Nationwide tour of major freight hubs, Sept. 7–18

TGX 540-hp 6×2 tractor featured

Fuel efficiency up about 7% over Euro 6C

Digital side mirrors, retarder standard

The new MAN TGX 540-hp 6×2 tractor GM cab. [MAN Truck & Bus Korea]
The new MAN TGX 540-hp 6×2 tractor GM cab. [MAN Truck & Bus Korea]

MAN Truck & Bus Korea is taking its 540-hp heavy-duty tractor on a nationwide test-drive tour, giving commercial vehicle customers the chance to get behind the wheel on real roads and evaluate the truck's power, fuel economy and digital side-mirror system firsthand.

The company announced Thursday that it will hold the "MAN 540-hp Tractor Test Drive Event" at eight major freight hubs and service centers across the country from Sept. 7 through Sept. 18.

The vehicle on offer is the new MAN TGX 540-hp 6×2 tractor GM cab. Because large commercial vehicles offer few opportunities for hands-on driving compared with passenger cars, the tour is designed to visit areas where freight drivers are concentrated.

The first stop is near Terminal 1 of the Uiwang Inland Container Depot (ICD) in Gyeonggi Province on Monday. The following day, Tuesday, the event moves to the vicinity of the Cargill Agri Purina factory in Pyeongtaek.

The tour then continues at the MAN Truck Jecheon center on Wednesday and Thursday, the Sejong center on Friday, the Jeonju center Sept. 14–15, the Ungdong Nae Truck House on Sept. 16, the Ulsan New Port Nae Truck House on Sept. 17 and the Pohang center on Sept. 18 — a 10-day schedule excluding weekends. Participants can register in advance through their regional representative or sign up on-site.

The test-drive vehicle is powered by a 12.4-liter MAN D26 Euro 6E diesel engine producing a maximum output of 540 hp (397 kW) and peak torque of 2,650 Nm. The engine delivers 30 hp more than the previous model.

Fuel efficiency has also improved. According to MAN Truck, the new engine is about 7 percent more fuel-efficient than the Euro 6C unit used in the previous flagship model. The company said it focused on fuel economy as well as power, given that fuel costs account for a large share of total operating expenses for tractors that log heavy long-haul mileage.

The truck also features "MAN OptiView," a camera-based system that replaces conventional side mirrors. Cameras mounted on the exterior of the vehicle feed live footage to displays inside the cab, functioning as a digital side-mirror system.

The system is designed to reduce blind spots and improve visibility at night or in bad weather. Eliminating the large protruding mirrors also lowers aerodynamic drag while driving.

Safety and comfort features tailored for long-haul freight work are also included. The truck comes with a variable axle-load distribution function that adjusts the load on each axle according to driving conditions, as well as a retarder — an auxiliary braking device that reduces strain on the main brakes on long downhill stretches — capable of generating up to 3,500 Nm of braking force as standard equipment.

An air conditioner and heater that operate without starting the engine are also fitted. The driver's seat is an air-suspension unit with ventilation and heating functions, aimed at reducing fatigue during long hours on the road.

"The new MAN TGX 540-hp tractor enhances the business competitiveness of long-haul transport customers through powerful driving performance and high fuel efficiency," said Peter Andersson, president of MAN Truck & Bus Korea. "We hope this test-drive event will allow more customers to experience the vehicle's strengths firsthand in a real transport environment."

Meanwhile, MAN will also participate in IAA Transportation 2026, held in Hanover, Germany, from Sept. 15 to Sept. 20, immediately after the domestic test-drive tour wraps up. The company plans to showcase its D30 PowerLion high-efficiency diesel drivetrain alongside zero-emission commercial vehicles, including electric trucks, and digital services.


kwater@heraldcorp.com