The Mack Anthem has been redesigned and repurposed to serve as the company’s new regional haul tractor, after relinquishing the title of on-highway flagship to the recently introduced Mack Pioneer.
However, the new Anthem, introduced June 25, shares more in common with the all-new Pioneer than it’s former, highway-purposed self. The Anthem brings greater customization to the regional haul segment as well as improved aerodynamics. It also broadens the scope of applications Mack can serve in the Class 8 segment.
Its shorter BBC (bumper-to-back-of-cab) – from 117 inches on the previous Anthem down to 113 – affords greater maneuverability, while the cab has been widened by nine inches to increase interior space and driver comfort. A 45-degree wheel cut also improves maneuverability while a more sloped hood improves forward visibility by about 12%, Mack officials said during a virtual press briefing this week.
The original Mack Anthem was available in just two sleeper configurations, a short 48-inch “service sleeper” and a 70-inch studio. The lack of any options in between cost Mack business in some applications like bulk haul, admitted Jonathan Randall, president of Mack Trucks North America.
The new Anthem has more available configurations: low-roof sleeper; day cab; mid-roof sleeper (in 44- and 64-inch lengths); and rigid day cab. Combined with the Pioneer and its available 76-inch sleeper, Randall said “We have every sleeper configuration between the Pioneer and the Anthem to address all application needs in all segments. We were pretty strong in that bulk haul segment and I fully expect we’re back in that. We’re back in a big way.”
Design similarities
The design similarities between the Pioneer and the Anthem run deep, both internally and externally. From the imposing grille to the sloped hood and full fairing packages. But regional customers who are more concerned with maneuverability than fuel economy can dress down the truck’s aero to their own liking.
“You can spec’ this however in depth you want to, with as much technology or as little as needed and as the customer desires,” Randall said. “You don’t have to get the full skirt. You don’t have to get the [mid]-roof. You can be a little more vocational on where you want this truck to go and the roads it’s going to travel on.”
It should be noted, the mid-roof sleeper is more than seven feet high, giving ample headroom for taller drivers if your idea of regional includes plenty of nights on the road.
“We have the ability to change aerodynamics,” added Brian Wright, Mack Trucks consultant. “You can opt to remove the chassis fairing as well as the air dam, allowing for greater ride height to navigate those city streets, potholes, curbs and rugged terrain.”
Add snow and ice buildup in wintry yards to the list and it’s likely Canadian customers will do just that, willingly forgoing a small slice of the fuel economy gains in favor of greater ground clearance. The BBC is about a foot shorter than the Pioneer’s, with four less inches between the bumper to front axle for a better turning radius.
The hood is now made of composite material rather than fiberglass and comes in three sections so damage can be more easily – and cost-effectively – repaired.
“It’s lighter, stronger and has better paint adhesion,” said Wright. A larger radiator opening, as seen on the Pioneer, improves cooling capabilities. Six different wheelbases are available from 16 to 19 feet in length.
Blake Routh, senior product manager of on-highway trucks at Mack, said while there’s significant crossover between the Pioneer and Anthem, key differences include the former’s significantly longer 125-inch BBC, and availability of a 76-inch sleeper (the Anthem is limited to 64 inches).
“There is some overlap in what they do well,” said Routh. “But if you want to prioritize fuel efficiency you’re probably going to go more toward the Pioneer to get up to that 11% [improvement over the old Anthem] number. If you want to prioritize maneuverability, you’re probably going to go more toward the Anthem. They both do really well in a lot of segments.”
Mack Protect safety system
There’s no differences, however, when it comes to the newly named Mack Protect suite of active safety systems. You can be as safe in the new Anthem as you can the Pioneer. Mack Protect combines camera and radar with braking capabilities to offer the full gamut of active safety capabilities, including: frontal collision and rollover protection; adaptive cruise control; automatic emergency braking; pedestrian detection; and road sign detection.
To the side of the truck, blind spot assistance, lane departure assistance and side pedestrian detection are all available. Lane centering and oversteer guidance area also offered through Command Steer.
The lights are LED throughout and heated for colder climates. LED fog lights and cornering lights also help improve nighttime visibility on twisty roads.
Also taken from the Pioneer are new electronic air brakes, which are easier to control and reduce the chance of driver injury while exiting the truck before the brakes are applied, due to automatic activation.
Engine options
Power will be supplied by the newly named MP13 (previously MP8) 13-liter engine in two variations. A variable geometry turbo (VGT) veresion produces up to 515 hp and 1,900 lb.-ft. of torque, while the MP13 HE (for high efficiency) uses turbocompounding, taking advantage of previously wasted heat and converting it to engine torque. It’s available with power ratings up to 505 hp and 1,950 lb.-ft. of torque.
Some of the promised 10% fuel economy gains over the previous Anthem come from improvements to engine design, specifically a shorter seven-wave piston, a new injector and longer connecting rod.
“We now have almost total combustion in that cylinder,” Routh said of the design enhancements. A side benefit is the more thorough combustion leaves less soot for the aftertreatment system to deal with.
Service intervals have also been improved. Todd Shakespeare, head of leasing and service solution sales, noted most software updates can be done over the air, reducing downtime. He also said, in ideal conditions, oil change intervals are being stretched from 75,000 to 90,000 miles (120,000 to 144,000 km) and chassis lubes from 15,000 to 30,000 miles (24,000 to 48,000 km) offering a maintenance savings of about US$685 a year.
“Even in harsher environments, it typically requires less maintenance than other models,” Shakespeare said.
Kent Worthington, sales development manager for powertrain solutions, said the Mack powertrain now “learns your routes and optimizes shifting based on terrain and load conditions.”
Field testing, he said, proved better performance in stop-and-go driving and less downshifting required on hills, thanks to the increase in torque available at lower RPMs, reducing driver fatigue as well as component wear.
Randall said the new Anthem will be publicly shown for the first time this October at the American Trucking Associations’ annual Management Conference & Exhibition, and orders will be taken as early as August when the price book is released. Production will begin in January 2026 with customer deliveries commencing soon thereafter.
Can’t wait? The truck will be available in Mack’s Truck Builder configurator today, allowing customers to play with the spec’s and configurations of most interest.
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