Mack introduces a new Flex Suite option.Customizable configurations may include a folding table, reclining Murphy bed, and seating that stows away to create a rear lounge or workspace.
Courtesy of Mack Trucks
Interior overhaul: comfort, visibility, and control
Inside the cab, the Pioneer offers drivers a vastly improved work and living space. The cab is five inches wider than the Anthem, allowing for wide-base seats and additional shoulder room. The A-pillars were carefully placed to preserve visibility and accommodate mirror placement, conventional or digital, without compromising driver sightlines.
The redesigned dash, instrument cluster, and control layout reflect years of driver feedback and ergonomic research. “We built entire simulators of the cockpit where we could run different software and hardware, and make sure that we really got the productivity and the driver environment that we were after,” said Johan Nordmark, chief engineer of electrical engineering and vehicle connectivity at Volvo Group.
“Being all new, we really… formed the control panel, the instrument panel around the driver for optimizing reachability and ergonomics of it,” said Lokers.
For sleeper configurations, Mack introduced its new Flex Suite option, which includes a folding table, reclining Murphy bed, and seating that stows away to create a rear lounge or workspace. Heating, cooling, and even massage seating are available in upper trim packages.
Mack’s new MaxAir suspension uses eight electronically tuned air bags to improve ride stability and reduce cab movement. Designed with long-haul drivers in mind, it helps smooth out rough roads and reduces fatigue over extended shifts. By minimizing motion through bridges and expansion joints, MaxAir is a practical upgrade that supports both driver satisfaction and on-road safety.
Under the hood
The Pioneer debuts with Mack’s upgraded MP13 engine, delivering between 395-515 horsepower and up to 1,950 pound-feet of torque. It features a redesigned piston, combustion chamber updates, and is paired with an improved mDRIVE automated manual transmission that shifts 30 percent faster than the previous generation.
According to Mack, the powertrain contributes around 3 to 4 percent of the vehicle’s fuel economy gains, with the rest attributed to aerodynamics and optional equipment like the digital mirror system and low-resistance wheel designs.
Read the full article here
