Tim Giles

Gold Coast

Editor at PowerTorque Magazine

Technical Editor at Freelance

Freelance Journalist and truckie

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Articles

Western Star trucks reviews and news

3 weeks ago | powertorque.com.au | Tim Giles

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Scania 500 P from the driver's seat

3 weeks ago | powertorque.com.au | Tim Giles

Although, in magazines like PowerTorque, we often talk about a truck and highlight the horsepower rating of the engine, it is actually the torque rating which gives us that feeling of being able to get the vehicle to behave as it should and respond appropriately to the right foot of the driver. This kind of really useful torque is what this particular engine does deliver with full torque available all the way from 900rpm through to 1320rpm.
Preferences around safety technology

4 weeks ago | powertorque.com.au | Tim Giles

The latest Future of Trucking report includes truck buyer’s preferences around safety technology, in a period where the number of safety technologies available to the the truck maker is increasing at a rapid rate. The amount of data flowing through a modern truck’s CANbus coming from smart cameras and myriad sensors, has seen the proliferation of acronyms in a truck’s specification, both as standard or optional.
Power under the hood

1 month ago | powertorque.com.au | Tim Giles

There’s enough power under the hood of the Scania P500 to get the job done, with 500 hp available at 1800 rpm and a decent 2650Nm of torque (1955 ft lb) available all the way from 900 rpm to 1320 rpm. This is the kind of performance which would surprise a driver used to horsepower ratings in the low 400s and having to work hard to manoeuvre a B-double with containers in a tight container yard.
Getting the cocktail mix just right

1 month ago | nztrucking.co.nz | Tim Giles

Engineers at Paccar Australia faced the challenge of integrating European and North American technologies into the DAF XG+ for the Australasian truck while getting the cocktail mix just right. . Tim Giles reckons the recipe seems to be working. Visitors to the Brisbane Truck Show in May 2023 got their first glimpse of the DAF XG+, an adaptation of the top- of-the-range prime mover for DAF in Europe, including the fitment of a 15L engine, rated up to 492kW (660hp).
Isuzu's great leap forward

2 months ago | powertorque.com.au | Tim Giles

It has been 17 years since there was a genuine model change, but as Tim Giles reports, 2025 will see a new, built from the ground up, Isuzu range coming to the Australian truck market as the long time market leader catches up with the latest technology. It has to be admitted that 17 years is a long time between drinks, but during that period Isuzu has not only led the Australian truck market every year, but has further entrenched its number one position.
Same thing in a smaller package

2 months ago | powertorque.com.au | Tim Giles

With the introduction of a 500hp engine in a small P Series truck, Scania has come up with the same thing in a smaller package for those looking for useful power in an urban prime mover capable of hauling a fully loaded B-double.
The Wightman Transport operation

2 months ago | powertorque.com.au | Tim Giles

Currently, the Wightman Transport operation runs eight to 12 B-doubles a day out of Melbourne into Adelaide. The company had the contract with Coles for 55 years, but lost it in 2019 only to win it back again this year, after the operator which had taken over the contract struggled to handle the task. The fleet covers regional areas as well, servicing the likes of the Riverland, Berri and Mildura.
On the road in the eActros

2 months ago | powertorque.com.au | Tim Giles

Jumping into the cabin of the Mercedes-Benz eActros is simple – put the key in the ignition, turn the truck on, wait for it to go through its initiation process, release the handbrake and press the go pedal. It is at this point that the first strong impression, which this kind of truck gives us, comes into play. It is surprising just how quiet it is in the cabin as the truck is heading off down the road. This does make for very relaxing driving, and also reduces any vibration.
Feedback Coming from the Market

Jan 15, 2025 | powertorque.com.au | Tim Giles

The kind of feedback coming from the market about the Western Star X Series is about the smoothness of the driveline and the integration of the AMT. This is quite a break, going from a standard 18-speed to a majority of the trucks being sold with an automated transmission. It would seem that although the 18 speed crash box will always have its place, more and more operations are biting the bullet and specifying an AMT and also finding the results to be satisfactory.