GREENSBORO, N.C. — Volvo Trucks North America is taking its new Volvo VN on the road so drivers in the U.S. and Canada will have a chance to test drive the new model.

The tour will kick off this spring and will feature four new VNs. Two will be VN780s with 500 hp Cummins ISX engines under the hood, while a VN670 and VN630 will also join the tour. The 670 and 630 will feature Volvo’s new VE 465 engine.

Each truck will be hooked up to a trailer so drivers can get a realistic feel for performance.

The tour will take place at fuel stations and truck stops, and local Volvo dealers will be on-hand to answer question.

“Last fall’s ‘Drive the Future’ tour was so successful that we knew we had to do it again in 2003,” says Susan Alt, Volvo Trucks’ vice president, marketing. “More than 600 drivers took part in the first “Drive the Future” tour and they gave the new Volvo VN rave reviews. This time, we want to give at least 1,000 drivers the chance to spread the word.”

The Canadian leg of the tour kicks off May 22-24 at the Lickman Truck Stop in Sardis, B.C. Other Canadian dates include Calgary, Alta., May 26-27, at the Road King Truck Stop and Belleville, Ont., June 12-14, at the Ten Acres Truck Stop.