Volvo has revealed its new 2021 truck lineup for Australia, unveiling the option of locally manufactured Euro 6 compliant trucks alongside traditional Euro 5 modelS.
Volvo is claiming that the launch is the biggest ever for Volvo trucks, with new Volvo FM, Volvo FMX, Volvo FH and Volvo FH16 models going on sale from the end of the month, on the 30th November.
The company says the new trucks have been designed with the driver in mind and offer “unparalleled levels of comfort, driveability and safety”.
The entire range of new Volvo models will be built at the Volvo Group production facility, Wacol, Queensland.
It’s a significant step up for the Swedish maker, which has delayed introducing locally manufactured Euro 6 models, largely it seems due to the need for extensive investment to facilitate it at the factory in Wacol. That investment is currently flowing through the factory and has enabled the Euro 6 local assembly T&B News understands.
According to vice president of sales for Volvo Trucks Australia, Tony O’Connell Australia is a big country and long haul drivers don’t just drive the trucks, they often live in them.
“However even in an urban distribution environment driver’s also need a safe comfortable workplace, and for some it is the modern office with every convenience at hand, for others it is also a home,” he added.
“This new generation of Volvo Trucks has been designed from the inside out with the driver in mind,” Tony O’Connell said.
“We all know how hard it can be to attract drivers in this country, these trucksraise the bar in terms of comfort, performance and efficiency,” he continued.
“Any driver would be proud to find themselves behind the wheel of any truck in our new range,” he said.
Volvo says its new FH models will have the option of Euro 5 and Euro 6 emissions levels across the range in both 13 litre and 16 litre capacities as well as a complementary range of horsepower options.
It says the FM features an all new cab as well as Euro 5 and 6 options in 11 and 13 litre engine capacities.
While Volvo has offered Euro 6, in what it terms ‘Classic’ FM11 and FM13 models, it says the entire range of models now come with options for Euro 6.
The FM Euro 6 will include 380, 430 and 460 horsepower ratings with the 11 litre, or 460 and 500hp options with the 13-litre engine.
The previous range of Euro 5 engines with options from 330hp to 500hp will still be offered while the FMX will also retain the option of a 540hp Euro 5 power plant.
The FH will be available with 13-litre Euro 6 variants including a 500hp D13 TurboCompound power plant as well as a 540hp rated 13-litre.
The flagship FH16 will also be available with the existing Euro 5 range, with horsepower ratings from 600 to 700hp, and will be complemented by Euro 6 550hp and 650hp variants.
Volvo has also said that the addition of the Australian I-Save package to the new Volvo FH will, it believes, ‘create new levels of fuel efficiency and CO2 savings’.
The company says its 500hp/2800Nm Euro 6 turbo compound engine, is included in the Australian I-Save package and Volvo says it will deliver significant fuel and CO2 savings.
The new Volvo FH with Australian I- Save combines the new Euro 6 D13TC engine into a package that also includes I-See, which accesses centrally stored topographic data to optimise transmission performance and engine efficiency for long-hauloperations.
Volvo says that other components included in the package are I-Shift with dashmounted gear selector and economy transmission software, I-Cruise with I-Roll, optimised 2.83 rear axle ratio with fuel efficient energy tyres, engine idle shutdown, and variable displacement power steering pump.
“I’m very excited to see the new Volvo Truck range come to life here on Australia soil,” said Tony O’Connell.
“Our biggest launch ever with our safest, most productive and most efficient range of transport solutions has been eagerly anticipated by customers,” he added.
“This has been a massive project and we have invested heavily in our manufacturingcapability to ensure that these trucks will be built at our Wacol production facility,” he said.
“As always, will continue to be serviced by the largest dealer network in Australia and New Zealand.”
“The new Volvo FM and Volvo FMX are intelligent and versatile and continue tosupport our customers by building on the already formidable reputation carved out by the classic models in the urban streets, the quarries and the regional back blocksof Australia.” He continues.
“The FH and FH16 will continue to power Australian long-haul and heavy haulage businesses with new levels of driver comfort and appointments.”
“These new power plants, coupled with our unique range of features from dual-clutch transmissions to Volvo Dynamic Steering will allow us to provide our customers with the best transport solution possible, while driver’s will appreciate all the new touches that will make their life on the road easier.”
“And best of all, we are building this entire range right here in Australia,” O’Connell emphasised.
Volvo says that the new cabs, across the range, meet the world’s most stringent crash test rating, the Swedish BOF10 cab strength test, while visibility has been improved by more than 10 per cent on the Volvo FM and the Volvo FMX, which now features similar lines to the Volvo FH cab with a larger windscreen, slimmer A-pillars, slim line mirrors, and a lower door line.
Volvo says it has fitted Adaptive High Beam function on the FH and FH16 modelswhich partially dips the high beam LED headlights when the headlights or taillights ofanother vehicle are detected ahead of the truck. The system also detects the lights of smaller vehicles such as motorcycles and cyclists.
Other active safety features Volvo has included are Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) for speeds down to zero km/h and Hill Descent Control that automatically activatesthe wheel brakes when extra brake force is needed to maintain constant downhillspeed.
Electronically-controlled Brake System (EBS), a prerequisite for safety features such as Collision Warning with Emergency Brake and Electronic Stability Control, comes as standard on the new truck as does Volvo Dynamic Steering, while Lane Keeping Assist and Stability Assist, is also available as an option.
Volvo says there is a new ergonomically design I-Shift transmission selector and simplified switch gear across the dashboard adds to the ease of use and comfort from the drivers’ seat, while Volvo says the FM and FMX interior cab space has increased by up to one cubic metre, and day cab models benefit from a 40 per cent increase in storage space.
There is also a new 12-inch instrument panel, which Volvo says minimises driver distraction with digital instrumentation while a new, larger touch screen display with asimplified menu is now also featured. Like its rivals from Daimler, the various functions can now be controlled via buttons on the steering wheel, by voice control, orvia the touchscreen and display control panel.
As we say the new Volvo’s will be on sale from 30th November and we look froward to presenting a full road test as soon as we can.
