the sides of the car are less dirty. The exterior mirrors are very large, but due to their streamlined shape they make little noise and collect less road dirt.

The possibilities for organizing the internal space depend on the type of cabin. This option did not have a refrigerator, heater and ceiling panel with drawers, but there was a large box under the berth (120 L). The second tier of sleeping space is only possible in the cabin version with a high roof, i.e. it was not available here.

From talking with the driver, I realized that the car is quite functional, but does not cause enthusiasm.
Perhaps this is because the previous car was a third-generation Mercedes-benz Actros, i.e. there is something to compare with. During its operation there were no serious breakdowns, although the car covered 100,000 km, which, as you understand, is a lot. Technical characteristics of the Hyundai Xcient P380 truck tractor Parameter[/td]

Long-range in Korean. Hyundai Xcient

At the Comtrans 2013 exhibition, Hyundai Motor Co. introduced a new generation of heavy trucks, called Xcient

Mikhail Bibichev
At the exhibition "Comtrans-2013" Hyundai Motor Co. introduced a new generation of heavy trucks, called Xcient. The cars aroused considerable interest among specialists and ordinary visitors to the exhibition. At the beginning of 2014, we were able to get to know in more detail one of the representatives of the Hyundai Xcient family - a 4x2 truck tractor. This is a fundamentally new truck, designed specifically for long-haul transportation.

Hyundai Xcient P410.42 4X2 Gross weight: 21,000 kg start of sales: 1st quarter 2014

Photo by the author

Hyundai commercial vehicles are very popular in Russia; just remember the Porter delivery truck, which has long remained a sales leader, or, for example, the HD 65/78 medium-duty models, which are also in considerable demand among Russian carriers. But the company also has heavier equipment - the HD series, which is used today in a wide variety of industries. And at the Comtrans-2013 exhibition, South Korean automakers presented a new family of heavy trucks with a gross weight of over 16 tons, the Hyundai Xcient. The Xcient series will be presented in the entire range on the Russian market. First of all, these are long-haul tractors with an increased level of comfort and 4x2 and 6x4 wheel arrangements, 6x4 and 8x4 construction dump trucks, as well as chassis for all kinds of superstructures with 6x4 and 8x4 wheel arrangements. There will be four cabins to choose from: a sleeping cabin with a low, standard and high roof, as well as a day cabin with a medium roof. Immediately after the New Year holidays, we were able to meet one of the representatives of the Hyundai Xcient, and the flagship - a 4x2 truck tractor with a high cabin on air suspension, with a 410-horsepower engine and a 16-speed ZF manual gearbox.

The driver's workplace is well organized, and the interior is quite stylish, and the plastic is of decent quality

The first thing you notice when externally examining a new Korean tractor is the design - it’s very decent, it has no obvious Asian features and looks more like a “European”. However, everything is perfectly visible in the photo. A wide radiator grille, unusually shaped side aerodynamic deflectors, headlights and fog lights are divided into two independent blocks. Aerodynamic deflectors are installed on the roof and on the sides of the rear part of the cabin. For easy maintenance of the windshield, a wide folding step is built into the front bumper, and the front trim also folds down. It provides access to the filler necks and oil dipstick.

Opposite the passenger seat there is a multifunctional folding table

The inside of the cabin is very spacious. By the way, at one time we tested a tractor of the previous generation HD500, then, due to the low cabin, high engine tunnel and level of equipment, it was very conditional to call the cabin a full-fledged long-range one. Now the situation has completely changed. We see a fundamentally new truck. The interior design of the Xcient cabin is made at the highest level, and the plastic is of decent quality. The cabin has noticeably increased in size both in height and width. You can safely stand in it at full height, from floor to ceiling 1895 mm. There is a motor tunnel, but it is not high - about 200 mm. The air-suspended driver's seat has all the necessary adjustments; in addition, it is equipped with ventilation with the ability to adjust the air flow to cool or warm. All controls, gearbox and parking brake levers, as well as all kinds of buttons and switches are within easy access, and the instrument readings are perfectly readable. There are no traces of traditional Asian wood-look inserts here.

