Tom Berg, Truck Editor
Volvo Trucks North America has upgraded its Volvo Heavy Duty (VHD) heavy truck with new styling, structural upgrades, and technological and innovative advances.
“The new Volvo VHD looks every bit as capable as it is, designed to bring new energy into the vocational market,” said John Felder, product marketing manager for Volvo heavy trucks. “Everything we’ve done to improve the model to make it more versatile and reliable also extends the life of the vehicle and increases driver productivity, safety and comfort.
“Drivers will love this truck because it makes hard work easy. It’s the perfect example of tougher made smarter.”
The VHD’s restyled exterior includes a new grille design and new LED high/low beam headlights with a brighter, more focused beam for increased visibility. An available de-icing feature burns through ice and snow that accumulates on headlamps in colder weather.
Volvo Dynamic Steering (VDS) delivers a safe, comfortable driver experience by adding torque to reduce steering strain at low speeds and remove vibrations caused by rough terrain, and is available on the new model. Next-generation Volvo Active Driver Assist (VADA), has integrated radar/camera capabilities, automatic emergency braking, highway departure warnings, adaptive cruise control and more. The latest in connectivity, such as Remote Programming and Remote Diagnostics, allow customers to use real data insights to make the right decisions for increased safety and truck productivity.
A state-of-the-art interior improves driver comfort and productivity, Felder said. For example, the truck’s ignition has been moved to the lower left-hand side of the dash, while the steering wheel buttons are more touch-friendly and clustered intuitively to help drivers feel more confident.
A new, robust VHD bumper features a heavy-duty 45 mm tow pin rated for 80,000 pounds. Responding to customer requests, the rugged tow pin allows for a quick pull out of sticky situations.
Volvo’s I-Shift transmission with crawler gears adds one or two gears to the 12-speed Volvo I-Shift transmission, enabling the VHD to start on steep grades, provide low-speed control, and reach maximum highway speeds with faster rear axle ratios., Felder said. The Volvo T-ride suspension also offers a new ride stiffness option for mixers and trucks with wing plows.
The redesigned VHD is related to an also-redesigned VAH, for Volvo Auto Hauler, which has gotten similar upgrades, officials said. Both models are now available for order from Volvo Trucks dealers.
