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The seasons have come full circle. After initial demonstrations of the Unimog U20 with summer-service implements at the Demopark show in Eisenach in June 2007, the latest addition to the Unimog family has now completed its ice and snow test following a tour of German ski resorts. Local authorities and gardening/landscaping contractors in Germany currently have around 12 000 Unimog vehicles from the 424 and 427 series in service, produced in the period between 1982 and 2000. Although they still perform admirably Unimog vehicles have always been virtually indestructible many of them are gradually becoming ripe for replacement in order to avoid rising repair costs. Plus they no longer fulfil the latest requirements in terms of ergonomic design, environmental compatibility and ease of operation. This is the segment for which the U 20 has been designed. The U20 is all Unimog in other words the quintessence of the concept, development and testing of the "mini" Unimog first unveiled at the International Commercial Vehicle Show (IAA) in 2006. All-wheel drive, single tyres at the rear as well as at the front, engageable differential locks, portal axles, coil springs, ample power reserves, power take-offs and a powerful hydraulic system, not to mention state-of-the-art truck technology in terms of safety, operation and environmental compatibility, make the U20 a highly versatile implement carrier fully in keeping with the style of the two larger model series. The four-cylinder 904 LA engine develops 150 hp. Like its counterparts across the entire Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicle range, it incorporates highly sophis?ticated emission-control technology to comply with the Euro 4 emission standard and also ensure extremely low emissions of particulate matter. The eight-speed transmission allows speeds of between 1,1 and 90 km/h at the rated engine speed The U20 differs from the U300, U400 and U500 implement carriers by virtue of its outstanding manoeuvrability with a turning circle of 12,8 m and a wheelbase of 2700 mm, reduced weight, lower price and its versatility. The U20 is designed for changing municipal requirements rather than regular jobs that require maximum output and performance. It has a permitted gross vehicle weight of between 7,5 and 8,5 t and a permitted axle load of 4,8 tonnes at the front and rear, meaning that there is plenty of scope for mounting implements. The U20 features an all-steel cab shared with other high-volume models in the Daimler Trucks family. In addition to its ability to operate implements, the U 20 has another
ace up its sleeve: as a high-horsepower and relatively lightweight tractor
vehicle, it can easily achieve a high average speed, even when fully laden
with a trailer load of up to 18 t, making it highly suitable for motorway
use.
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The New Unimog U20
