After three years of work and a $190-million US investment, Volvo Trucks North America unveiled a new family of class-8 tractors to counter the effects of tough emissions standards that take hold this month.

The VNL, available in five models, uses a platform based on Volvo’s revamped FH cabover, its flagship tractor for the European market. To improve fuel economy, the VLN boasts more efficient aerodynamics and a tare weight that’s 1,500 pounds less than the VN.

The company also used its position as both a truck maker and an engine manufacturer to “re-evaluate and optimize” the way the standard 12-litre VE-D12 “V-Pulse” engine mates with the vehicle body and chassis. “We had a unique opportunity as an integrated manufacturer to design the engine while we were working on the new vehicle,” says Chuck Pannell, project manager for the new series. “It allowed us to design and release a new truck rather than just simply a new engine installation.”

Part of the weight saving comes from the standard front air suspension, the Airtek by Hendrickson, introduced a year ago but available until now only on Freightliner trucks. The Airtek saves 125 pounds while promising a smoother ride and better handling.

Although the VNL maintains many of the stylistic features as the VN, Volvo says the low profile and wider body of the vehicle help reduce the drag coefficient by 3.2 per cent compared to the VN, which can equate to a1.5-per-cent improvement in fuel economy.

Engineers worked to reduce “dead zones,” open spaces that trap air and create drag, such as the gap between the cab and trailer. By repositioning the cab on the chassis, shorter wheelbases are possible, which can reduce that gap by as much as 12 inches, Volvo says.

The new VE D12 engine uses cooled exhaust-gas-recirculation (EGR), but Volvo’s V-Pulse technology doesn’t demand a variable-geometry turbocharger to recirculate exhaust gases, relying instead on “natural” internal pressures. The engine will be available in ratings of 365, 395, 435, and 465 hp. The optional engine is the 15-litre Cummins ISX with EGR. Horsepower range is 400 to 565. Either engine, of course, will add between $5,000 and $10,000 to the total price of the vehicle. With so much controversy surrounding the increase, Volvo has joined other OEMs by listing the increase as a stand-alone item on the invoice.

For the driver, the most noticeable changes are inside the cab. The VNL has a new, electronically controlled driver/passenger seat with adjustable circulation and shock absorption.

A new wrap-around dash brings componentry forward, creating space and better driver ergonomics. A larger message centre has been relocated directly in front of the driver and controlled from the steering column. And an optional remote keyless entry system and integrated central locking system automatically unlocks the doors in accident situations.

Within weeks of the vehicle’s introduction, Volvo announced two big sales. Knight Transportation said it would acquire up to 3,000 VNL tractors over the next four years, and U.S. Xpress ordered 500 for delivery beginning next spring.