MAN TGS

MAN TGS at a glance

The letters TG stand for Trucknology Generation, the name of MAN's truck family launched in 1999 with the TGA. In 2007 the heavy part of the family was split into two ranges: the TGS for distribution, construction and regional work, and the MAN TGX for long-haul transport. According to the old 1cars text, S stands for "Standard" and X for "eXtra". The company's long history, which includes Rudolf Diesel's work on the first diesel engine at MAN in the 1890s, is told in the history of MAN, and its models are in the MAN catalogue.

TGS engines: D20 and D26

According to the old 1cars text, the first-generation TGS uses six-cylinder common-rail diesels based on the 10.5-litre D2066 and the 12.4-litre D2676. Euro 5 versions without AdBlue used exhaust gas recirculation with two-stage turbocharging and entered production in spring 2009; earlier Euro 5 engines used SCR with AdBlue.

From 2012 all new TG models met Euro 6. In 2016 all TGS and TGX engines gained 20 PS and 100 Nm, and in 2019 a further 10 PS and 100 Nm along with Euro 6d compliance. In the model names, the first number gives the gross vehicle weight in tonnes and the second the power, so a TGS 35.510 is a four-axle truck with a 510-horsepower engine.

Gearboxes and drivetrain

The TG range offers manual gearboxes and the MAN TipMatic automated transmission. The old 1cars text describes 16-speed manual gearboxes with MAN Comfort Shift and Servo Shift, and the TipMatic, which shifts automatically or manually with a button on the steering wheel, selects the most suitable gear when the optional retarder is in use and has an economy mode. Construction trucks receive off-road versions of the gearbox with faster shifts. MAN HydroDrive adds hydraulic drive to the front wheels, which, according to the old 1cars text, improves traction, steering and manoeuvrability on loose ground.

Cabs: M, L and LX

According to the old 1cars text, the driver's seat and the cab are air-suspended, while the passenger seat is fixed. The bunk in the L cab is 750 mm wide. Options include seat heating, pneumatic lumbar support and an auxiliary coolant heater that preheats the engine and warms the cab. Three steps and handrails give access to the cab.

Chassis and suspension

The TGS uses a ladder frame made of high-strength steel. Depending on the version, it has parabolic leaf springs at the front and leaf or air suspension at the rear, with hypoid axles. The old 1cars text notes that the leaf-spring suspension is maintenance-free and that electronically controlled air suspension makes it easier to mount and change bodies. The braking system is electronic (EBS) with ABS and ASR, disc brakes and automatic brake-force distribution between the truck and trailer.

Safety systems

The TGS offers the Electronic Stability Program, adaptive cruise control and a camera-based lane-departure warning, according to the old 1cars text. The same source lists static cornering lights that switch on with the indicator below 30 km/h, LED daytime running lights and a seat-belt reminder. Comfort Drive Control (CDC) adjusts the shock absorbers to reduce body roll with heavy loads.

The 2014 update

The old 1cars text describes a comprehensive update in 2014 that changed the exterior, the technology and the equipment. A new front end with a plastic bumper and LED lights reduced wind noise by 30%, a new wiper position reduced snow and ice build-up, the side mirrors collected 60% less dirt, and new air intakes increased air flow to the engine by 15%. The fuel and AdBlue tanks were rearranged on the frame, with AdBlue tanks of 25 to 80 litres. The cabin became 13% quieter, according to the same source.

New TGS (from 2020)

The second-generation TG range was unveiled in Bilbao, Spain, on 10 February 2020. Fleet News lists two six-cylinder engines for the new TGS: a 9-litre with 330, 360 or 400 bhp and the 12.4-litre D26 with 430, 470 or 510 bhp, combined with a 12-speed TipMatic automated gearbox. The range covers two, three and four axles from 4x2 to 8x8, with cabs including the NN day cab and TN and TM sleepers, and offers 12.3-inch digital instruments and LED lights on higher trims.

Running costs and owner feedback

Owners quoted in the old 1cars text praise the comfortable seat, the effective heater, the braking system and engine durability, with no major engine problems reported at 500,000 km. The same feedback mentions real fuel consumption of about 40 litres per 100 km for a tractor unit in mixed use, above the official figures, and recommends high-quality fuel. Criticism focuses on the plain dashboard and on side mirrors that can hide other vehicles.

Rivals: how the TGS compares

The old 1cars text names the DAF CF and XF, the Iveco Stralis and Trakker from Iveco, the Mercedes-Benz Axor and Actros, the Renault Premium, Lander and Magnum, and the Scania P, G and R series among the TGS's competitors. Its strengths are the wide choice of axle layouts, engines and cabs, the HydroDrive option and a comfortable cab, according to owners; its weaknesses, according to owners, are high fuel use and limited mirror visibility.