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Kopřivnice-based Tatra has revealed an extraordinary specialist: the Phoenix 16x16. This eight-axle, 16-wheel truck is built for extreme duties and will join the fleet of Australian telecoms provider Quantum Comms. For Czech readers and the local automotive industry, the Phoenix is another reminder that Tatra continues to deliver highly specialized vehicles that few European manufacturers can match.
Design and chassis — modular like LEGO
Tatra’s modular backbone concept allows constructions exceeding 25 meters in bespoke configurations. The Phoenix uses that same philosophy: an 8-axle 16×16 layout with the first three and the last two axles steerable for improved maneuverability. The right-hand-drive cabin from Kopřivnice has already been delivered to a bodybuilder where the truck will receive an elevated working platform.
Tyres and payload
All axles are fitted with wide 445 mm tyres, giving the Phoenix an axle rating of up to 10 tonnes. That specification makes it ideal for heavy telecommunication masts, utility platforms or extreme off-road service tasks.
Powertrain and transmission
Under the bonnet sits a robust Paccar MX-13 diesel six-cylinder 12.9-litre engine producing 390 kW (530 hp). Power is managed by an automated 12-speed TraXon transmission, a proven pairing for long-distance, heavy-duty operations in harsh conditions.
Performance and market positioning
The Phoenix is not aimed at mainstream buyers in the Czech automotive market; it’s a niche specialist priced at a premium due to customisation and low production numbers. Compared with mainstream European heavyweights (Volvo, Scania, MAN), Tatra’s uniqueness is its backbone chassis and extreme-duty focus rather than mass-market tractor units.
Relevance to Czech and regional markets
For Czech customers and fleet operators, Tatra remains a clear choice for off-road, heavy-haul and utility roles where standard chassis would fail. Availability in Czechia is limited and units are typically sold through direct contracts or special tenders; pricing trends in the Czech market show a premium on bespoke builds but also long service life and high residual value for specialist Tatras.
Cross-border interest: Lithuania and the Baltics
Interest for such specialist vehicles can also be seen in neighbouring markets: references to Lietuva and Lietuvos automobilių rinka are relevant when fleet owners or utility companies in Vilniuje and Kaune consider heavy-duty solutions. For vairuotojams Lietuvoje and operators across the Baltics, Tatra’s off-road competence and modular approach are attractive for forestry, mining or telecom projects.
Comparison and conclusion
Compared to standard European trucks, the Phoenix is a bespoke engineering solution rather than a mass-market model. For Czech enthusiasts and professionals, it underlines Tatra’s position as a leader in extreme-condition vehicles. The immediate destination—Australia’s Quantum Comms—illustrates global demand for specialised Czech engineering, while the implications for Czech and regional markets remain in targeted sectors where durability and off-road capability outrank purchase price.
Zdroj: garaz
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