Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/426944
40 | Overdrive | December 2014 highly optimized and integrated drive- train. The result is consistently high miles per gallon while allowing owners to bask in Peterbilt's refined image. Before I headed out in my crimson test truck, Peterbilt product manager Anthony Gansle noted how many of the Model 579 EPIQ's fuel economy enhancements were a direct result of the company's extensive involvement with the SuperTruck initiative. That's a federal program that funded research in truck, engine and component tech- nologies to boost commercial truck fuel economy. He pointed to extremely tight toler- ances between new fairings around the steer wheels and tractor side fairings that stretch almost to the ground, directing air onto trailer side skirts. Other aero- dynamic touches include a new roof fairing bridge that dramatically reduces the gap between the tractor and trailer, standard tandem wheel covers, a new bumper air dam design that reduces lift and drag, and tighter tolerances in the bumper-to-hood seal design. A highly tuned Paccar MX-13 die- sel communicates at a high level with Fuller's UltraShift Plus-based Advantage automated manual transmission. The engine and transmission share propri- etary telemetry to maximize perfor- mance and, primarily, fuel economy. Once our walkaround was done, I pointed the Model 579 EPIQ north on I-35, skirting Dallas and heading toward eastern Oklahoma, a route that has some decent hills to pull. I drove the original Model 579 when it debuted three years ago, and I noted its low interior sound levels. If anything, the EPIQ's aerodynamic enhancements only add to the tractor's in-cab quiet- ness, a nice complement to an extremely smooth-riding suspension and Paccar's premium air-suspension seats. This overall tightness extends to the wonderfully precise steering system. Despite the tight aero tolerances around the steer axle, generous wheel cuts made the truck easy to maneuver around the congested Peterbilt plant site. On the open road, the truck tracks straight with minimal steering input. Cab layout, storage space and driver ergonomics are top-notch. Cab and sleeper space is generous. Not much has changed from the standard Model 579's dash or instrument layout, though there is one standout EPIQ enhancement. It's a fuel-focused interactive driv- er-coaching system that works with the pre-existing driver information system. This system provides not only real-time fuel economy feedback and performance information, but also coaching tips to help boost mpg performance. Some drivers may find the system a tad pretentious, but it's not overtly in-your-face. The useful information it provides will be a real plus for drivers with fuel-based performance bonuses. For certain older drivers, "fuel econo- my" is synonymous with "crappy perfor- mance." But today's onboard electronic control systems have changed all that. Drivers worried about sluggish low-end performance from the Model 579 EPIQ should have no fear. DRIVE TEST Engineers reduced as many drag-inducing open spaces as possible, as seen by extremely tight tolerances around the steer axle wheels. An interactive coaching system is designed to help drivers focus on fuel economy.