The futuristic styling of the Mercedes-Benz Actros ProCabin may be polarising for some, but it certainly grabs the attention of industry people and the public alike.
Improving the aerodynamic efficiencies of cabover-engine trucks was always going to be a challenge due to the drag issues when you’re trying to push a vehicle with the drag co-efficient of a large garden shed through the air at 100 km/h.
Prime Mover had the privilege of being introduced to the Mercedes-Benz Actros ProCabin in mid-2024 at Daimler Trucks’ head office in Germany, and the unveiling of a validation unit at the 2025 Brisbane Truck Show created much interest among visitors who were impressed by the futuristic design, which has been influenced by the all-electric eActros, while retaining the familiar conventional diesel driveline.
The Actros ProCabin continues Mercedes-Benz’s mission to improve virtually every aspect of its range of trucks through inspired design and rigorous research, development and testing.
The aerodynamic design of the Actros ProCabin delivers a significant contribution to reduced fuel consumption and Mercedes-Benz are claiming a three per cent fuel efficiency improvement compared to its predecessor, which itself had been successfully subjected to multiple changes with the aim of improving its fuel efficiency.
The front of the Actros ProCabin has been extended by 80mm and the new cab features a distinctive rounded-off shape to guide the air around and under the vehicle with as little drag possible, while still maintaining cooling effectiveness by concentrating much of the airflow through the front openings.
Leaving virtually no gaps or spaces between cab components further optimises airflow.
Most unavoidable gaps have been blocked off with flexible seals, and the front wheel guards have additional strips which closely follow the radius of the steer tyres.
The guards stay in place when the cab is tilted for service. The use of the slightly wider cab translates to less acute angles for the rear side deflectors, smoothing air flow as it transitions past the cab/trailer interface with a reduction of turbulence.
There are also a redesigned roof spoiler and a new under-cab spoiler to fine tune the aerodynamic performance even further. The efforts of design engineers are too often undone by the fitment by dealers and owners of aftermarket equipment such as bullbars and additional driving lights.
Mercedes-Benz Trucks has worked with Australia’s Durabar, which has developed an optional polished aluminium bullbar for the new Actros ProCabin which protects the front of the truck from animal strikes, while maintaining cooling efficiency and also ensuring the effectiveness of the radar sensors.
The bullbar also has been designed to not interfere with the Actros’s new LED headlights which can be optioned with a ‘matrix’ package for optimum night time illumination.
The ProCabin replaces the existing larger cab Actros models, including the 2.5-metre StreamSpace and GigaSpace.
The current 2.3-metre ClassicSpace and StreamSpace models will continue to be available and will be equipped with additional safety upgrades.
All of the new Actros models will gain a significant active safety technology upgrade which exceeds the latest European General Safety Regulation standards including the incorporation of the Active Brake Assist 6 package.
Daimler Truck says the new electronics platform can process data 20 times faster than the previous version, enabling the truck’s safety systems to react faster.
The Actros now has four new radars fitted to the outer edge of the front bumper, in addition to the existing centrally-mounted front radar located in the lower section of the grille and the camera located on the windscreen.
This combination provides a 270-degree view around the vehicle, allowing engineers to further improve the Active Sideguard Assist system which monitors both sides of the vehicle and covers an even greater area than before. At speeds up to 20km/h it can even stop the truck when it is turning if it detects a hazard.
The system also picks up on, and alerts the driver to, vulnerable road users who are close to the front of the truck.
Orange warning lamps located on the ‘A’ pillars indicate obstacles on each side to avoid the truck changing direction and flash red if the indicators are activated.
These triangular lamps are replicated on the main information screen located in front of the driver. Four steps fitted with alloy non-slip tread plates enable access into the cab and the cathedral-like GigaSpace cab has a flat floor and exceptional roof height.
This test model has the optional leather seats over the standard units that now also feature upgraded fabrics.
All interior lighting now uses LED technology, while new flexible gooseneck reading lights have been introduced for additional convenience.
The sleeper bunk features an inner spring mattress and the bedside control panels have been improved, the ambient lighting has been upgraded and new USB-C sockets have been added to side panels.
A high-quality two-tone curtain has been introduced, and a second factory-fitted fridge has been added to the option list.
This Actros 2663 test unit is equipped with ‘conventional’ mirrors which, thanks to their design, create very little wind noise.
ProCabins fitted with the optional MirrorCam system can be expected to be even quieter and have fuel efficiency benefits due to the absence of the external mirror assemblies.
On the highway the Actros ProCabin is relaxing to drive and its driver assistance systems encourage confidence that this truck delivers a safer environment for all road users.
The Actros is available with the optional Active Drive Assist 3 for partially automated driving (SAE Level 2) which uses an electric motor incorporated with the steering box to provide assistance in addition to the standard hydraulic power steering.
It not only helps keep the truck in the lane but also provides more assistance to the driver and improving manoeuvrability, especially at lower speeds.
The driver can select to be central in the lane, or either slightly to the right or to left of centre, depending upon their own preference.
We quickly find that our own habitual driving style was closer to the left, meaning we were constantly applying slight pressure to steer to the right, a situation readily addressed by selecting to have the truck drive closer to the left of whichever lane it is in.
The system also monitors driver input as a way of maintaining attention, using audible and visual warnings to alert the driver that they don’t seem to be maintaining a sufficient level of concentration or input.
In the extreme circumstance of the driver suffering a medical episode, the system will keep the truck within its lane, slow to a stop, apply the parking brakes, activate the hazard lights and automatically unlock the doors to provide access for emergency teams.
The Predictive Powertrain Control system uses topographic map data and GPS information to help the truck anticipate terrain and select the optimum transmission shift pattern and engine response for maximum fuel economy.
In practice, this translates to the truck selecting the correct gear not only at the start of an uphill grade, but also by upshifting or even disengaging the driveline through the Eco Roll function when almost at the very crest of a hill, harnessing the vehicle’s momentum in order to save fuel by returning the engine to idle speed.
The OM 471 13-litre and the OM 473 16-litre engines remain the same as pre-ProCabin models, as does the 12-speed automated manual transmission.
The test unit is rated at 625hp and the driveline operates seamlessly and makes maximum advantage of the engine’s torque characteristics to maintain the selected speed and maximise fuel efficiency.
As with our typical approach to truck test drives, we are not really driving to the extremes of fuel saving behaviour.
Nevertheless, thanks to the Actros’s combination of driveline controls and aerodynamic efficiency, we still manage to achieve a very impressive average of 2.16 km per litre on the run up the Hume from Melbourne to Albury in a truck with less than 5,000 kilometres on the odometer and at a gross combination weight of just over 55 tonnes.
The aesthetics of the ProCabin are what initially grabs one’s attention, yet it is the combination of mechanical, electronic and other design features developed to result in safe, efficient and practical operation, which take this truck to the leading edge of current diesel-powered technology.
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