Foton Auman EST 430HP

Engine and gearbox

The Foton Auman EST 430HP is Master Motor’s flagship Foton prime mover, aimed at heavy long-haul and cross-border freight. The official brochure lists a Cummins ISGe3-430 six-cylinder diesel of 11.8 litres, turbocharged and intercooled and rated at Euro III. It produces 430 hp at 1,900 rpm and 2,200 Nm at 1,000 rpm. Power goes through a ZF 12TX2420TD automated manual (AMT) gearbox with an aluminium housing, so there is no clutch pedal to work in traffic; the automated clutch is 430 mm (17 inches) across. The brochure describes the rear axles as double-ratio units using Benz technology. Master Motor quotes a top speed of 96.93 km/h and a maximum gradeability of 23 per cent.

Size and practicality

Maximum gross combination weight is 90,000 kg, kerb weight is 10,347 kg and the rated payload is 79,523 kg. The tractor is 6,950 mm long, 2,490 mm wide and about 3,840 mm tall, with a 3,300 + 1,350 mm wheelbase. The front axle is rated at 7.5 tons and the rear tandem at 16 tons, with leaf-spring suspension front and rear. It runs on 315/80R22 tyres, carries a 450-litre aluminium fuel tank and comes with a fifth wheel for a 50# (2-inch) kingpin. The model code is BJ4259SMFKB-RD, and it is built in right-hand drive for Pakistan.

Equipment

The H4-2490 high-roof cabin is fully floating and tilts forward. It has a double bed, electric windows, central and remote locking, an air-suspended driver’s seat with heating, and an MP3 player with radio and USB. Brakes are dual-circuit air brakes with ABS, plus an engine exhaust brake and spring parking brakes. The electrical system is 24-volt with two 165 Ah batteries.

Warranty

Master Motor’s website does not publish warranty terms for this truck, so confirm cover for the engine, AMT gearbox and axles with the dealer.

Price and which version to buy

No price is published on the official website, so ask an authorised dealer for a current ex-factory quote. Opinion: there is one version, and its strong points are the Cummins engine, the automated gearbox and the well-equipped sleeper cab, which should help drivers on long routes. Before buying, check how close the nearest service point for the Cummins engine and ZF gearbox is to your routes, because specialist repairs on these parts can be costly if done far from base. Fleet owners who already run other Master Motor trucks may also find it simpler to deal with a single dealer network for parts, service and paperwork.