The Munich-based manufacturer with long-standing traditions is entering the world of commercial vehicles for the first time. MAN started with 7.5-tonne vehicles; today, it offers a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight (GVW) of 3 tonnes. By introducing the TGE, MAN offers a light commercial vehicle that will convince customers who have been using its larger brothers from the heavy-duty sector for years. Thanks to dedicated sales consultants for the TGE, the customer will receive the right offer tailored to their individual needs.
With a complete range of commercial vehicles offered with a GVW from 3 to 44 tonnes, MAN is becoming a supplier for all segments, offering the right solutions for every transport task. With the new TGE model, MAN is transferring all its customer-oriented services from the heavy-duty industry to light commercial vehicles.
Specially trained and prepared personnel will ensure cooperation based on a “single point of contact for the customer” principle. Years of experience and regular cooperation with various body manufacturers were not only the result of a natural process but also of close cooperation with fleet customers. This joint teamwork with customers, body manufacturers, and sales and service departments has led to the creation of a vehicle that guarantees the highest utility value throughout its entire service life. MAN is targeting its new product primarily at customers in the logistics and construction sectors, but this light “truck” can also be intended for specialized applications, from general trades to passenger transport. All users will appreciate the lowest drag coefficient (cD) of 0.33, the lowest fuel consumption in this class, and low repair and service costs. The new MAN TGE also impresses with the best TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) ratio.
Plenty of space and high payload
Among the proposed body types, in addition to classic closed and glazed vans, chassis versions with single and double cabs are also offered. The latter can, of course, be ordered with factory bodies in various versions. The new MAN TGE comes in variants with two wheelbases, three roof heights, and three body lengths. For van models, the length range starts from 5,983 mm, through 6,833 mm, and up to 7,388 mm for the MAN TGE with a long overhang. The vehicle height variants are: 2,340 mm, 2,575 mm, and 2,800 mm. The appropriate combination of length and height provides a maximum cargo space volume of 18.3 cubic meters. Standard equipment includes bright LED interior lighting for the cargo area. The MAN TGE variant with the lowest gross vehicle weight is 3 tonnes, and the maximum GVW is 5.5 tonnes. An additional 3.5 tonnes can be obtained by attaching a trailer. A vehicle with a GVW of up to 3.5 tonnes has an unprecedented maximum payload – in an ideal configuration, it can carry up to 1.5 tonnes of cargo.
Versatility and efficiency of powertrains
The range of available powertrains is equally comprehensive. Depending on the gross vehicle weight, customers can choose front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, or all-wheel drive. Each variant comes with either a 6-speed manual transmission or an 8-speed automatic transmission. A new generation of diesel engines was born with the MAN TGE. The engines debuted a year ago in the world-renowned and successful Volkswagen Transporter model. Now they have been used once again as a symbol of long service life and reliability. In addition, the four-cylinder engine was developed with particular attention to the “heavy” operational requirements of a commercial vehicle. Economy and durability are what count most – two features that combine in the MAN TGE into a real advantage and a promise of new, economically and ecologically best indicators. The range of engines with a capacity of 1,968 cc includes variants with power outputs of 75 kW/102 hp, 90 kW/122 hp, 103 kW/140 hp, and 130 kW/177 hp.
Comfort and daily usability inside
The typical commercial vehicle workspace behind the wheel has been transformed in the TGE into a real living space. Many well-thought-out storage compartments and shelves support the driver in carrying out daily tasks. The driver’s seats, available in four different versions, are perfectly contoured, guaranteeing an optimal level of comfort on long routes and meeting the expectations of all users. Abrasion-resistant upholstery, which has already proven itself in heavy-duty vehicles, is an additional guarantee of long service life.
Highest safety thanks to assistance systems
Thanks to the EBA (Emergency Brake Assist) function introduced as standard, MAN makes a significant contribution to road safety. Distance sensors check the critical distance from the vehicle in front and help shorten the stopping distance. The integrated city EBA function also automatically brakes the vehicle at low speeds, reducing one of the most common causes of accidents, thereby minimizing downtime and repair costs and increasing residual value. The optional reversing assistant function helps, for example, when leaving a parking space. In addition, a function facilitating maneuvering with a trailer can be activated in the vehicle if necessary. The electromechanical power steering system compensates for counter-steering forces, especially those caused by crosswinds. Adaptive cruise control ensures a high level of comfort on long motorway stretches. Fatigue detection and a multi-collision brake increase the overall level of safety: the latter prevents subsequent collisions with obstacles or other road users.
Excellent service
MAN also offers professional service for the new series of vehicles. It is common knowledge that in the event of a breakdown on the weekend or at night, help can be obtained immediately and without any problems, even without an appointment at the workshop; it is also available as standard during longer-than-usual MAN service opening hours. The service focuses on the entire vehicle, as is the case with flexible service contracts. An extended warranty, mobility guarantee, and 24-hour roadside assistance service complete the full range of service offerings.
In addition, MAN offers individualized financial services to support the fleet manager and owner at the vehicle purchase stage and throughout its entire service life.
As part of the MAN ProfiDrive service, a number of different advanced training courses for drivers are offered: behavior in emergency situations, eco-driving training, or cargo securing. Thanks to these services, the user and vehicle owner can assemble an optimal package, rarely available in the light commercial vehicle segment.
Digital solutions for commercial vehicles
But that’s not all. Round-the-clock service and comprehensive knowledge about the vehicle are increasingly becoming parameters that determine a company’s success. Higher profits are achieved only when a company knows where its equipment is at any given moment and what its condition is. A new fleet management solution, unique in the entire commercial vehicle sector, will in the future collect all necessary data and then make it available through various digital services. Such value-added services can be integrated at the factory or as a retrofit. They provide information on service status and the general availability of units in the fleet.
The new MAN TGE will go on sale in March next year. Production starts in April 2017. The market debut in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the Netherlands will take place two months later. New MAN vehicles will appear on other European markets in the autumn.