Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/74547
AHEAD OF THE CURVE sleek aerodynamic profile and Volvo's sound- and vibration-dampening engineering. The optional hood-mounted mir- rors also help in heavy traffic. My inclination is to check side-mounted mirrors first, but eventually I find the hood-mounted mirrors' views more helpful. Premium seats are part of the mid- level trim, including a back-cycler function. At the touch of a button, the seat cycles through lumbar posi- tions designed to ease back strain and keep a driver comfortable and alert. Full driver-side air bags are standard. In the event of a frontal impact, the drivetrain is engineered to drop beneath the chassis instead of crashing into the cab of the truck. The real star of the Volvo VN show, however, has to be the fully- integrated XE13 drivetrain. Bio recounts how engineers realized that the powerful onboard electronics combined with Volvo diesel engines and the iShift automated transmis- sion could be made to communicate with each other at lightning-fast speeds to give drivers unprecedented vehicle performance. A central computer compares thousands of data points per sec- ond, such as available gears, engine RPM, available torque, throttle position and cruising speed. Then it calculates the best performance char- acteristics to ensure maximum fuel economy while still giving plenty of power and torque. You spot this right away at cruise speeds. Volvo engineers understand that lower-revving engines use less fuel. A quick glance at the tachometer at 70 mph shows the engine is tick- ing at about 1,100 rpms. Checking the Driver Information System, I see I'm logging an easy nine miles per gallon during our initial cruise on the less congested portions of I-40, quite impressive for a full 80,000-pound 52 | Overdrive | August 2012 Volvo's reliable D13 engine is the heart of this tractor, but the true strength is the fully-integrated XE13 drivetrain, optimized for full-time fuel economy while delivering plenty of power on demand. Frank Bio, right, shows Jack Roberts this handy retractable work station. 2013 VOLVO VN 670 SPECS AS TESTED Gross vehicle combination weight: 80,000 pounds Engine: Volvo D13 Horsepower: 425 Torque: 1,725 lb.-ft. Transmission: Volvo I-Shift ATO2612D Gears: 12 gross weight. Traffic and hills eventu- ally drop that average to a little over 7 mpg for the day. Not bad for a mid- level tractor. Alternative drivetrain concept package: XE (Exceptional Efficiency) Front axle: 12,500 pounds Rear axle: 40,000 pounds Optional: Volvo Enhanced Stability Package, ABS traction control, hood- mounted mirrors Scan this QR code with your smartphone to see a video tour of Volvo's VN 670 featuring Overdrive Equipment Editor Jack Roberts.