Delphi Automotive Systems unveiled a “Tech-Truck” at SAE's 2000 Truck & Bus Expo in Portland, Ore., showcasing the company's ability to integrate a variety of technologies into a Class 8 tractor for improved vehicle safety, performance and driver comfort.
Safety enhancements range from Telematic systems that use GPS for stolen-vehicle tracking, collision detection and location identification to an overhead airbag system that deploys from the roof and cab pillars to protect drivers from head trauma and keep them inside the vehicle in a rollover.
Enhancements to performance are achieved by equipping the vehicle with an absorbent glass mat battery, which has twice the life of current truck batteries and provides a 30% increase in capacity. Liteflex springs cut 50 lb. out of the vehicle's suspension, while helping improve fuel economy.
The Tech-Truck is also chock full of goodies for drivers. Delphi's Communiport Mobile Multimedia Center combines an AM/FM/WB receiver with a CD-ROM-equipped PC in the dashboard, complete with voice recognition software.
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