DAF - International Truck of the Year 2018
DAF's New CF and XF Named Joint International Truck of the Year 2018 Winner
DAF's New CF and XF ranges have been jointly crowned International Truck of the Year 2018 at the Solutrans Commercial Vehicle Show in Lyon, France.
With a winning score of 104 votes, the trucks beat the Iveco Stralis NP 460 (96 votes) and the Scania XT (59 votes) into second and third places.
The jury of 23 commercial vehicle editors and senior journalists from across Europe praised the trucks' improved drivelines, which feature optimised MX-11 and MX-13 engines, the latest ZF TraXon 12-speed automated gearbox and new DAF rear axles.
These together deliver improved driveability, greater fuel efficiency and seamless gear-changing characteristics.
Numerous energy-efficient features include improved combustion, engine down-speeding, intelligent auxiliaries, driveline component integration, enhanced predictive features and weight reductions.
"There's certainly a lot more to this truck than a new sun visor and grille," said CM editor and UK jury member Will Shiers.
The Iveco Daily Blue Power was named International Van of the Year 2018, with the manufacturer praised for producing a range of highly sustainable light commercials with a choice of powertrains that reduce operators' environmental impact.
The range, which includes electric, CNG and Euro-6 Real Driving Emissions options, scored 113 votes, with the new Ford Transit Custom coming in second place with 79 votes.
The other podium place went to Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles' latest gas-powered Caddy TGI model.
"The Daily Blue Power range puts together the main and viable solutions to reduce the environmental impact of LCVs in urban and suburban operations" said one of the judges.
In the final category, the Volkswagen Amarok V6 took the International Pick-up Award 2018.
"Jury members adjudged the Amarok V6 to be the best all-rounder in a very close-run competition. It scored 56 points with its new German rival, the Mercedes-Benz X-Class achieving 50 marks, and the current Toyota Hilux not too far behind on 41 points" said Jarlath Sweeney, chairman of the International Pick-up jury.
