Allison Customer Experience, testing Allison transmissions on the field
In the over 100,000 m2 of the Szentgotthárd facility Allison Transmission built the ACE, for Allison Customer Experience centre & drive track, which includes a paved circuit as well as a cross country track with bumps, mud areas and steep ramps, to allow customers to try hands-on the company products
Thirteen vehicles, commercial and military, from different companies, all equipped with Allison automatic transmissions, were waiting for the media party on the parking area behind the futuristic ACE building.
From the top terrace it was possible to observe a challenge between two identical trucks, both Scania P340 powered by a 340 hp 5-cylinder CNG Scania OC09 engine, those construction tippers having a gross vehicle weight of 26,000 kg, although for the test they were empty.
The differences were two; the colour, one being painted white and the other red, and the transmission. The white one was fitted with an Opticruise automated manual transmission, while the engine of the red one was coupled to an Allison 3000 fully automatic transmission. Among the advantages of the latter, one is the torque converter, which considerably increases the engine torque. And this was clearly visible at the start, higher torque meaning higher acceleration, the red truck immediately acquiring an edge over its white competitor.
It was then time to start testing available vehicles. The one that definitely catch the eye was the Iveco Powerstar EVO 3.2 Dakar Truck powered by an Iveco Cursor 13 Euro 6 providing 1,000 hp with a 5,000 Nm maximum torque and an empty weight of 8,500 kg. Passengers had to wear a full-face helmet, the driver pushing the vehicle to what a normal person considers above the limits, certainly not for him, demonstrating how much the Allison 4000 transmissions equipping his vehicle allows high performance driving.
Three were the military vehicles present at Allison Customer Experience: a Komondor RDO 3221 4×4 scout vehicle produced by the Hungarian company Gamma Technical Corporation, a VAMTAC 4×4 tactical vehicle provided by URO of Spain, and a Titus 6×6 armoured vehicle developed by Nexter (now KNDS France) and produced also in the Czech Republic, as it is based on a Tatra T 815-7 6×6 chassis.
An old acquaintance, the Titus demonstrated once more its cross-country capability on the Szentgotthárd test track, fully exploiting the qualities of its Allison transmission as well as those of the Tatra chassis swinging half-axles. The Titus was definitely the heavier armoured vehicle that managed climbing the muddy ramp available on the course, the automatic transmission and the 6×6 chassis with evenly spaced axles ensuring maximum mobility. The 23 tonnes GVW vehicle ensures an all-round Level 4 protection to its 3-man crew and up to 10 dismounts and is powered by a Cummins 10.8 litres engine providing 508 hp with a 2,102 Nm maximum torque transmission is coupled to a Series 3000 Allison automatic transmission.
We could also take a ride on the Komondor RDO 3121, a 17 tonne GVW 4×4 scout vehicle produced by Gamma Technical Corporation of Hungary. It is powered by a Cummins ISB6,7, 6.7 litre inline 6-cylinder turbo charged diesel providing 360 HP with a 1,100 Nm maximum torque, coupled with an Allison 3200SP type automatic gearbox with retarder. It carries a 2-man crew plus six dismounts, the latter entering the vehicle via a double door in the back of the vehicle. The powerpack provided good mobility on rough terrain, overcoming the same muddy ramp successfully passed by the Titus; however, the tracks deepened with the multiple passes and finally the vehicle got stuck, mostly due to its smaller tires, 365/80 R20 versus the 16.R20 of the Titus, which by the way also has an extra axle. Even locking differentials was not enough to get out of the mud.
The lighter vehicle in the armoured category present at Szentgotthárd was of Spanish origin. The VAMTAC (Vehículo de Alta Movilidad Táctico) was designed by URO in the late 1990s, and since it has evolved in terms of GVW, from 5.3 to 6.3 to 11 tonnes, as well as in engine output, from 188 to 207 to 218 and finally to 274 hp, fitted to an Allison 1000 Series automatic transmission. According to data provided by URO over 10,000 VAMTAC have been produced, over 3,000 being in service with the Spanish Army in different versions. The vehicle performed well along the whole off-road circuit, avoiding the muddy ramp which would have been definitely too much for this type of 4×4 which is equipped with 335/80 R20.
Although in civilian colours, two Mercedes Zetros performed on the Allison Customer Experience track, both being dual-use platforms that can easily be seen in “green” colours. The Zetros 2051 AK with a 20 tonnes GVW is powered by an OM 460 LA 6-cylinder engine providing 520 Hp with a maximum torque of 2,400 NM, which is coupled to an Allison 4500SP fully automatic transmission with hydraulic retarder. A slightly lighter vehicle, the Zetros 1833A is powered by an MB OM 926 LA which gives 326 Hp with a maximum torque of 1,300 Nm, the lower output power allowing to couple it to an Allison 3000SP, also with hydraulic retarder.
Photos courtesy Allison Transmission and P. Valpolini
