Following the Actros’ success in 1997, Mercedes-Benz scored another victory in 1999 with the light-middleweight Atego.
When planning for the renewal of its entire truck range, Mercedes engineers took the bold step of combining the former lightweight and middleweight ranges into a single programme spanning 6.5 to potentially 36 tonnes.
The rationalisation of components and attention to engineering detail required to achieve this successfully, combined with a highly rated driving environment, was enough to secure the Atego a relatively narrow five-point victory over the new Volvo FM. The 18-nation jury, now including Slovakia, Greece and Russia, awarded the Mercedes 69 points, with the FM on 64 and the Iveco Cursor third on 33 points.
The Atego range was essentially comprised of a single cab design, a pair of engines and a new design of common chassis up to 17 tonnes, with the Actros chassis used at 18 tonnes and over.
The lighter Ategos featured a two-piece chassis, with the rear section being a conventional ladder design to which a separate front section was bolted behind the cab. The front section for models under 10.5 tonnes had a z-section profile, angled downwards and outwards to allow both cab and engine to be low-mounted for easy access.
All on-road Ategos featured disc brakes all-round, but the lighter models relied on high-pressure pneumatic actuation rather than the electronic system used by the 18 tonners and the Actros. Price sensitivity in the market was a factor for this decision, and also influenced the transmission choice which spanned manual 5- or 9-speed ZF gearboxes, or new Mercedes 6- or 12-speed designs – with no automated options.
The Atego’s engine range comprised of the 4-cylinder, 4.25-litre OM 904 rated at 122hp, 152hp or 170hp and the 6.37-litre in-line six OM 906 rated at 231hp or 279hp. Both the engines used three valves per cylinder and electronically controlled unit pumps, but only the 6-cylinder was brand new; the 4-cylinder engine having been used in the previous Light Class models since 1996.
The new 2.3m-wide cab received particular praise having 25% more space than its predecessor, and being available in four variants – a short-day cab, extended day cab, sleeper cab, or high-roof sleeper which really gave the appearance of a premium vehicle.
Disappointing fleet sales of the high-tech Actros in some markets prompted Mercedes to launch the Atego-cabbed Axor tractor unit in September 2001, and following an announcement in September 2004, all of the heavier Ategos were incorporated into the Axor range, leaving the Atego to be the 6.5- to 17-tonne specialist so well regarded by operators today.
Words & Pics supplied by Richard Stander
