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test reportof each model to go at and - jawsdropping all round - we were goingto sleep in the cabs. This looked likea decent test and we went lookingfor the real differences that the MP4brings, not just the obvious powderand paint that is there for all to see.Less Is MoreIt soon became clear that, on theengine front, less is more. The V6and V8 engines of 12 and 16 litresare all replaced by a straight six 12.8litre unit that’s done some clevermaths. The difference is impressivewhen you look at the numbers. Acurrent MP3 with a V8 and 510hp,delivers 2,400 Nm in all gears, butthe new MP4, as an 1845 with449hp, pushes out 2,200 Nm. Usingclever engine mapping, it matchesthe V8’s 2,400 Nm in 12th gearfor that extra pulling power whereyou need it most. When a gradientwould have previously meant achange down, the extra beef keepsyou on song. It means that there’sthe same torque on tap in top geardidn’t expect the straight six tocome as close in torque output.Higher injection pressures andmore robust components allow asmaller engine to give this extragrunt. We’ve thought for some timethat the badge on the door shouldproclaim the torque on tap and notthe horsepower. One day, maybe.ControlFloating along the autoroutethrough the south of France, withthe cruise set at 90kph, it gavetime for an effective assessment.Away from the power units, themost apparent effects of Daimler’smega-spend on this new modelare the ride and handling and thegear shifting process. The MP3’slane assist, and its machine gunrattle alarm, was not shy at tellingus when we were drifting on to thelane lines. While it wasn’t going offa lot, maybe five times in a morning,it was deployed only once or twicewhen we were driving the MP4.We took this as a measure of theimproved straight-line stabilityon the new chassis. It certainlyfelt far more sure-footed. As forour favourite devices is EcoRoll. Itbreaks the drive - Mercedes call it acomputer-controlled freewheelingunit - and the revs drop to 500rpm.It is only activated in top gear, andwhen the conditions are right,but it can let you roll along forconsiderable distances for free.The drive is re-engaged whenthe speed either falls away, orwhen a downhill section lets thespeed climb too high and enginebraking is needed. It was our firmimpression that MP4 managesthe engage/disengage processmore smoothly and resorts toEcoRoll more frequently thatits predecessor. We loved it.Under the StarsWe overnighted in an MP3Megaspace, followed by an MP4with the ‘Streamspace’ cab. Itwould take a picky driver to moanabout the space and storage inthe current Megaspace cab, andthe Streamspace was a distinctcontrast with a 2.3 metre widthand not quite enough room for a6’2” driver to fully stand up. Witha 170mm engine hump intrusion,it is intended for “local andregional work” according to M-B.We would agree, and five nightsaway would be just a little tight.There are plenty of cab optionsto choose from, including a 2.3metre flat-floor version for thefleet operator who wants to gofor driver appeal and keep hisother eye on residual values too.The night heater arrangementin the MP4 was perfect with aswitch over the bunk and justdial in the temperature on thedash. Air was pumped throughall the conventional daytimevents and it was almost silent.Stay AlertAll in all there are serious upgradesto important areas with the newActros, but putting the truck aside,we were reminded that truck-relatedcrime is getting to be a big issue.Securitas patrols, complete withmean-looking dogs, were providedby Mercedes at our overnight stops.We guess that ten brand-newtrucks with journalists, cameras,laptops and the like probably didlook like an easy target, but thesame levels of security are sadlynot available to regular driverson their nightly park-ups.An economy on its knees, hasnow made Spain a hot-spotfor truck and load theft. Notwanting to end on a downer, butUK-international drivers to Spain,need to be more vigilant than ever.from an engine that is more thanthree litres smaller. Lower weightand smaller capacity must have apositive effect on fuel economy.Half a day behind the wheel of anMP4 1842 was impressive too. Itonly had 100 Nm less torque thanthe ‘old’ 1851 in top gear. Withnearly 90hp less than the V8, wethe gear shifting, quite a lot haschanged. While on paper it’s still atwelve-speed box with unchangedratios, the delivery is different.The major changes are softwarerefinements, and the shifting is alittle swifter and much smoother inthe new Powershift 3 box. The gearselector has moved from the floormounted pedestal, up to a steeringcolumn control stalk where youinitially engage D, N or R and whereyou can ask for up or downshiftsas required. Such is the tuning thatwe rarely did intervene. One of21New Actros-Ian Norwell Spread.indd 21 09/05/2012 15:53