Volvo Trucks’ has claimed some major speed records for trucks in both the 500 and 1000 metre standing start categories, using a truck it calls the ‘Iron Knight’
The Iron Knight claimed the records, you will be glad to know, on a closed test track in Sweden using a highly modified, mid-mounted2400 hp, 6000 Nm version of Volvo’s D13 diesel engine with a water cooled intercooler and four turbochargers. While highly modified the engine is based on the production unit used in Volvo’s FH line-up. The I-Shift Dual Clutch transmission was the same as that in Volvo road trucks, save for a reinforced clutch (the discs and pressure plates are made of a sintered material)
The truck weighed in at 4.5 tonnes giving it a power-to-weight ratio above 0.5 hp/kg.
The custom-built truck, with Volvo’s I-Shift Dual Clutch transmission, clocked 13.710 seconds over 500 metres with an average speed of 169kph and scorched down the 1,000 metre run in 21.29 seconds at an average of 131.29kph.
“Specialists from several Volvo Trucks departments worked together to develop a truck with unsurpassed performance,” said Olof Johansson, a technician at Volvo Trucks.
“Apart from Volvo Trucks’ powertrain, we’ve hand-built the truck from the ground up. The fact that we succeeded in securing not just one record, but two is absolutely amazing.”
Claes Nilsson, President and CEO of Volvo Trucks, added, “This shows that our I-Shift Dual Clutch transmission has enormous potential and that it does not let you down under extreme conditions. The fact that the world record-breaker uses the very same gearbox that is found in our series-built FH trucks is something that we’re really proud of.”
Behind the wheel of The Iron Knight was Boije Ovebrink, an experienced car and truck racer. Ovebrink had previously beaten five speed records and was European Truck Racing Champion in 1994.
“Volvo Trucks’ The Iron Knight can be summarised in one single word: perfection. It’s breaking truck I’ve driven, and I can’t think of a better follow to Wild Viking and Mean Green,” he said.
