Here's one from Biglorryblog's favourite Crazshee Dutch Guy Tim de Jong (he's a crazshee motorcyling cloggie dat's for shure!). Any way he's sent me these pictures of a Chinese Foton----not to be confused with a futon, which is some kind of Japanese torture bed contraption (or the Zutons, a 'popular beat combo' M'lud...) Anyway he says: "
On the way back from my holiday, I stopped at the
Tim goes on to say: "Maybe the Chinese intended to 'worry' the German truck makers. Intetrestingly, Mercedes' Wörth truck plant is not far away from the museum---which must for all BLB anoraks planning to visit
However, on clser inspection Tim concludes: "Frankly, there's no need to worry. If you look closer at the Foton, you spot the in-line fuel pump, a typical 20th century truck part. Same goes for the rear axle suspension, which is a package of leaf springs. The ten-litre engine churns out 300 hp, with no Euro norm quoted anywhere. [Actually I think it's an iSM Cummins-BLB] Check the pic of the side of the cab. Gaps like that remind me of Lada's from the seventies!"
Now click through for more and see if I'm right about that engine...!
So is this a Cummins or what...now that Paul F has joined the BLB community maybe he can tell me?
Tim sums it alll up thus: "The Foton makes you think of 21st century Volvo cabs a little bit. But technically, the Chinese still have a long path to walk. And I don't expect Foton to build trucks for European museums only, would they?"
"Still, a rare piece of truck the German's have obtained for their lovely museum.Yes, the Foton makes you think of 21st century Volvo cabs a little bit. But technically, the Chinese still have a long path to walk. And I don't expect Foton to build trucks for European museums only, would they?
Still, a rare piece of truck the German's have obtained for their lovely museum."
Great stuff Tim--and BLb wiould echo his comments re the Speyer museum it's worth it for the Antonov alone--especially when you see the video of them actually lanind the thing there..awesome!
Engine:Weichai WD615 (based on Steyr tech)
Engine=Weichai WD615
http://www.weichai.com/products/channel/detail_1353.shtml
Foton is part of Beijing Automotive (BAIC) - they use Weichai and Yuchai diesels in their heavy duty trucks. BAIC now has a commercial truck JV with Daimler Benz (not in production yet), and also a diesel engine JV with Cummins (now producing 2,8 and 3.8 liter engines called Cummins ISF) for Foton's light / medium trucks. Weichai Diesel (US $ 4.3 Billion sales in 2008)also has a small stake in BAIC. While I agree under the skin, technology is still behind the western standards, advances are being made and build quality will continue to improve as it has in Chinese passenger cars, through successful JVs with SAIC, FAW, Dongfeng, ChangAn, and Guanzhou Auto Groups. Major investments are being made by truck makers in modern plants and tooling, and new JVs are bringing improved technology to China (Hongyan/SAIC - IVECO, MAN investment - Sinotruk/CNHTC, Guangzhou Auto - Hino, BAIC-Benz). Retail truck prices are rising to reflect added content. Euro 4 implementation timing still unclear - low sulfur fuel availability is an issue.