DAF, a truck manufacturer from the Netherlands, is one of the seven major mainstream European truck companies. Although it is hard to find its presence in China, DAF is rapidly expanding in Europe with its new generation of trucks, continuously capturing more market share. Its XG and XG+ models feature oversized cabins and comply with new EU cabin regulations, positioning DAF as a leader in the direction of European truck development.
Today, DAF trucks are known for their high comfort levels, spacious cabins, and advanced digital multimedia interiors, alongside various cutting-edge electronic systems and vehicle functionalities. However, their power systems may seem slightly mediocre, emphasizing steady and reliable performance. Looking back to the last century, DAF trucks appeared much more “hardcore.” In 1984, DAF introduced a special racing truck based on the then 3300 series model, equipped with two 11.6-liter turbocharged diesel engines, delivering a combined output of 750 horsepower and outstanding vehicle performance.
The unique twin-engine structure gives it exceptional power performance, making it unstoppable and relentless. This DAF 3300 twin-engine racing truck was aptly named “The Bull,” symbolizing its strength and uncontainable nature. With this special racing truck, legendary Dutch racer Jan de Rooy achieved second place in the truck category at the 1985 Dakar Rally. Building on The Bull, DAF continued to collaborate with Jan de Rooy to create even more powerful twin-engine racers, becoming a remarkable chapter in racing history.
As time passes, the glory of the DAF The Bull twin-engine Dakar racer has long faded after 40 years, and Jan de Rooy, the Dutch driver who shared in its success, sadly passed away due to illness in early 2024. To commemorate this legendary model and its glorious story from 40 years ago, Dutch DAF truck dealer Bakker Bedrijfswagens has introduced a special XG model, continuing DAF’s legacy with a fresh look and new image.
The DAF The Bull twin-engine Dakar racer not only boasts impressive performance but also features striking exterior design. Unlike the previous Tweekoppige Monster “Twin-Headed Monster” model, The Bull eliminates the rear-facing cabin in favor of a single-cabin design, integrating the cabin design of the DAF 3300 commercial truck for excellent aesthetics and improved aerodynamics.
The lower half of the DAF The Bull twin-engine Dakar racer features a uniform black color, while the upper half is a bright yellow, making it highly recognizable and adding a racing flair. The exterior of the cabin is designed with an integrated bumper that offers better protection for the front end and A-pillars. Additionally, the bumper incorporates a light bar with spotlights mounted above to illuminate the driver’s path.
As a commercial model, the DAF XG The Bull Special Edition isn’t as hardcore as a true racing truck. Features like spotlights and bumpers have been toned down, and the ground clearance is lower, lacking the robust off-road capability of a Dakar racer. However, the DAF XG The Bull Special Edition still embodies the concept of “high performance,” combining its paint and exterior features to create a stronger sense of competition and speed.
In terms of paint, the DAF XG The Bull Special Edition continues the distinctive style of the DAF The Bull twin-engine Dakar racer. Its lower body has a smoked black treatment, while the glossy black design gives it a high-end feel. Meanwhile, the vehicle’s front hood has also been smoked black to maintain a cohesive look with the side skirts and other elements.
Similar to the DAF The Bull twin-engine Dakar racer, the upper half of the DAF XG The Bull Special Edition features a bright yellow paint job, adorned with DAF Trucks logos, The Bull graphics, and other identifiers, paying tribute to the legendary predecessor from 40 years ago. The transition between yellow and black on the body is accented by red, white, and blue stripes, representing the Dutch flag and serving as a classic design element.
In June 2021, DAF launched its new generation of truck series, with the XG model as a core component. Compared to the rounded shapes of previous models, the new generation features more muscular body lines, appearing more dynamic and powerful. The number “621” on the front represents the racing number of the DAF The Bull twin-engine Dakar racer, continuing the legacy on this model.
One of the advantages of the new generation of DAF trucks is that the XF, XG, and XG+ models come standard with LED headlights, giving the entire vehicle a sharper appearance. The LED lighting provides better illumination while consuming less power and offering greater reliability, becoming an essential feature of modern trucks.
The high-performance competitive style is the core element of the DAF XG The Bull Special Edition. The front hood adopts a shield shape, featuring a multi-layer stacked air intake grille resembling abdominal muscle lines. To match the overall design language, the hood is smoked black, with decorative stripes painted below the grille, enhancing its visual appeal.
