Freightliner » Cascadia Evolution
Freightliner Trucks introduced the 2014 Cascadia® Evolution Class 8 truck model. Powered by Detroit™ and featuring some of the most advanced aerodynamic enhancements in the industry, the Cascadia Evolution delivers up to an additional 7 percent improvement in fuel economy over an EPA 2010-compliant Cascadia equipped with a first generation aerodynamic package and up to a 5 percent improvement compared to a current model year 2013 Cascadia equipped with the latest aerodynamic upgrades. “With the introduction of the Cascadia and Detroit DD15® in 2007, our priority was to help customers lower their total cost of ownership through improved fuel efficiency and performance,” said David Hames, general manager, marketing and strategy for Daimler Trucks North America.
The optimized aerodynamic features on the new Cascadia Evolution were developed using Daimler Trucks North America’s proprietary, state-of-the-art wind tunnel – the only full-scale, OEM owned and operated wind tunnel for big rigs in North America. In addition, the truck was extensively tested on highways throughout the United States, and underwent almost three million miles in combined reliability and fuel economy testing. With new, standard features that seamlessly combine the Cascadia’s already sleek profile with enhanced aerodynamics, the Cascadia Evolution incorporates several frontal area updates designed to improve airflow and aerodynamics including a new air dam, bumper closure and a hood-to-bumper fill.
Cooling enhancements include a 1,400 square-inch radiator, which features a revised baffling system and new radiator mounting design that contribute to improved cooling capacity and increased durability. Also standard with the Cascadia Evolution is Freightliner’s proprietary Run Smart Predictive Cruise™ system. This innovative technology evaluates the road profile more than one mile in advance, determines the most efficient vehicle speed, and then adjusts the actual speed of the truck for maximum fuel efficiency.
Available only in the Cascadia Evolution, the newly designed DD15 engine features a proprietary asymmetric turbocharger with a next-generation amplified common rail system (ACRS). The asymmetric turbocharger is less complex than variable geometry turbos and, because it is proprietary, is optimally matched to the DD15’s EGR system for best real world fuel consumption, resulting in excellent performance. The next-generation ACRS also delivers higher injection pressure for better combustion control and a simplified design for optimal regenerations. The enhanced DD15 is more than 100 lbs. lighter than its predecessor and includes an improved fuel filter module with two filters that deliver lower maintenance costs with an industry-leading 100,000 mile filter change interval.
On the Evolution of Efficiency cross-country tour, which ran 2,400 miles from San Diego, CA., to Gastonia, NC., the optimally spec’d Cascadia Evolution achieved 9.31 miles per gallon and was operated at a GCW of 76,000 lbs. at a cruise speed of 62 miles per hour.
