MACK’S mDRIVE

Mack’s new automated manual transmission is said to give customers up to 1.5% improved fuel efficiency, better driveability, and enhanced driver satisfaction, the company says.

It will be available on Pinnacle model highway tractors powered by the MP7 and MP8 engines, which can be ordered now for deliveries beginning early in the fourth quarter of this year.

The mDRIVE was one of several engine and powertrain-related announcements Mack made during the Mid-America show. It also introduced the new C150/151 family of rear axles, with new gear ratios tailored for the MP series of engines, as well as new Econodyne engine ratings to maximize fuel economy.

The mDRIVE has 12 forward and four reverse speeds, and is available in direct drive or overdrive. It has a torque capacity of 1920 lb ft and a dry weight of 615 lb.  The shifting strategy for mDRIVE is optimized for North American highway conditions, says Mack, and is based on cruise speeds of 1350 to 1450 rpm for best performance and fuel economy.

The driver works through a dash-mounted control pad containing manual input and hold shift buttons, with an integral display indicating the current gear. The Co-Pilot driver display in the center of the instrument panel provides transmission status information, including the number of upshifts or downshifts available, the current gear and the current operating mode (such as Economy or Performance).

Economy mode maximizes time spent in top gear, while Performance mode maximizes gradeability. There’s also the additional ‘MackCellerator’ or kick-down feature that drops the transmission one gear (while synchronizing engine speed) plus an optional ‘Grade Gripper’ or hill-start assist when launching the truck on an incline, to prevent the vehicle from rolling backward. It also detects when the tractor is attached to a trailer and automatically reduces torque output if it’s bobtailing to save fuel.

The mDRIVE is available in two versions, Fleet and Premium. The Fleet package includes basic shifter controls, with Grade Gripper and MackCellerator as options.  The Premium package consists of a shifter with more features for greater driver control, including manual shift inputs, performance and economy modes, plus Grade Gripper and MackCellerator. mDRIVE is available with two optional rear-mounted power takeoffs. 

Mack says the transmission addresses a customer concern by allowing the truck to start in higher gears than first if conditions warrant. In auto mode, the start gear and driving gear can also be manually selected using the Premium shifter.

Other notable mDRIVE features include: Cruise’n Brake, which limits engine brake operation while in cruise control until the target speed has been reached; low-speed modulation control, which enables clutch management at very low vehicle speeds when using the brake pedal to control vehicle speed, such as when backing into a loading dock or driving onto a weigh scale; and customer-predefined splitter position when engaging PTO operation.


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