GREENSBORO, N.C. (Feb. 7, 2005) — Volvo Trucks North America says “the most powerful diesel engine on North American highways” will be available this summer. It was introduced in conjunction with Volvo’s new flagship truck, the Volvo VT 880, and is available in North America exclusively in the VT 880.

Volvo Truck says the 16-litre, inline six-cylinder diesel Volvo D16 engine with 625 hp and an unmatched 2,250 lbs.-ft. of torque, has the power to handle the biggest loads and the steepest roads.

“The D16 is the most powerful truck engine Volvo has ever built, but it is powerful for a reason,” said Peter Karlsten, president and CEO. “This engine is for customers who haul heavy loads or need to maintain a high average speed through the mountains for reduced trip times. And since it is paired with the bold new Volvo VT 880 owner-operator truck, it will be very popular with customers who seek a strong image and serious performance.”

The Volvo D16 was designed to have more usable power than competitors, best-in-class fuel economy, high-speed gradeability, and driveability. The engine’s unmatched torque allows it to pull heavy loads up long grades without losing speed or needing to downshift. An example of this high-speed gradeability is the D16’s ability to propel the Volvo VT 880 up a 3 per cent grade at 65 mph at 1,400 rpm, while loaded to 80,000 pounds, the company says.

In addition to 625 hp and 2250 lbs.-ft., the Volvo D16 will have three other power ratings: 500 hp at 1850 lbs.-ft.; 550 hp at 1850 lbs.-ft.; and 600 hp @ 2050 lbs.-ft.

The D16 — designed to meet stringent 2007 and 2010 emissions standards — introduces a new Volvo technology called Intelligent Torque, or I-Torque, to protect drivelines from excessive torque at low speeds. I-Torque should extend tire wear and protect drivelines by limiting engine torque output to 1,650 lbs.-ft. in startup gears, switching to 1,850 lbs.-ft. as speed increases. Two stages are used to phase in the higher torque for the 600 hp and 625 hp ratings.

The engine’s larger displacement gives it advantages over existing 15-litre engines. The larger bore (or diameter) of the D16’s cylinders gives the tops of its pistons more surface area. This means it can generate more power and torque than a 15-litre engine, with lower internal forces, Volvo says, adding that its shorter stroke means less piston travel inside the cylinder, which Volvo has found leads to less engine wear.

Service life is also enhanced by the length of the Volvo D16 engine block. The D16’s block has more space between the cylinders, which makes the base engine stronger, and results in more consistent engine temperatures. This reduces mechanical and thermal stresses, which can prematurely weaken engines.

The Volvo D16 has a rear-mounted gear train, which drives the camshaft, air compressor, and power steering pump. The D16 also uses a damper on the camshaft to reduce torsional vibration, for a quiet and smooth running engine. The cam is designed to lift up and out from the engine for easy servicing, if needed, unlike other designs which require the removal of the engine or radiator to service the cam.

The VolvoD16 includes a number of other Volvo engine features, including:

— The Volvo Engine Brake is an integrated engine compression brake that provides 335 hp of braking power at 1,500 rpm, to control vehicle speed on downhills, while conserving foundation brake service life. The VEB performance is not as sensitive to altitude as other engine brakes.

— The Volvo Exhaust Pressure Governor allows the engine to warm up quickly and to maintain engine temperature at very low idle speeds, thus saving fuel and money, and reducing emissions. It also works in conjunction with the Volvo Engine Brake to provide very high retarding power throughout the entire rpm range.

— The Volvo Pre-Heater heats the intake air for fast and reliable engine startup in cold weather, without white smoke.

The fuel system is similar to the Volvo D12’s system, and provides constant fuel temperature to the injectors, while using a low flow fuel return. This means more consistent power output and longer injector service life.

— from TruckinInfo.com