Volkswagen presents the Meteor Ultra, the brand’s most powerful truck in Brazil

Volkswagen Caminhões e Ônibus (VWCO) presented the Meteor Ultra line, which becomes the most powerful ever offered by the brand in Brazil. The extra-heavy trucks receive the MAN D26 Ultra 12.4 turbodiesel engine with up to 540 hp and 270.1 kgfm, and arrive at dealerships from Fenatran 2026, scheduled for November 9 to 13, in São Paulo.

The family debuts in three configurations: the Meteor 28.500 6×2, with 500 hp, and the Meteor 28.540 6×2 and 29.540 6×4, both with 540 hp. The new engine does not replace the Meteor 28.480 — which yields 480 hp and 244.7 kgfm — and which continues to be the gateway to the brand’s premium line of heavy vehicles. In relation to it, the Ultra represents a gain of 60 hp and 25.5 kgfm.

Lower consumption is a promise, not a measurement

According to the manufacturer, the D26 Ultra received changes in the cylinder head, water pump, combustion system and electronic management, which keeps the maximum torque available for longer and reduces the frequency of gear changes on the road. The set is complemented by Predictive Plus, a system that uses online maps and GPS data to anticipate the topography of the route and adjust the operation of the powertrain.

The automaker says that the changes yield a reduction of up to 5% in diesel consumption, in addition to lower spending on lubricating oil – an argument focused on the total cost of ownership (TCO), the account that weighs on the decision of fleet owners. The development involved more than three million kilometers driven, laboratory tests with the support of artificial intelligence tools and validation of operation at altitudes of up to 4,800 meters, a relevant level for Andean markets.

So far, however, VWCO has not released the full torque curve of the D26 Ultra or the start and end revs of the maximum torque range. The company informed that detailed technical data will be opened at the commercial launch, at Fenatran.

Digital cabin and expansion for the Constellation

In the cabin, the instrument panel now brings together more than 100 functions and the multimedia center grows to 10″, with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The Volks Connect app also gained functions: it allows you to activate items such as air suspension, windows and engine speed by cell phone, and now has a voice assistant.

The D26 Ultra’s technology is not restricted to the Meteor: the Constellation line receives four models: the 20,500 4×2 and 25,500 6×2 road and the 33,500 and 33,540 6×4 for off-road use. The top of the new offer is the Constellation 33,540 6×4, aimed at agribusiness, with a GVW of 91 tons and a maximum traction capacity of 125 tons.

With this, the automaker now offers seven extra-heavy trucks equipped with the new generation of the engine.