The sun visor also features a yellow and black color scheme, while an aftermarket surround is added below the bumper, enhancing the visual tension. The roof is equipped with air horns and a light box, with the area around the roof lights smoked black to create emphasis and elevate the vehicle’s premium feel.
The side skirts feature stylized DAF lettering with “High Performance” graphics. However, while the high performance of the DAF 3300 twin-engine Dakar racer referred to its power performance, the high performance of the DAF XG The Bull Special Edition signifies high comfort and safety. It is equipped with an oversized cabin that offers spacious living areas and includes various safety features, meeting the new EU GSR general safety regulations, achieving two distinct yet converging goals.
Of course, the power configuration of the DAF XG is not weak but rather quite solid: it uses a PACCAR MX-13 inline six-cylinder diesel engine, outputting 530 horsepower and 2550 Nm of torque, paired with a ZF TraXon transmission and SR1344 rear axle. The entire power system has been thoroughly tested. Additionally, the PACCAR MX-13 engine features a “dual torque” design, where the engine’s output torque increases to 2700 Nm when the transmission is in 12th gear (the highest gear). With the addition of the overdrive gear and low speed ratio, it achieves efficient cruising at low RPM and high speed.
At the 2024 Hannover Motor Show in September, DAF showcased its new PACCAR MX-13 powertrain. The engine features an all-new valve timing system that embodies DAF’s low RPM, high torque philosophy. While the power output has not increased, the engine’s maximum torque onset has decreased from 1030 RPM to 950 RPM, enhancing low RPM, high torque performance and improving high-speed cruising efficiency.
The new powertrain also includes a new rear axle, developed based on the widely popular SR 1344 rear axle. The new rear axle features an all-new internal gear design, offering higher strength and transmission efficiency, along with a wider range of axle ratio options for lower gearing. Combined with the optimized engine, it facilitates more efficient cruising. Vehicles equipped with the new powertrain are referred to by DAF as “New Chapter,” representing a new chapter in DAF’s development.
The axle configuration of the DAF XG The Bull Special Edition is particularly interesting. It adopts a 6×2 drive format, but unlike the common rear-lifting setup in continental Europe. Both the first and second axles are non-driven, while the third axle (the rear axle) is the driven axle, somewhat resembling configurations commonly seen in the UK
. This ensures that the vehicle’s wheelbase is unaffected, providing reliable traction and driving stability.
The second axle features single tires and can be lifted, equipped with a steerable function, forming a 6×2 mid-lift drive configuration. The addition of steerable functionality enhances the vehicle’s maneuverability and reduces the turning radius. The liftable axle increases the vehicle’s flexibility, allowing it to lower for better load capacity when fully loaded and raise to reduce rolling resistance and tire wear when unloaded or lightly loaded.
As a display truck, the DAF XG The Bull Special Edition is naturally not intended for cargo transport. Therefore, its saddle is enclosed with a specially designed decorative panel, featuring a yellow panel with a bull logo and “The Bull” text, connecting the DAF XG The Bull Special Edition with the DAF The Bull twin-engine Dakar racer from 40 years ago.
Similar to the lower half of the vehicle, the mudguards of the DAF XG The Bull Special Edition are also completely smoked black, paired with the yellow decorative stripes above, creating a striking color contrast that exudes a high-end and sporty feel.
The cabin length of the DAF XG matches that of its larger sibling, the XG+, both offering a spacious 2590 mm of interior space, making it one of the largest factory cabins in European trucks. It complies with the new EU cabin regulations, legally allowing it to match full-sized trailers without compromising on cargo space. Although the roof height is lower, the overall appearance remains balanced, still providing an internal height of over 1.98 meters, making it a relatively well-rounded choice.
The interior of the DAF XG The Bull Special Edition has not undergone major modifications; you can refer to this photo for its specific style.
Spanning time and space, this DAF XG The Bull Special Edition pays tribute in a clever way to the legendary model from forty years ago: the DAF 3300 twin-engine Dakar racer. In July 2024, the DAF XG The Bull Special Edition made a dazzling debut at the Truckstar Festival in the Netherlands. As one of the largest truck gatherings in Europe, the DAF XG The Bull Special Edition captured a lot of attention at the festival. Thank you for reading this article! If you’d like to see more interesting and informative content about commercial vehicles, don’t forget to follow us!
