Deals on Wheels #464

You know
this is a Mack
with a
difference
that goes well
beyond the
quirky snout
Inside views. Anthem is the first Mack with
a stand-up cab but vital new developments
also include a more advanced electrical
system and improved dash layout
As mentioned in our special report on
Anthem late last year, the optional 13-speeder
provides an additional and some might say
long overdue, crawler ratio of 17:1. There’s
also a 14-speed XHD version available with
‘bog cog’ ratios of 19:1 and a tree-climbing 32:1,
but there’s no question the 13-speeder’s 17:1
crawler cog which also delivers the benefit
of two reverse ratios, is unquestionably a
welcome addition to the Mack drivetrain.
Vitally, the crawler boxes are also optionally
available in Trident and Super-Liner.
Mack’s integrated drivetrain sees the
direct-drive transmission feeding into singlereduction
rear axles running a tall 3.09:1 diff
ratio and as would soon be revealed on the
run south, notching 100km/h at a touch over
1,400rpm.
With the demo truck built on a 4,485mm
wheelbase and obviously configured for
highway work, the test unit carried fuel
capacity of 1,460 litres in two D-shaped
aluminium tanks – 960-litre driver’s side and
500-litres passenger side, alongside a 150-litre
stainless steel AdBlue tank.
Still on the outside, a short stroll around
the truck reveals LED headlights, fog, marker
and tail lights, a two-piece windshield, and
attached to the step atop the passenger side
fuel tank, the Bendix Blindspotter scanner for
signalling the presence of objects alongside
the truck. Blindspotter is, of course, part of
the Bendix Wingman Fusion safety package
along with functions such as an exceptionally
perceptive adaptive cruise control.
With deep steps recessed into the fuel tanks,
it’s an easy climb into the cab and typically,
the Isri seat and a steering wheel easily
adjusted by a foot-operated lever make it easy
to find a comfortable position for a multitude
of shapes and sizes.
The first thing to grab your eye though,
is the steering wheel. Rather than fully
round, it has a straight lower edge which,
according to Mack’s US designers in 2018,
provides more girth room for those drivers
with big spreads. Fair enough too, because
while modern Australia has its fair share of
dumpling drivers, the gargantuan guts of
some American steerers has to be seen to be
believed. Eat your heart out, literally!
Meantime, the gauge and switchgear layout
has been substantially revised with the centre
of the dash occupied by a bigger version of
Mack’s Co-Pilot digital information display.
On each side are the rev counter (left) and
speedo, and underneath are needle gauges
142