At a very affordable R259 000 (excluding VAT) the FAW 8.140 FL chassis cab provides one the lowest cost-per-ton vehicles on the market today. Cheng Zhang, Marketing & Strategy Manager for FAW Vehicle Manufacturers SA, explains the rationale behind FAW’s bold move in the local southern Africa region:
“In a business environment where total cost of ownership is always top of mind, it became imperative that we offer the most cost-effective combination drivetrain, engineered to deliver the best levels of efficiency and durability.
Therefore, our decision to introduce the FAW 8.140 range last year was based on customer demand and market opportunity. Our market analysis confirmed the need for a vehicle as durable and rugged as our heavy and extra-heavy trucks, but with smaller dimensions to handle a different working environment.
“FAW Vehicle Manufacturers SA took a strategic decision to redesign and re-engineer the China-version of the truck to be perfectly suited to the southern African customers’ medium-sized truck requirements.
We paid special attention to cost efficiency combined with the best possible payload and the best turnaround time, without forgetting FAW’s quality build standards for durability and reliability.
“The new FAW 8.140 range carries all the hallmarks that FAW trucks have become renowned for, namely strength, reliability and easy operation,” says Zhang.
“The new FAW 8.140 range carries all the hallmarks that FAW trucks have become renowned for, namely strength, reliability and easy operation,” says Zhang.
Adding to its international pedigree the FAW 8.140 FL comes with the Euro 3 Cummins ISF 3,8-litre engine. This high-pressure, common-rail 4-cylinder in-line engine is one of the latest from Cummins’ reputable engine range and is ideally suited to the medium-weight truck category.
Benefits of the engine, fitted with a turbocharger and intercooler, include exceptional performance, low operating costs, low weight, low noise and low emissions. The 6-speed synchromesh manual ZF 6 S 500 TO Ecolite transmission is a great match, taking full advantage of the Cummins powerhouse while adding easy driveability and full driver control.
The ZF transmission adds to the mix a long tradition for technological innovation aimed at overcoming commercial vehicle challenges. Torque is a healthy 450N.m between 1 200 and 2 200 r/min, while an output of 105kW is on tap at 2 600 r/min.
These performance levels make the new Cummins engine and the innovative ZF transmission ideal for weight sensitive and space-constrained drivetrains. The FAW 8.140 range is available in a number of body derivatives – a dropside, a taut-liner option, a van body, a tipper, a rollback and a dry-freight insulated body. Customers may choose to buy the chassis cab and fit their own truck bodies to suit other applications, up to a GCM of 14 tons.
The range enjoys a 2-year/unlimited kilometre warranty and the full extent of sales and/or service from 36 local representative outlets across South Africa, Namibia and Botswana.
