Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/328695
FIRST CLASS l 11 BEST-IN-CLASS VISIBILITY T he view of the highway has never been better, according to those who have driven the new Peterbilt Model 579. In fact, the Model 579's best-in-class visibility surpasses previous standards by 46 percent, as measured by glass area of the expansive, one-piece windshield, the large side windows and the optimally placed and designed side mirrors. "We really went after the visibility fac- tor," says Peterbilt Chief Engineer Landon Sproull. "First, we went to great lengths to find out what it takes to be best in class. "Then we defined the best seat posi- tioning, from eyepoint to gauges and to the front and sides. We lowered the dash, the hood and the belt line and made the side mirrors larger. "In the end we realized a 46 percent improvement in visibility over other makes. That's something we're very proud of." Details such as the design of the A pillars, which support the windshield from the outer edges, also created vis- ibility improvements over competi- tors' products. "We optimized the shape to not only be structurally sound, but to minimize the blind spot they create," Sproull says. "And we made smart material choices. The result is an A pillar that is 20 percent narrower than the competition's, thereby providing greater side-to-side visibility. "And it's lighter than their A pillars as well, and still meets industry crash wor- thiness standards." Greater focus Among the other innovations in vis- ibility for the Model 579 are: • Greater upward visibility from the driver's seat — a benefit realized when overhead stoplights are in use. • A lower "belt line" on the doors improves driver visibility in either direction. • An innovative side mirror design improves rear and lower side visibility over competi- tors' products. The convexity of the mirror also enhances the driver's awareness of surrounding traffic. • Optimized side mirror positioning also improves the field of vision between the A pillars and the mirrors. Liking the View Visibility from Model 579 driver's seat sets new standards