Mack mDRIVE automated manual transmission now standard on the Mack Pinnacle model

The Mack mDRIVE automated manual transmission (AMT) is now standard on the Mack Pinnacle highway model, offering increased fuel efficiency, productivity and safety to even more Mack customers. The ever-increasing popularity of the mDRIVE, driven by its proven performance and benefits, led to the decision. More than 50 percent of Pinnacle models sold now are equipped with the transmission.

Stephen Roy, president of Mack Trucks North American Sales and Marketing, made the announcement during the 2014 American Trucking Associations Management Conference & Exhibition in San Diego.

“We at Mack decided to offer the mDRIVE as standard equipment because we believe that the best components delivering the best benefits to the customer should be the standard,” Roy said. “Our confidence in the mDRIVE and its ability to offer increased efficiency, productivity and safety will set the bar for the industry.”

Engineered and built to Mack standards, the mDRIVE is based on proven technology, requiring minimal service and significantly reducing maintenance downtime. With its simplified shifting, the mDRIVE also can help attract and retain drivers.

“The mDRIVE helps customers work faster and smarter by eliminating traditional shifting,” Roy said. “By removing that task, mDRIVE allows drivers to focus on the job at hand: delivering their cargo safely and on time.”

The 12-speed mDRIVE continuously monitors multiple driving variables to maximize driver productivity, performance and fuel efficiency. Sophisticated programming and precise engineering and manufacturing deliver smooth shifts and automatically select the best gear for conditions.

The mDRIVE is controlled through a dash-mounted shift pad with an integrated display to indicate the current gear. The Mack Co-Pilot driver display, located in the center of the instrument panel, displays the mDRIVE’s status, including the number of upshifts or downshifts available, the current gear and the current operating mode.

The mDRIVE, a key component of Mack’s integrated powertrains, is designed to work seamlessly with Mack MP series engines. When combined with a Mack Pedigree Powertrain, the mDRIVE can boost fuel efficiency by up to 1.5 percent compared to a standard transmission.

For applications where fuel economy is a priority, Pinnacle models can be spec’d with the Super Econodyne integrated powertrain package. Featuring the Mack MP7 or Mack MP8 engine, mDRIVE, proprietary drive axles and Mack’s custom software, the Super Econodyne package maximizes efficiency without sacrificing performance. When compared to similarly spec’d vehicles, the MP7 Super Econodyne and MP8 Super Econodyne provide fuel economy improvements of up to 4 percent and 3.5 percent respectively.

A key feature of the Super Econodyne package is “down speeding” of the engine. “Down speeding” reduces engine rpm by more than 200 rpm at a highway speed of 65 miles per hour, cruising at 1160 rpm versus 1380 rpm. This decrease in engine rpm reduces fuel consumption, with a corresponding reduction in CO2 emissions.