DAF replaced the 1988 International Truck of the Year (IToY) winner with its successor after a decade, and took the top prize again in 1998 with the 95XF.
Following 1997’s win for the high-tech Mercedes-Benz Actros, the 14 judges decided on a more conservatively-engineered vehicle for 1998, with the new DAF securing 71 points with its closest rival, the re-engineered Renault Magnum Integral on 61, and the new Renault Kerax in third on 14.
Having been announced at the Brussels Show in January 1997, the new 95XF had the advantage of significant numbers of vehicles being in service by the time of the judging for 1998, and demand for the truck was out-stripping Eindhoven’s capacity to supply the market. Some 10,000 sales were made in 1997, and press evaluations were very positive.
The two major factors in the 95XF’s success were the new class-leading long-haul Super Space Cab, and an all-new 12.6-litre engine.
DAF had introduced the original Super Space Cab in 1994, but for the 95XF an additional 20cm was added to the length of the cab, which was also shared by the standard height sleeper Comfort cab and the intermediate Space Cab. The new cabs featured an 81cm bunk and were mounted 10cm higher on the chassis than their predecessors and all benefited from a less-intrusive dash, improved heating and a button-operated adjustable steering column.
Externally, plastic panels extended the door length to enclose the cab steps, and a larger grille was introduced to accommodate an increased-capacity radiator required for the dry-liner engine.
The totally new engine replaced the long-serving WS 11.6-litre unit which had its ancestry in a Leyland design from the early 1960s. Rated at either 380hp, 430hp or 480hp, and a maximum torque of 2,050Nm, the 12.6-litre engine featured 24 valves, a gear-driven fan, a crankshaft which was forged directly in the correct shape, hollow push-rods and a much stiffer block.
Mechanical injection was retained for Euro-2, and the DAF Engine Brake (DEB) jointly developed with Jacobs, was also made available. DAF continued to offer the Cummins 14-litre engine rated at 530hp until replacing it with their own design for Euro-3 in 2000.
In keeping with traditional engineering, DAF stuck with drum brakes for the 95XF, on the grounds of the longevity of drums and linings compared to disc brakes – reduced maintenance time and lengthy service schedules were a key factor in the truck’s design. Two chassis specifications were offered, the medium-duty M class, and the heavy-duty H class with deeper sides for rigids and reinforcement for tractors. The driveline was completed with ZF’s 16-speed manual transmission and DAF’s SR 1347 single-reduction drive-axle.
With the new fuel-efficient engine, spacious cabs and proven engineering the 95XF held a wide appeal to European operators, serving them well until the introduction of the electronically-enhanced XF95 in 2002.
Words & Pics supplied by Richard Stanier – Credit: IToY
