DAF, a brand that has never officially entered the mainland China market, is an unusual player in the “European Seven Sisters.” In Europe, DAF trucks are widely recognized by drivers as the most comfortable heavy-duty trucks.
At the 2024 IAA, DAF showcased its latest flagship tractor product—the DAF XG+. Compared to the initial release, the model displayed at the IAA has upgraded body colors, design details, cabin comfort, and is equipped with the latest 13-liter engine.
In this article, we will delve into the new DAF XG+ tractor.
2.6m Long Cabin, Fully Electronic Rearview Mirrors:
In terms of appearance, DAF has always favored a design that honors tradition, and the XG+ is no exception. Its air intake grille is mainly concentrated in the lower half of the body, with four silver trim strips enhancing visual impact and layering, making it more technologically advanced compared to the previous XF heavy truck. Many trucks exhibited by DAF at the IAA feature a brand new “Alex Red” paint, which boasts high saturation and paint hardness, giving it an excellent appearance quality.
From the side, one can see the sheer size of the DAF XG+ cabin, which measures a full 2.6 meters. The distance from the rear window to the deflector is twice that of other vehicles, and the overall height reaches 4 meters, which is quite impressive when viewed in person.
Thanks to the completely new cabin design, the DAF XG+ adopts a separate structure for the cabin and chassis, similar to the latest Mercedes-Benz Actros and Scania, with the fender not located on the cabin. The layout of the cabin’s air suspension has been further optimized, contributing to enhanced driving comfort.
The cabin uses a four-point airbag suspension system with integrated airbag valves, and protective covers are provided at the top of the airbags. Notably, the DAF XG+ also features transverse shock absorbers at the rear to minimize lateral movement of the cabin. Additionally, the vehicle’s battery switch is prominently located at the rear, equipped with a protective cover to prevent accidental operation.
DAF’s high-position auxiliary lighting device is also continued in this generation of the XG+, with the internal lights upgraded from halogen to LED sources. This lighting system not only increases illumination distance but also improves driver visibility on narrow European roads at night, helping to spot and avoid protruding branches.
The DAF XG+ tractor’s 4×2 and 6×2 versions come standard with electronic rearview mirrors, which help reduce the vehicle’s drag coefficient. Additionally, these electronic mirrors feature electric folding and heating functions, facilitating daily use for drivers.
The streamlined design of the rearview mirrors includes a red-painted shell. This image also shows the optimization of DAF’s body lines, aimed at further reducing the drag coefficient. Moreover, this DAF XG+ display model eliminates the sun visor, resulting in a cleaner aerodynamic profile.
The ground mirror also adopts an electronic camera solution, located below the right A-pillar. This camera uses a wide-angle lens to cover the vehicle’s right front “blind spot.” Due to its lower position and unique lens, this electronic ground mirror provides better visibility compared to traditional optical ground mirrors.
To further reduce the drag coefficient, DAF has not set up external air filter intakes. Instead, it adopts the same air filter intake position as Scania, located inside the intake port on the right side of the grille, which reduces wind resistance.
Two millimeter-wave radars are located below the grille, allowing the AEBS series of active safety functions to determine more accurately, which also contributes to improved driving safety.
All lighting sources on the DAF XG+ are LED, with the main headlights featuring an integrated design that includes high and low beams, daytime running lights, and turn signals, while fog lights are separately arranged below.
The headlights include a washing function, integrated behind the chrome decorative cover at the bottom of the light assembly, which cleans the headlights when the windshield washer is activated.
To achieve optimal aerodynamics, the DAF XG+ is equipped with side skirts, and specialized rubber strips have been added to both the upper and lower sides of the skirts to fill the gap formed between the cab and trailer, minimizing drag as much as possible.
DAF’s door handle design is quite interesting, featuring an inward pull type, where the switch is on the inside of the handle; a simple squeeze opens the door. The handle is also marked with “NIGHT LOCK,” indicating that the vehicle has a nighttime anti-theft lock. In Europe, while thieves do not usually steal fuel, they may sneak in to steal items while the driver sleeps.
This device is present on many heavy trucks in Europe, but each brand presents it differently; DAF has its own approach.
European Comfort Champion, XG+ Interior is Comfortable and Highly Expandable:
At the DAF booth, a cross-section of the XG+ cabin was displayed, showcasing the highest-end interior configuration of the DAF XG+. We will examine the rich optional configurations and craftsmanship of the cabin through actual interior photos.
As an exhibit at the IAA, this showcased DAF XG+ has no differentiation in the driver’s and passenger’s seats; both are equipped with the same multifunctional airbag shock-absorbing seats, featuring damping adjustment, tilt adjustment, height adjustment, seat cushion adjustment, three-stage lumbar support, and heating and ventilation functions. For models with standard configurations, the passenger seat would be a foldable type.
The control panel on the driver’s door is uniquely designed, with an angle that is more suitable for the driver’s operation. The panel includes buttons for electric windows, central locking, mirror folding, heating, and adjustment, with many features not available in other heavy-duty trucks with electronic rearview mirrors.
From the pictures, we can see that the electronic rearview mirror screens are installed on both sides of the A-pillars of the DAF XG+ cabin, with an additional ground mirror screen on the right side.
Since the millennium, DAF has applied scientific ergonomic designs in its interiors, including highly adjustable steering wheels and wrap-around central instrument panels. With these configurations, both the comfort of driving and the ease of operation for the driver have been significantly improved.
In the DAF XG+ interior, these features have evidently been further optimized. The steering wheel’s adjustment angle has been increased, making it comparable to Scania, and the controls on the workstation tilt towards the driver, ensuring that all buttons are within reach. For example, the buttons for adjusting the various interior lights have been replaced with knobs for easier operation, allowing the driver to simply twist to activate different lights.
