Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/339485
COMMERCIAL CARRIER JOURNAL | JULY 2014 19 panels VanVoorhis mentioned, as well as the new wheel covers. Throttle response was instantaneous with the MX13-Eaton Advantage inte- grated drivetrain, with aggressive and timely shifts. I wasn't fully loaded – a tad under 30,000 pounds – so acceleration also was impressive. The truck was gov- erned to a fuel economy sweet spot of 68 mph, but once at that speed, dialing in the cruise control was a breeze, and the truck effortlessly ticked along with the tachometer showing 1,100 rpm. It was a windy day, but at highway speeds, the ride was smooth. Minimal wind buffeting is an obvious bonus from the enhanced aerodynamics package, and combined with excellent views from the cab, tight handling and comfortable ergonomics, it made for an easy truck to drive – and a safe one at that. The T680 Advantage isn't a radical departure from anything Kenworth wasn't doing already, but it builds upon a solid aerody- namic platform and takes advantage of new engine technology to deliver better fuel economy in a way that also makes life easier and safer for drivers. I n another sign that highly integrated aerodynamic trucks are becoming the default fleet spec, Kenworth recently sent its T680 highway tractor back to the drawing board. The resulting new model, the T680 Advantage, builds on the truck's already slippery profile while adding a host of internal and exter- nal enhancements to further increase efficiency and fuel economy in long-haul highway applications. Brett VanVoorhis, Kenworth's on-highway marketing manager, told me about the many tweaks found on the T680 Advantage during a test drive I took in the truck last month out of Birmingham, Ala. "The T680 was already an aerodynamic leader," VanVoorhis said. "Now we've add- ed a number of features that will build on that solid platform." Most notable, he said, are the front air dam and larger side extenders, as well as a redesigned rear fairing and standard wheel covers. "These components reduce the trailer gap, move through the air more efficiently and combine to add just over a 1 percent improvement in fuel economy." Under the hood, Kenworth has embraced the new highly-optimized integrated drivetrain trend, mating a Paccar MX13 diesel engine with an Eaton Advantage automated manual transmission to boost fuel economy via precise engine calibrations. "The shift points are extremely well-timed and factor in vari- ous load demands and engine output, so it's also nice to drive," VanVoorhis says. I took our test T680 Advantage on Interstate 65 North out of Birming- ham to see for myself how this new aerodynamic model handles on the open road. My route was one I travel often and offers a good mix of terrain, including fairly steep grades. At a glance, the truck does not look markedly different from a conventional T680 since Kenworth wisely opted to retain the original model's excellent cab and sleeper amenities. A closer look reveals the more-aggressive aerodynamic PRODUCT REVIEWS, OEM & SUPPLIER NEWS, AND EQUIPMENT MANAGEMENT TRENDS BY JACK ROBERTS JACK ROBERTS is Executive Editor of Commercial Carrier Journal. E-mail jroberts@ccjmagazine.com or call (205) 248-1358. UNDER THE HOOD: Kenworth has embraced the new integrated drivetrain trend. AT A GLANCE: The truck does not look markedly different from a conventional T680. POWER TO SPARE: Throttle response was instantaneous with aggressive, timely shifts. Gaining an Advantage Kenworth's updated T680 boasts integrated drivetrain Kenworth's T680 Advantage mates a Paccar MX13 diesel engine with an Eaton Advantage automated manual transmission.