Freightliner Business Class M2
| Freightliner Business Class M2 | |
|---|---|
 Freightliner M2 106 straight truck with a van body | |
 Engine compartment, showing a Cummins ISB6.7 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Daimler Trucks North America (Freightliner) |
| Production | June 2002-present[1] |
| Assembly | Mount Holly, North Carolina; Santiago Tianguistenco, Mexico |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Class 5-8 |
| Body style |
2-door daycab 2-door extended cab 4-door crewcab |
| Layout |
4x2 6x4 4x4 6x6 |
| Related | Freightliner C2 (bus chassis) |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine |
Caterpillar 3126/C7 I6 (discontinued)[2] Cummins ISB5.9 I6(discontinued) Cummins ISB6.7 I6 Cummins ISC I6(discontinued) Cummins ISL I6 Cummins ISL-G I6 Detroit Diesel DD13 I6 (M2 112 only) Mercedes-Benz MBE900 I4 (discontinued)[2] Mercedes-Benz MBE900 I6 (discontinued)[2] |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Freightliner FL-Series |
The Freightliner Business Class M2 is a model range of medium-duty trucks produced by Freightliner. In production since June 2002, the M2 was the successor to the FL-Series introduced in the 1990s.[2] In terms of size, the M2 is produced in Class 5 through Class 8 GVWR ratings, competing primarily against the International Durastar and the Ford F-650/F-750 Super Duty.
Freightliner produces the Business Class M2 model range in Mount Holly, North Carolina and Santiago Tianguistenco, Mexico.
Current Models
The Business Class M2 is produced in a wide range of configurations, in both medium-duty and severe-service configurations. There are three different cab configurations: a 106-inch BBC day cab, a 132-inch BBC extended cab, and a 154-inch BBC 4-door crew cab.[1] The crew-cab configuration offers seating for up to six passengers.[1]
Truck
M2 106
Named for its 106-inch BBC length in daycab configuration, the M2 106 is a Class 5-8 truck available in GVWRs up to 56,000 lbs.[3] The M2 106 is produced primarily as a straight truck, although its cab and chassis are used in the bus industry as a cutaway cab conversion.
M2 112
Named for its 112-inch BBC length, the M2 112 is a Class 8 truck available in GVWRs up to 80,000 lbs.[4] Although available as a straight truck like the M2 106, it is also available as a tractor. Externally, it is distinguished by a larger grille and slightly higher hoodline.
Bus
Along with various cutaway cab conversions of the M2 106 used for the shuttle bus market, the M2 serves as the donor chassis for the Thomas Saf-T-Liner C2 school bus constructed by Freightliner subsidiary Thomas Built Buses. The Saf-T-Liner C2 was introduced in 2004.
Unlike previous conventional school buses, which used little more than the hood and steering column from the donor chassis, the Thomas Saf-T-Liner C2 shared a high degree of commonality with the M2 106 forward of the driver's seat. For example, the dashboard was used in its entirety, and while it was a redesigned (larger) piece of glass, the windshield allowed the use of the stock Freightliner windshield wipers.
Severe-service trucks
As with the FL-Series, Freightliner developed severe-service variants of the Business Class M2. While the M2 106V and M2 112V would share the same cabs and hood as the medium-duty vehicles, they were based on their own unique chassis. In 2011, Freightliner replaced the M2 106V/112V with the "SD" line of severe-service trucks, dropping them out of the Business Class M2 model range. While the 108SD and 114SD still used the M2 cab, an all-new hood and chassis was used.
Aftermarket
Freightliner Specialty Vehicles (also known as SportChassis LLC)[5] is a manufacturer based in Clinton, Oklahoma that produces conversions of the Business Class M2 as consumer vehicles.[6] Several vehicles are available, including 5th-wheel tow vehicles and pickup trucks. While similar in layout to the International CXT/RXT, these differ in that they are completed by a second-stage manufacturer.
References
- 1 2 3 "Freightliner rolls out new Business Class M2 models". Retrieved 1 May 2014.
- 1 2 3 4 "Freightliner introduces Business Class M2". Retrieved 1 May 2014.
- ↑ http://www.freightlinertrucks.com/Trucks/Models/M2106/
- ↑ http://www.freightlinertrucks.com/Trucks/Models/M2112/
- ↑ "Bloomberg Business | Company Overview of Freightliner Specialty Vehicles, Inc.".
- ↑ http://www.sportchassis.com/models