The newly designed four-spoke steering wheel is equipped with a host of buttons, including those for various driving assistant systems, a hands-free phone, and cruise control, which can be conveniently adjusted while driving. Importantly, the middle of the steering wheel integrates an airbag for improved safety.
The multimedia screen in the DAF XG+ is designed to avoid glare and achieve a good visibility angle in various light conditions. In addition to touch controls, it includes many physical buttons and knobs for additional functions, ensuring that users can seamlessly transition between digital and physical controls.
Additionally, it supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, making it convenient for drivers to use navigation and music functions during their travels.
The new DAF XG+ is also equipped with an all-new driver monitoring system, which detects whether the driver is fatigued and will send alerts to ensure safe driving.
The multi-function instrument panel includes a vehicle speed display, gear display, fuel consumption display, and more, allowing the driver to understand vehicle status at a glance.
Moreover, this vehicle also features an onboard computer that provides real-time data on fuel consumption, tire pressure, and driving routes, which can be transferred to cloud services for analysis and optimization. The driver can select driving modes based on various conditions, ensuring that the driving experience remains comfortable while maximizing efficiency.
The central instrument panel, in line with DAF’s traditional design, remains in the center. The dual-level design includes a high-end vehicle air conditioning system, and DAF claims that this system has significantly improved air quality, ensuring that drivers can feel refreshed even during long-haul operations.
The DAF XG+ boasts a spacious cabin with numerous storage compartments and storage areas, such as storage nets and shelves, providing ample space for long-distance drivers to store their items. Even larger items can be placed on the top shelf for easy access.
The premium sleeping area in the cabin can accommodate two sleeping positions, and the height of the sleeping compartment has been designed to ensure that even tall drivers can comfortably sleep.
The sleeping area is equipped with ventilation and reading lights, ensuring that drivers can rest comfortably while parked, and the overall atmosphere of the interior is warm and inviting.
DAF provides a variety of optional comfort features, including an optional microwave and refrigerator, allowing drivers to enjoy more homely comforts during long-distance travel.
The DAF XG+ has introduced additional configurations for exterior colors, cabin colors, and interior trims, catering to drivers’ preferences and enhancing personalization options.
In summary, the DAF XG+ offers a comprehensive upgrade in terms of driving comfort, safety, and technology, aiming to enhance the overall driving experience and address the needs of European truck drivers.
The front and rear axle tonnages of the DAF XG+ are 8 tons and 13 tons, respectively. The rear axle uses DAF’s latest SR1344 single-reduction axle, with a standard ratio of 2.64 and an optional minimum ratio of 2.05.
The drive wheels of the vehicle are fitted with Goodyear 315/70R22.5 vacuum tires. With the minimum axle ratio, the vehicle can reach 90 km/h at 1000 rpm in top gear, fully meeting the needs of low-rev, high-speed cruising for long-distance logistics on flat terrain.
The vehicle features black magnesium-aluminum alloy wheels, with flat steel rims used for the front wheels, paired with 385/55R22.5 tires. This setup ensures excellent stability during both driving and steering. Moreover, this combination greatly reduces tire wear, lowering operational costs.
The splash guard design behind the front wheels is also unique. It consists of a two-layer structure to achieve splash prevention. For optimal drag reduction and mudflow guidance, the splash guard has an arched design for maximum effect.
Behind the right side skirt is a manual cab-tilt pump. Surprisingly, for DAF’s top-tier model, it comes with a manual pump, which suggests that the design philosophy assumes the driver doesn’t need to tilt the cab themselves.
In the same side skirt area, there’s also a side-mounted millimeter-wave radar, detecting blind spots in front and behind the vehicle to comply with EU regulations.
As a 4×2 tractor with a wheelbase of 4000mm, the DAF XG+ has a very large fuel tank capacity. The main and auxiliary tanks hold 845L and 620L respectively, with a total capacity of 1465L. The AdBlue tank is hidden under the cab with an 85L capacity.
Due to Europe’s preference for standardized transport, this highway tractor is equipped with a 50mm kingpin saddle. The saddle, made by JOST, uses casting technology and has two nylon wear pads fixed on top, eliminating the need for grease.
The battery for DAF tractors is generally rear-mounted, and thanks to the air suspension on the axle, there’s no need to worry about the battery getting damaged or short-circuited due to vibrations. Moreover, instead of a battery box, the rear-mounted battery is supported by a three-point bracket, helping to reduce vehicle weight.
Since a rear-mounted battery makes it impossible to jump-start the vehicle when towing a trailer, the DAF XG+ is equipped with positive and negative terminals at the rear, with the positive terminal retractable when not in use.
DAF’s rounded design is also reflected at the rear. The arc-shaped mudguards are seamlessly integrated, giving the vehicle a very aesthetically pleasing look. The rear lights use LED technology and feature an anti-crash design.
The upper grille of the DAF XG+ cab supports full opening, and like Scania, both side panels can be opened, with the cab-tilt lever located inside the side panel. Its layout includes the air filter on the left and the junction box on the right, and the craftsmanship remains very refined.
Take a look at the DAF XG+’s wiring and piping.
Editor’s Note:
In Europe, drivers hold DAF in as high regard as Scania. Through a detailed examination of the entire vehicle, it’s clear that the craftsmanship and attention to detail of the DAF XG+ are exceptional, promising a luxurious experience for this heavy truck.
At the exhibition, I also inquired about whether DAF plans to enter the mainland China market. However, the response was that DAF currently has no plans to enter the Chinese market and has no intentions of entering any market via technology transfer or joint ventures, meaning that for now, we will not have the chance to experience this luxury truck in China.
