Scania 4-Series History

Unveiled in 1995 and entering full production from 1996, the Scania 4-series was penned by Italian design house Bertone and gave the brand a rounder, more contemporary appearance. Five engine families were offered — 9, 11, 12, 14, and 16 litres — the last being a new 580 hp 16-litre V8 (the 164) that replaced the long-running 14-litre unit as the flagship.

The new numbering coded cylinder displacement by the first digit(s) and series generation by the last: the 124 was a 12-litre fourth-generation, the 164 a 16-litre fourth-generation. Three cab heights (normal, high, Topline) and four chassis types addressed everything from construction to intercontinental long-haul.

In Europe, the 4-series gave way to the PRT range (R-series) in 2004–2005. Brazilian production continued to 2007. The 4-series generation is credited with firmly establishing Scania's quality-premium positioning against Volvo, Mercedes-Benz Actros, and MAN.