According to Volvo, the new VNR 660 features a 164-in. bumper to back-of-cab length, offering about 400 lb. weight savings from decreasing the overall size of the truck, and giving fleets flexibility to deploy more versatile tractor-trailer combinations for increased cargo capacity. Allison Athey, product marketing manager, Volvo Trucks North America, says the shorter BBC helps accommodate trucking restrictive regulations like federal or state bridge laws, length laws and weight limitations.
Additionally, Chris Stadler, product marketing manager, Volvo Trucks North America, says the new configuration could be particularly helpful for drivers who travel through multiple states or regions where such regulations can vary.
The VNR 660 features the same shorter sloped hood design included across the VNR product line, which Athey says provides optimized visibility and increased maneuverability in urban areas and tight spaces.
The new truck model enters limited production in March and comes standard with the Volvo D11 engine, the Volvo I-Shift transmission and Volvo Active Driver Assist (VADA) 2.0, the recently updated comprehensive collision mitigation system.
The VNR 660 combines a high-roof configuration with a 61-in. sleeper that Athey says will comfortably accommodate an extra person for on overnight stops and has room for a refrigerator, microwave and television with storage above the driver and passenger seats. The new VNR 660 is available with the Volvo Premier Trim package, which includes wood-grain trim for the dash and cabinetry, the company says.
Volvo, FlowBelow announce spec partnership
Volvo also announced Monday in Atlanta that the FlowBelow Tractor AeroKit will become a factory-installed option the second quarter next year for the truck maker.
“The aerodynamics of our trucks have a significant impact on fuel efficiency and our customers’ bottom line,” says Athey. “The new FlowBelow package offers our customers an enhanced aerodynamic option, providing up to an additional 1 percent increase in fuel efficiency when combined with our most aerodynamic truck spec including the Xceed fuel efficiency package, and a dry van with trailer skirts, further reducing environmental footprints.”
The FlowBelow Tractor AeroKit is a complete system designed to minimize turbulence and improve aerodynamics by surrounding the drive wheels to better manage the air that moves around the tractor while in motion. Volvo says the system consists of wheel covers, a center fairing between the wheels and a rear fairing behind the wheels. These pieces work together to maintain control of the airflow from end to end, keeping the air running along the side of the truck and around the wheels. The air is then funneled out when it reaches the back of the truck, jumping the gap between truck and trailer.
“Heavy-duty trucks experience a great deal of turbulence and drag due to their sheer size and speed at which they travel down the road,” said Josh Butler, president and founder, FlowBelow Aero. “The FlowBelow Tractor AeroKit significantly decreases the impact of those factors, optimizing the surface along the side of the truck to make it more aerodynamic, leading to better fuel mileage and real savings for customers.”
