The heavy-duty prime mover segment in Malaysia has
gained a new player in the shape of the Foton Auman EST A, which has just been
launched at the Matrade Exhibition and Convention Centre. Distributed by Mpire
Commercial, the new lorry has been developed in partnership with Daimler as
part of the Beijing Foton Daimler Automotive (BFDA) joint venture.
The EST A is the automatic version of the company’s
Energy Super Truck (EST), and is offered in 4×2 and 6×4 versions. Both are
powered by a Cummins ISG 11.8 litre straight-six turbodiesel producing 424 hp
at 1,900 rpm and 2,000 Nm from 1,000 to 1,400 rpm, paired to a ZF TraXon
12-speed automatic transmission.
The gearbox comes with a built-in hydraulic retarder
that provides 540 hp of braking power on top of the standard disc brakes, while
the engine’s compression-release brake adds another 370 hp. The EST A also
comes with air suspension, a four-point floating cabin and an airbag seat for
increased comfort.
Safety-wise, the EST A conforms to UN ECE R29-03
regulations for occupant safety. The cab is built from one-millimetre-thick
high-strength steel and is able to be pushed back by 200 mm in a collision,
acting as a crumple zone. Stability control, lane departure warning and a tyre
pressure monitoring system are also fitted.
The EST A is offered with a two-year,
unlimited-mileage warranty and comes with two years/120,000 km of free
maintenance. Mpire Commercial has a 3S centre at the Elite Industrial Park in
Shah Alam, and it also signed up 15 new dealers from across Peninsular Malaysia
during the launch event.
