Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/818577
34 | Overdrive | May 2017 V olvo Trucks North America has a new addi- tion to its VN Series: the VNR, a region- al-haul tractor that will suc- ceed the VNM at yearend. It will be available as a day cab, a 42-inch flat-roof sleep- er and a 61-inch mid-roof sleeper. "With the new VNR, we've actually brought really great aesthetics to that prod- uct, but we've also brought aerodynamics with that," said Wade Long, director of product marketing, at the truck's debut at ExpoCam in Montreal. The Volvo D11 is stan- dard on the VNR, with up to 425 hp and 1,550 lb.-ft. of torque. It also can be spec'd with a D13 rated up to 500 hp and 1,850 lb.-ft. of torque. Compared to a VNM equipped with an EPA 2014 engine, a VNR equipped with an EPA 2017 engine features a fuel economy improvement of more than 3 percent. "The regional-haul segment is changing and growing," said Göran Nyberg, presi- dent of Volvo Trucks North America. The VNR's launch coincides with what the com- pany believes is strong market potential in regional trucking operations, citing shrinking lengths of haul, driver desire for more home time and con- sumer demand for immediate deliveries. The VNR features Volvo's high-strength steel cab that exceeds the Volvo Swedish Cab Safety Test and European rollover require- ments. Available side airbags for the driver's seat offer extra protection; the steering wheel airbag is standard. VNR's chief designer Brian Balicki said inspiration for the truck's exterior came from motorsports. "We wanted to make sure it looked light and airy but also very robust," he said. With a 113-inch BBC and improved sightlines over the hood, the VNR is designed for increased maneuverability and versatility in tight spaces to complement its 50-degree wheel cut. "We've brought the hood in closer to the radiator pack- age, giving us 4 more inches of corner visibility," Long said. "It puts the ends of the bumper completely inside the turning circle so the driver doesn't have to worry about where those are in tight turn- ing situations." 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. The system can apply brakes automatically to help mitigate a collision. A 5-inch full-color display features audio with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, navigation, apps and an exterior camera. New VNR a response to evolving regional market BY JASON CANNON Volvo's VNR improves the driver's position with two additional inches of seat travel. The seating is designed to ensure that shorter drivers can keep their feet flat on the floor. A new three-motion adjustable steering wheel offers tilt and telescoping and provides a 30-degree tilt relative to the steering column. VNR production will begin in August at Volvo's New River Valley plant in Dublin, Virginia.