New generation Scania S 500 4×2 long-haul truck tractors

Not an ordinary shipment

On August 3, 2022, the ceremonial shipment of three Scania trucks to Russian consumers took place. We publish such messages only in the news section, and even then not always. This time is a special occasion. The fact is that the first three Scania trucks of the new generation were delivered to Russia in very interesting configurations worthy of detailed consideration. Three Russian companies became owners of S 500 trucks.

The event took place on the territory of the official Scania dealership in St. Petersburg, Scania Service LLC. And the organizers created intrigue by first hiding the new tractors from the guests. Indeed, it was very interesting to see what these first three cars were like. And so they solemnly left from behind the service center. Whether it happened by chance or the color selection was planned in advance, the range was stunning: sunny yellow, white ivory and fantastic blue - a special color of the new generation in which it was first presented a year ago in Berlin. As we found out later, all the cars were different not only in color.

Sunny Yellow

I ordered a sunny yellow truck tractor. Its fleet already includes more than 300 road trains consisting of Scania truck tractors and all of them are yellow, like this Scania S 500 A4xNA.

The presented mainline tractor was in a classic set, which is preferred by large fleets. The front axle is on parabolic springs, the rear axle is on air suspension. The fuel tank on the left is designed for 750 liters, on the right - 620 liters. The engine of the DC13 155 Euro 6 environmental class is equipped with an XPI injection system and exhaust gas aftertreatment using SCR technology. The tractor has a GRS905 gearbox with an Opticruise automatic gearshift system with a gearbox intermediate shaft brake.

There is adaptive cruise control with the ability to adjust the distance to the nearest vehicle and with active forecasting of the road terrain.

Technical characteristics of Scania S 500 A4x2NA

White Ivory

White ivory went to . For 20 years it has been specializing in international transportation of consolidated cargo. The acquired new Scania S 500 A4x2NA tractor is somewhat different from its yellow counterpart. A special feature of this car is a four-barrel air suspension at the rear. Usually they put two. The front axle of the tractor is on parabolic springs. The car has two fuel tanks: on the left - 600 liters, on the right - 500 liters. To accommodate two larger fuel tanks and an AddBlue tank, the chassis frame was increased by 200 mm and the center distance was 3950 mm.

The engine is the same as on the first car – DC13 155 (Euro 6). But the gearbox of this mainline tractor is different - GRS905R with an Opticruise automatic gear shift system and an R4100 type retarder. There is adaptive cruise control with terrain monitoring. It allows you to save fuel on descents and ascents by reducing and increasing the fuel supply.

Technical characteristics of Scania S 500 A4x2NA

Fiction Blue

purchases only exclusive limited edition Scania models. This is what happened this time too – the model S 500 A4x2NB in ​​the color “fantastic blue” was shipped to her. A distinctive feature of this model is that the tractor has full air suspension (with a new air suspension on the front axle). The car is equipped with fuel tanks with a total capacity of 1500 liters: on the left - 1000 liters, on the right - 500 liters. Due to the fact that there was almost no space left on the outside of the frame, the urea tank was installed inside the frame, and the batteries were placed in the rear overhang.

Gearbox with Opticruise automatic gearshift system - a new generation with an intermediate shaft brake, which reduces gearshift times by 45%. The car is equipped with a transmission retarder, but this is an unusual retarder; it can be disconnected by a special clutch and allows you to save fuel.

If we talk about a set of security systems, this car is equipped to the highest standard. There is an AEB automatic braking system installed here, there is also a Scania LDV lane marking control system, here there is adaptive cruise control with the function of maintaining distance from the vehicle in front and with a collision warning system. Together with the AEB system, they are able to completely stop the car in a critical situation.

Technical characteristics of Scania S 500 A4x2NB

Night

The start from the parking lot is scheduled for 4 o'clock in the morning, there is a light frost outside and snow sparkling in the light of neon street lights. It’s chilly, I really don’t want to once again leave the warm cabin, tightly closed from prying eyes with thick curtains. The engine has not been started for almost ten hours, but the autonomous liquid heater integrated into the climate control system does its job almost without showing itself, even the fan is almost inaudible.

I carefully asked my colleague Konstantin whether such long-term operation of the “autonomy” drains the batteries too much? In response, he silently turns the ignition key, and the vigorous starter instantly starts the cold engine. Then I thought about this. Progress is not always a loud and noisy stream of innovation that sometimes destroys everything in its path. In automotive technology, this is often idealization, optimization of the operation of systems, devices, and units that have been invented for a long time and have been used for many years. And here’s a clear example: just a few years ago, liquid autonomous heating was a rather expensive option, requiring constant monitoring and careful handling, but in this brand new Scania you just have to press the buttons, choosing the desired temperature in the cabin...

The gray haze of dawn greets us on the territory of Chuvashia.

General advantages

All three tractor units with a high roof and a flat floor were purchased under the Scania DRIVE program, which involves the purchase of equipment through leasing, as well as included maintenance (service contract), driver training, a fleet monitoring system and insurance in one package . All vehicles are equipped with the new generation Scania FMS vehicle monitoring system with advanced features that include two-way messaging between the driver and the office. The ability to set tasks for the driver in real time can reduce idle runs, and therefore increase vehicle performance.

External lighting devices in all cars - headlights, fog lights, additional high beam headlights and side lights - are LED. They shine better, have a longer lifespan and consume less energy.

The cabin equipment includes an upper berth – 800 mm, a lower sliding berth – 800–1000 mm. There is also parking air conditioning and a refrigerator. The Fiction Blue tractor has a swivel passenger seat, rear storage and TV space.

Day

Scania has always been loved by drivers for its spacious cabin and excellent visibility, thanks to the vertical A-pillars. The new generation has complemented these advantages with a certain touch of grace inherent in German passenger cars. The relationship between the adjustments of the driver's seat and the steering column allows you to literally play role-playing games. I am not kidding. Remember the classic types of seating positions for a passenger car driver (low seat, almost vertical steering wheel), a bus driver (high seat, horizontal steering wheel below), a retro truck driver (seat close to the steering column, vertical steering wheel below), and so on. All this can be easily achieved by settling into the workplace of a 2017 Scania S500 4×2 NA.

Among other important information on the central display is the remaining time according to the work and rest schedule - convenient!

Please note that I am not writing in the usual cliché about a sufficient range of adjustments to get you comfortable behind the wheel. The landing is simply whatever you want, the car does not impose anything. It goes without saying that the dashboard keys are divided into functional zones, and the instruments are easy to read. Now more about German in Swedish.

The steering column turn signal lever has an additional non-fixed position: with a slight swing, the signal is briefly turned on for five flashes. The central light switch has moved to the door card on the driver's left hand - a long-standing German tradition. With it in a single block are grouped the keys for “foglights”, settings and heating of mirrors, service lighting of the coupling station, and adjustment of the brightness of instrument lighting. Not only the main mirrors, but also the “curb mirror” and the “front bumper mirror” received an electric drive.

A short December day flew by unnoticed while exploring the numerous equipment and stopping to take photographs. The capital of Tatarstan, Kazan, was left behind; the four-lane highway was replaced by a “two-line highway” with signs of sluggish reconstruction and hopes for expansion. Soon I will have to part with an excellent truck and its first pilot - one of the best drivers, Konstantin Bulatsky, who loves order in everything and is used to meticulously understanding all the technical and other aspects of the complex work of an international driver. But while I still have time, let’s briefly go over the material part of the new product.