Volvo Trucks North America unveiled the new Volvo VNR model, a versatile regional haul tractor designed and developed for the modern professional truck driver and the rapidly evolving demands of goods delivery.
Defined by innovations in every area – new aerodynamic design, reimagined working environment, improved engine and transmission options, gearing and loading efficiencies, passive and active safety systems and integrated connectivity – the new Volvo VNR is ideal for urban areas, pickup and delivery, liquid tankers, dry bulk, flatbed and other regional haul applications.
“Our goal with the new VNR was to give our customers a versatile tool to meet their individual needs and challenges in the critical regional haul market,” said Göran Nyberg, president of Volvo Trucks North America. “Our investment in this new truck is a clear signal of Volvo’s commitment to meeting the needs of regional haul customers in North America today and in the future. Everything about the new Volvo VNR represents the shape of trucks to come.”
The shape of the new VNR is designed to be as aerodynamic as possible, melding a family resemblance to the classic Volvo lines with the unique demands of a regional haul truck.
With a 113-inch bumper-to-back-of-cab (BBC) length and improved sightlines over the hood, the new Volvo VNR was designed for increased maneuverability and versatility in tight spaces and urban traffic to complement its leading 50-degree wheel cut. Details like stamped steel bumpers that protect the lights and grille make it clear that the VNR is truly a work truck.
“The VNR model is a work truck, but it’s a dynamic, premium work truck, and aerodynamics are greatly important within the regional haul segment,” said Wade Long, director of product marketing for Volvo Trucks North America. “Regional routes often mean traveling at highway speeds, where aerodynamics becomes increasingly important. With the new VNR model, customers will see an overall fuel efficiency gain of up to 3.5 percent compared with our previous regional haul model.”
Volvo Active Driver Assist warns drivers through sound and a critical warning signal projected onto the windshield when they approach too close to an object in front of them, and the system can automatically apply brakes to help mitigate a collision. Automotive-quality LED headlights increase visibility and decrease light spillover onto oncoming traffic, making the road safer for everybody. Automotive features like automatic lighting and rain-sensing wipers provide convenience and help driver safety, while the lane change support system provides visibility to blind spots.
The VNR model features Volvo’s high-strength steel cab and exceeds both the Volvo Swedish Cab Safety Test and ECE R-29 rollover requirements. In the event a crash would occur, available side airbags for the driver’s seat also help protect the driver in a roll-over situation. The driver’s seat airbag complements the steering wheel-mounted driver’s-side airbag, which is standard on the VNR.
The efficient and powerful Volvo D11 engine is standard on the new Volvo VNR, offering up to 425 horsepower and 1,550 lb.-ft. of torque. Given the weight-conscious nature of many regional haul applications, the Volvo D11 engine was designed to match the new VNR model. The VNR can also be spec’d with a Volvo D13 engine rated up to 500 horsepower and 1,850 lb.-ft. of torque.
The Volvo D11 and D13 engines feature wave pistons, a patented Volvo technology that burns fuel more efficiently. A common rail fuel delivery system with proprietary features is more efficient but also lighter, quieter and more precise. Both innovations reduce friction, which means longer life for the engine − and a much quieter ride for the driver. The D11 and D13 engines are also easier to service. Shimless rockers and quicker access to the exhaust aftertreatment system shrink maintenance time, which means more uptime for the truck. Combined with an XE – eXceptional Efficiency – transmission package, the engines for the VNR model are even more efficient as a result of downspeeding.
Paired with Volvo’s I-Shift automated manual transmission as standard also allows for spec’ing of automated functions – Adaptive Loading, which senses when a truck is empty and lifts an axle to increase efficiency; and Adaptive Gearing, which locks out overdrive when the truck is fully loaded and makes it available on an empty return – that help reduce fuel consumption.
Like all of Volvo’s North American models, the new VNR was designed and developed at Volvo Trucks’ North American technology center in Greensboro, North Carolina. The VNR will be produced at Volvo’s New River Valley assembly plant in Dublin, Virginia, while the Volvo engines and transmissions powering the VNR will be produced at Volvo’s powertrain manufacturing facility in Hagerstown, Maryland.