New hall for special modifications of Tatra vehicles was opened
The new hall at the Tatra Trucks site will focus on modifications to technically demanding vehicles, especially multi-axle specials, which previously affected the smooth running of the main production line. This step will allow to streamline production and at the same time test new processes that will subsequently be introduced on the assembly line.
The Kopřivnice automotive maker, known under the Tatra brand, ranks among the oldest car and truck factories in the world and, with our more than 170-year continuous activity we have significantly influenced the automotive industry in the Czech Republic, as well as abroad. Since March 2013, the company Tatra Trucks owned by Czech shareholders and underwent restructuring.
The current truck range comes up to meet the customer requirements. The civilian production is represented by Tatra Phoenix, while the special and military production is represented by Tatra Force and Tatra Tactic commercial ranges, the firefighting segment is represented by the Tatra Terra.
Hundreds of thousands of vehicles manufactured with payload capacities from 10 t to 33 t and with 4x4, 6x6, 8x8, 10x10 and 12x12 drive systems serve in armies around the world. Tatra conforms to all NATO standards as well as to the users’ special requirements. Unique Tatra chassis allows heavy transport load and high speed in the most difficult terrain. Depending on configuration some Tatra vehicle chassis can be transported by C-130 Hercules aircraft.
Tatra Trucks company recently introduced the new third generation of the Tatra Force. The 3rd generation of the Tatra Force model series has a newly designed cab, the design and interior of which were worked on by Lukáš Taneček, who was asked, among other things, about the main differences in design between the 2nd and 3rd generation (see the video report at the beginning of this article). Lukáš Taneček is no stranger to designing for Tatra Trucks, having previously worked on the design of the Tatra Tactic off-road truck and, more recently, the Tatra Phoenix.
The new cab has a number of superior safety features, a significantly improved interior with a digitised dashboard (touchscreen displays etc.), a multifunction steering wheel and modern electronics that can accommodate any further expansion with special features related to the needs of the military. The new cab also offers a better view than the previous generation. The 3rd generation Tatra Force will now be able to install air-sprung seats, which will again increase the overall comfort of the vehicle's crew.
Under the Tatra Force cabs it will be possible to install both classic Tatra air-cooled engines and selected foreign engines with liquid cooling. For the front-engined versions, the cooling system of selected liquid-cooled engines can now be placed under the cab at the front, thus eliminating the need to install cooling behind the cab, a distinctive feature of the second generation of the Force range.
In the case of Tatra engines, either an electronically controlled, air-cooled, 340 kW V8 or a 440 kW twelve-cylinder will be available for the 3rd generation Tatra Force (both engines will retain the option of using standard F-34 military fuel or high-sulphur diesel). Both engines meet the Euro 3 and Euro 5 standards respectively. Especially for foreign buyers, liquid-cooled Cummins engines will also be on offer (in the 7 to 15 litre displacement range). A completely new feature is the use of the 9.3 litre Caterpillar C9.3B engine, whose interesting feature is the ability to switch it into combat mode while driving, which will increase its power from 392 kW to 447 kW and torque up to 2,250 Nm.
The new Tatra Force will feature Tatra's 10- or 14-speed gearboxes with improved electronic shifting. A twelve-speed ZF TraXon automated transmission and a ZF EcoLife 2 automatic version will also be newly available, while six- or seven-speed Allison automatic transmissions are already standard.
Video: Military Tatra Force 3rd generation: new design and capabilities / DEFENSE MAGAZINE
The future development of the Tatra Force family of vehicles is also moving towards the use of alternative drive types for military purposes, within the range branded as e-Drive. For example, Tatra is working on hybrid vehicles with an internal combustion engine and an electric motor that could use pure electric propulsion in combat and otherwise exposed areas to reduce the sound and infrared footprint, or vehicles where the internal combustion engine acts as a range extender.
In the future, the new Tatra Force 3rd generation will also serve together with the Tatra Force 2nd generation vehicles in the Czech Army, in 6x6 (truck) and 8x8 (truck and container loader) versions. By the end of September 2031, the Ministry of Defence plans to purchase up to 872 Tatra Force off-road vehicles of the above-mentioned three types of both generations for a total value of up to CZK 13.35 billion.
