COMTRANS-2017 was more interesting than expected

The fourteenth exhibition COMTRANS confirmed the exit from the crisis the segment of commercial cars

This year, the commercial vehicle segment (LCV, trucks and buses) shows strong growth, which is quite visibly reflected in the representativeness of the main exhibition of the forum on this topic – COMTRANS-2017. "A great European seven", it shows all, another question that each of the European manufacturers chose to focus on displaying the most advantageous for yourself samples, not the entire line of models. There are also Japanese brands Isuzu, Mitsubishi-Fuso and Hino, and, of course, Chinese FAW, Foton, JAC, NAVECO.

For domestic producers it COMTRANS is undoubtedly the most important forum of the year in which they are preparing a number of novelties. More detailed talking about them in front, and while we list the most important news.

During the exhibition there was held the traditional awarding of the journalistic award "Best commercial car of the year". In the nomination "the Best truck 2017" won R500 Scania New Generation, "Best van of 2017" – Volkswagen Crafter II, "the Best bus of the year" – Setra 500 Comfort Class, "prospect of the year" – MAZ-5440М9, "the Person of year" – Yury Pavlovich Weinstein (Director of plant TONAR), "Trailer 2017" – Schmitz S. K. O. Cool.

"The person of year" – Yury Pavlovich Weinstein, Director of the plant TONAR

Our colleagues Leonid Kruglov and Love Ilyin together with the General Director of "KAMAZ DAIMLER RUS" Heiko Schulze present at COMTRANS new book, "the Unimog. Master of all trades", which tells about the history of this legendary vehicle-ATV even before its official start of production beginning in 1951.

At COMTRANS for the Russian market, was also presented the new Unimog U539 with three cameras for ease of replacement and attachment operating

The very first premiere COMTRANS-2017 became Ulyanovsk lorry UAZ "Pro", presented personally by the Director General of the SOLLERS Group" V. A. Shevtsov. 

The presentation was accompanied by fiery youth repershu show with break dancing

The trump card of novelty was "delicious" price of 749 000 rubles, and with the programs trade-in and disposal – another hundred thousand cheaper. Despite the fact that its main competitor – "GAZelle BUSINESS" price tag starts from 865 000 RUB, and the more modern "GAZelle NEXT" and even more so – from 995 000 RUB.

Apart from the base model UAZ "Pro" with a short cab, designed for three people (though rather arbitrary) was shown a range of versions with a double cabin and various add-ons, including the aerial platform. So far, however, the number of such specialname "Pros" far from extensive "Kiselevskogo" families whose number exceeds 150 versions for each model (BUSINESS and NEXT). Among the undoubted advantages of series "Profi" – the simultaneous release of not only rear-wheel drive (4x2), but all-wheel drive version with a double cabin. Both versions features the rear lean-bus, and, according to the management of SOLLERS, the margin of safety it adequate for the job in overload.   

Medium-duty "Lawn NEXT" full weight 10 tons

A wide range of highly anticipated new products presented to the President of GAZ Group V. N. Sorokin. Among them: a series of SUVs "Vepr NEXT" (title photo) – pick-up and forwarding car (by the way, the design of the latter have already submitted their "claim" living in Germany designer Yuri Postnikov) and standard all-wheel drive side Sobol double cab (GAS-231073), side "GAZelle NEXT" with GVW of 4.6 tonnes, medium-duty "Lawn NEXT" full weight 10 tons, road generic versions of capoten Ural NEXT with a 6x4 (truck and tractor). For production of AWD models, according to Sorokin, will be organized a special unit "GAS-Trofi".

Serial all-wheel drive side Sobol double cab (GAS-231073)

Bonnet "Ural NEXT" with the wheel formula 6x4

In addition, GAZ Group showed the number of new versions of buses, among which the most interesting was a prototype of a small 16-seater urban electric bus GAS A68R5E Vahtan (in honor of the eponymous village and river in the Nizhny Novgorod region). It is equipped with Nickel-cadmium-iron battery and has a cruising range of 100 km, i.e. designed to recharge at the last stop. 

16-local city bus GAS A68R5E Vahtan...

... and its charger

Director General of OAO KAMAZ Sergey Kogogin introduced a new generation of KAMAZ – model long-haul tractor KAMAZ-54901 (previously stated as K5), pilot batch which will release in 2018, and mass production will start in 2019.  

