ORLANDO, Fla. (March 3) — In a flurry of announcements at a Florida press conference, Freightliner Corp. introduced a new day cab version of its Argosy cabover tractor, two new Century Class models, and a limited edition of its long-nose Classic XL.

As well, North America’s largest truck-maker said it would offer a new automatic transmission — built by Aisin Seiki Co. Ltd. of Japan — for its Business Class medium-duty trucks, starting in June.

Aisin also supplies truck and automotive transmissions to DaimlerChrysler, Toyota, and other major manufacturers.
Freightliner said it plans to source Aisin’s electronic A581 transmission for medium-duty trucks and buses up to 33,000 pounds gross vehicle weight. The transmission is rated for up to 280 horsepower and 605 pound feet of torque, and incorporates a torque converter with lock-up in second gear and higher.

Freightliner also announced changes to its Argosy COE. The tractor is now available in five models: the 110-inch raised roof, the 90-, 101-, and 110-inch mid-roof versions, and the new 63-inch day cab.

The latest additions to the company’s Century Class conventional lineup are a 70-inch mid-roof XT SleeperCab and a 34-inch SleeperCab, both available as long (120-inch BBC) or medium-length (112-inch BBC) trucks.
Freightliner now offers 14 Century Class configurations.

Sitting on a 132-inch BBC, the latest Classic XL conventional is an 84-inch raised-roof SleeperCab version to be available in the fourth quarter of 1999.

See the April issue of Today’s Trucking for a full report on these products and other Freightliner developments.