The Volvo Iron Knight … 
The Volvo Iron Knight record-setting diesel power … 
Sticky Goodyear tires … 
The Volvo Iron Knight accelerates… 
Volvo Iron Knight, at nightfall … 
Boije Overbrink at home … 
The Volvo Iron Knight blasts across the line … 
Staging the Iron Knight … 
Boije Overbrink poses with the Iron Knight …
With more than 2,400 HP on tap, there was no way Volvo’s specially built, high-performance Iron Knight racing truck was ever going to be slow. Just how fast it is, however, might still come as a bit of a surprise.
Last year, Volvo brought out a team from the FIA to establish, officially, just how fast the big truck was.
As you might have guessed, It turned out the Iron Knight was really, really fast! The big truck set two FIA world records for acceleration on the same day. You can check out those record-setting runs in this video, below.
Volvo Iron Knight | Record-setting RunThe Iron Knight record runs were more than a simple speed test for Volvo. At the time these runs took place, in August of 2016, Volvo had just introduced a new, fuel-saving dual-clutch transmission (DCT) system in its big trucks that many of its competitors in the industry claimed had “unproven durability”.
After launching a massive Volvo semi truck across the tarmac time after time, Volvo proved their point. The new Volvo DCT had proven its durability in the most awesome way imaginable!
You can check out the original Volvo Trucks press release announcing the 500 and 1000 meter FIA world records, below, and let us know what you think of the Iron Knight in the comments section at the bottom of the page.
Volvo Iron Knight is the World’s Fastest Truck – TwiceVolvo Trucks’ The Iron Knight, driven by Boije Ovebrink, now holds the official speed records for the 500- and-1000 meter distances. During their work on the truck, an expert team from Volvo Trucks found innovative ways of uniting technology with design.
“This shows that our I-Shift Dual Clutch transmission has enormous potential and that it does not let you down under extreme conditions. The fact that the world record-breaker uses the very same gearbox that is found in our series-built FH trucks is something that we’re really proud of,” says Claes Nilsson, President and CEO of Volvo Trucks.
With an average speed of 169 km/h and a time of 21.29 seconds, The Iron Knight beat the international speed record for 1000 meters from a standing start. It also beat the corresponding record for the 500-meter distance, at 131.29 km/h and 13.71 seconds. The record run was carried out at a closed-off test track in northern Sweden. At the time of publication, the records are being reviewed by the FIA, the international motor sport association.
“Specialists from several different Volvo Trucks departments worked closely together to develop a truck with unsurpassed performance. Apart from Volvo Trucks’ power train, which is the heart and soul of The Iron Knight, we’ve hand-built the truck from the ground up. The fact that we succeeded in securing not just one record but two is absolutely amazing,” says Olof Johansson, a technician at Volvo Trucks.
Behind the wheel of The Iron Knight was Boije Ovebrink, who has more than 30 years’ experience of both car and truck racing. He has previously beaten five speed records and in 1994 was European Truck Racing Champion.
“Volvo Trucks’ The Iron Knight can be summarized in one single word: perfection. It’s beautiful to look at and is an unparalleled powerhouse when you floor the accelerator. This is the third record-breaking truck I’ve driven, and I can’t think of a better follow-up to (previous record trucks) Wild Viking and Mean Green,” says Boije Ovebrink.
Source | Images: Volvo Trucks, via Gas 2.
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