New long-haul tractor KAMAZ-54901

Completely new model is planned from 2022. In addition to modern aerodynamic design, the new product features excellent ergonomics of the driver's seat, the use of modern materials and improved build quality. The power unit is the latest row "six" improved economy and resources, along with automated ZF transmission.

Meanwhile, expands the serial KAMAZ-5490 NEO

Mitsubishi-Fuso also introduced the electrified van carrying capacity 3 t

City delivery truck HD35C

Korean Hyundai revealed two new: upgraded urban distribution truck HD35C quite new for the Russian market model Mighty. Also present were the H350 van, which is going to do on Kaliningrad "avtotore".

New from Hyundai – Mighty light-duty truck GVW 6.0 or 8.5 t 

Van Hyundai H350 plan to collect on Kaliningrad "avtotore"

All good Volkswagen Crafter second generation because he is the deserved winner in the nomination "the Best van in 2017 in the Russian market"

Mercedes-Benz Vans unveiled a concept pickup X-Series. It is, of course, is good, but as a commercial vehicle for Russia maloaktualny

Updated once again the IVECO Daily series is presented in Russia one year late

One of the show-stoppers COMTRANS was the joint development by US and KAMAZ – unmanned "Shuttle"

The buses KAMAZ-6282

And yet the main news of September 8 was the transfer of "Mosgortrans" certificate for experienced a year-long operation of buses KAMAZ-6282. Its hardware has developed Moscow engineering company Electro Drive. The bus provided by the contract "life cycle" from KAMAZ for 10 years at least, and in principle for all 15 years, while to enforce the contract. 

As said at the handover ceremony of the buses, the General Director Sergei Kogogin about the buses – until recently exclusively a pilot development in the eyes turns into business. And these are not empty words: so, before the end of this year will be a competition for the supply of 300 buses under contract life cycle for a period of not less than 15 years. Naturally, a precondition of the tender will be localization of production of rolling stock in Russia. 

The buses KAMAZ-6282 already passed the tests on the route "the underground Slavic Parkway – SKOLKOVO" and also on the streets of Moscow, St.-Petersburg, Leningrad region, now travels to Lipetsk. The car has already passed a full cycle of certification according to the rules of the Customs Union. The latest version of electric buses, presented at the COMTRANS, freed from mine the engine compartment, increasing its capacity. In addition to fixtures for handicapped citizens, the novelty is equipped with video cameras and satellite navigation. In 10 years of existence the firm Drive Electro has developed more than 25 projects, including a trolley with a large margin of Autonomous run, which saves even against the usual diesel buses. And this despite the fact that even in mass production, the electric bus will be in 2-2,5 times more expensive than the diesel counterpart. In addition to excellent for the environment (zero emission), this electric bus has lower noise and vibration in the cabin. Dvenadtsatimilnuju machine holds up to 85 passengers, 24 of which can sit. The reserve of KAMAZ-6282 is 70 km, while charging lithium-titanate batteries (LTO) occurs in only 6-20 mins Station ultra-fast charging is made in the form of an integral unit and can be charged from the mains like AC DC at a temperature of -40°C. Battery LTO withstand 20 000 cycles of fully charging/discharging that is 10 years. Until charging stations are most prevalent in Moscow and the development of and increase fleet of buses will grow both in quantity and power. In addition, only in the suburbs in 2017 will appear additional 40 charging stations for electric vehicles.

The company "Volgabas" has presented at once two novelties – the coach of the "Marathon" and NGV city bus "Sitaram-10 CNG." The company intends to strengthen its presence in major markets of the country.

The coach of the Marathon

AVTOVAZ for the first time prepared such a representative commercial line under COMTRANS. Including been shown and bi-fuel LPG taxi CNG Vesta. 

But the most recent and interesting was the version of LADA Largus van with a raised plastic roof, which allows to increase the useful volume of the cargo compartment against the basic version. 

And made this version by the company "PROMTEKH" (her version is called Kub), and directly "vis-Avto", now serving under the LADA brand. Of course, there was also presented the vans vis-23462 and vis-23492.

The Chinese company FAW at first glance showed almost the same trucks as before, but their real differences more than it seems at first glance. So, a modified interior cabin, which also received four full damper suspension instead of the previous two. Propulsion class Euro 5 features a larger tank for AdBlue and a powerful retarder. This has led to the need to strengthen the transmission mount on the frame. In addition, it is much more convenient  was the location of the air filter.

The company "Chaika-Service" has shown a new "Road master" on the chassis "Gazon NEXT", as well as two models of car lifts on the chassis of JAC and Hino.

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