On board the tractor under the lower bunk there is a refrigerator and an additional drawer for food

In the cabin of the Hyundai Xcient, it would be a shame for a truck driver to complain about the lack of space to store things necessary for a long journey. At the top along the windshield there are three huge lockable boxes. Under the lower bunk there are two universal drawers, accessible from both inside and outside. There is a refrigerator and an additional drawer for food on board, which can be pulled out on a sled from under the sleeping bag. On the front panel there is a small retractable shelf, a pair of cup holders and many various niches and recesses for all sorts of small things, as well as two sockets for charging gadgets, both 12 and 24 V. Opposite the passenger seat on the front panel there is a convenient folding table for filling out travel documents or for eating. In addition, folding the backrest of the passenger seat creates another table with a pair of cup holders.

The width of the lower bunk is 800 mm instead of the previous 650 mm, which significantly increases comfort. The sleeping place is equipped with an individual lighting lamp and an air conditioning control unit. The high roof of the cabin made it possible to organize a second berth. The top shelf folds down and has an aluminum folding ladder for easy access.

The Hyundai Xcient tractor, provided to us for acquaintance, was equipped with a D6CC diesel engine manufactured by Hyundai. This is an in-line six with a displacement of 12,344 cm3 and a power of 410 hp. With. at 1900 min-1 and maximum torque of 1844 Nm at 1200 min-1. The motor meets Euro-4 environmental standards. The transmission used is a 16-speed manual gearbox ZF16S1830.

There are two sleeping shelves, the upper one is equipped with a folding aluminum ladder

The suspension on the tractor is on parabolic springs at the front, pneumatic at the rear on four cylinders with height adjustment. The cabin is mounted on a four-point air suspension with an electric lifting mechanism. By the way, the tilt angle of the cabin has been significantly increased compared to the HD series, and the volume of the tilt mechanism cylinder has also been increased. As a result, access to engine components and assemblies during scheduled maintenance and repairs has become even freer.

In the front upper part of the cabin there are impressive lockable storage shelves, and there is also a ventilation hatch

Continuing the external inspection of the Hyundai Xcient, we note the presence of two aluminum fuel tanks with a capacity of 930 and 450 liters. To access the platform behind the tractor cab, there are a pair of convenient steps. The batteries are placed in the rear overhang of the truck frame; they are covered with a special casing, and the mass disconnect button is located outside. The car is also equipped with a double fuel filter with a water separator and a Lincoln centralized lubrication system.

The tilt angle of the cabin, compared to the HD series, has been significantly increased

Once behind the wheel of the new Hyundai Xcient tractor, the first thing we notice is that the ergonomics have really been seriously improved. This concerns both the convenience of the driver’s seating and the location and use of controls. The gearshift lever fits comfortably in the hand, although it somewhat limits the passage to the berth, but you can quickly get used to it, although on some European-made tractors it can be folded while resting in the parking lot.

A hinged top panel and a step built into the bumper greatly simplify access to daily service points.

Unfortunately, we were able to test the car only as a “head”, but despite this, we still managed to get certain sensations, mostly positive. While driving, and even at idle, there are no vibrations on the controls. Thanks to a full set of rear-view mirrors and a high seating position, visibility is excellent. The steering is intelligently tuned and has crisp feedback without any bite. I also liked the clear operation of the manual gearbox, the gears are engaged clearly, and the selectivity is high, and the upper and lower rows are duplicated by the corresponding icons on the instrument panel. The instrument cluster is extremely simple: only four dial instruments, everything else is left to the electronics, that is, information about the state of the tractor, malfunctions, etc. is displayed on the display of the on-board computer, which is located in the middle of the instrument panel.

Under the cabin of the Hyundai Xcient is a self-produced engine with a volume of 12,344 cm3 and a power of 410 hp. With.

The car has passed all the necessary certification tests. Sales are about to begin, but the price has not yet been announced. There are rumors that the Xcient will fall into the same price category as budget European-made tractors, but it will have more extensive equipment.

Additional shock absorbers are used in the cabin air suspension

NOTE

RELIABLE. The bottom of the engine is covered with real metal protection

COMFORTABLE. Storage compartments can be accessed from both inside and outside

MODEL HYUNDAI XCIENT P410.42 4X2

SPECIFICATIONS

SERVICE

Factory warranty - 2 years or 100,000 km

Mileage between services, km - 60,000

COMPETITORS

DAF CF, Ford Cargo, MAN TGS, Mercedes-Benz Axor, Volvo FM

Pros. A spacious and spacious cabin with high-quality finishing, a well-organized driver's workplace, rich equipment, and smooth operation of the gearbox.

Minuses. The gearshift lever somewhat limits the passage to the berth.

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