Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks has expanded its defence portfolio with a new four-axle all-wheel drive Zetros unveiled at Eurosatory 24.
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Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks is now offering the Zetros off-road truck with four axles and all-wheel drive (8×8) in two variants from 2025 onwards. The Zetros will now be available in various configurations from a two-axle to a four-axle model.
The Zetros 8×8 which Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks exhibited at Eurosatory is the result of a major order from the Canadian Ministry of Defence, under which more than 1500 Zetros vehicles will be delivered over the next few years. Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks also presented a Zetros with a protected cab at Eurosatory. From now on, the vehicle with a protected cab can be delivered directly from the Wörth plant.
Franziska Cusumano, Head of Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks: “With the expansion of our portfolio, we can now offer our customers the complete product range of the Zetros high-terrain truck series. With the new Zetros 8×8, customers get a robust and highly mobile logistics vehicle with a large payload for military use. In future, they will also benefit from being able to obtain the Zetros with a protected cab from a single source. And all of this made in Germany, of course.”
New Zetros 8×8 comes with more payload and larger body space: The new 8×8 vehicle variant offers a significantly increased payload of up to 25 tons with the usual high off-road capability. At the same time, the available body space is increased thanks to the longer vehicle frame. The Zetros can therefore be used for an even wider range of tactical and logistical requirements.
In any case, the series with an OM 460 in-line six-cylinder diesel engine, with 265 to 375 kW (360 to 510hp) and a maximum torque of up to 2,300 Nm from 12.8 litres of displacement, is designed for heavy-duty use. Off-road, drivers benefit from the large slope and ramp angles and the fordability, while engageable longitudinal and transverse differential locks can increase traction and manoeuvrability depending on the driving situation. The Zetros 8×8 also retains full off-road capability while significantly increasing transport performance.
8×8 times two: two four-axle variants available in future: The new Zetros 8×8 will be available in two variants. The first variant has two axles at the front and two axles at the rear, with the two front axles being steered. In the second variant, there is one steerable front axle and three rear axles. The last of the three rear axles is steered in order to reduce the curve radius. Both variants will be available both as a tractor unit and as a carrier vehicle with a large body space.
All Zetros vehicles will also be available with a protected cab in future: The start of production of the new Zetros 8×8 follows the introduction of the likewise new option of a protected cab ex-works. With the special cab armouring, the driver and crew inside the vehicle can be protected from ballistic fire or landmines. The protected cab is already available for the Zetros 6×6 and will be successively available to order on a project-specific basis for the entire product range of the Zetros high-terrain series from 2025 onwards. Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks is thus expanding its product portfolio and will in future be able to offer vehicle solutions including protected cabs from a single source, even for large orders. For customers, this means: one contact partner, one manufacturer, one complete vehicle with harmonised components, one invoice. Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks also ensures extensive service and spare parts availability. Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks will continue to collaborate with manufacturers of protected driver cabs and protected cells for military trucks and military chassis to realise specific customer requests and national requirements.
Source: Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks
[images © Carl Schulze unless noted]
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