They say the best things in life are worth waiting for and no doubt Volvo middleweight buyers will be pleased to hear from Biglorryblog that after the launch of its I-Sync medium duty two-pedal automated gearbox in the FL it's now available in the 18-tonne FE 4x2 distribution chassis (pictured below), launched, so I'm told, "as part of the company's drive to strengthen its position in the segment."
Now click through here for the full story, more pictures and the specs....
As if you needed to be told I-Sync is Volvo's six-speed manual box that;'s been fitted with its own software for automatic operation. There's also a manual function that works off the column stick pictured above. Just like its bigger brother I-Shift, I-Sync "...combines the manual gearbox's operating reliability and low weight with the automatic transmission's driving comfort." However, while I-Shift is Volvo's heavy truck auto offering, the I-Sync box is for local distribution applications and was launched in the Volvo FL in spring 2008. And since then we've all been waiting for it to appear in an 18-tonner FE..and well, here it is.
Anders Bellini, business area manager for the FL and FE at Volvo tells BLB:"So far, more than one-third of all FL trucks have been delivered with I-Sync. Distribution operations involve a fast pace and repeated stops and starts, and many customers want an automated transmission that offers convenient progress combined with lower fuel consumption. Now we are strengthening our offer by also introducing I-Sync on some of the larger FE models,"
For the techies amongst us in the Volvo FE, I-Sync is combined with Volvo's 260hp 7-litre engine. Since gearchanging is optimised, Volvo says "I-Sync also contributes to good fuel economy and thus also low carbon dioxide emissions. Meanwhile, if you want an I-Shift box you can get it on the bigger larger lorries in the Volvo range - namely the FH16, FH and FM.
BIGLORRYBLOG Volvo I-Sync Spec check for the Volvo FE
- Automated transmission with 6 forward speeds.
- Available on the Volvo FE in distribution configuration 4x2 rigids for gross vehicle weights of 18 tonnes.
- Tailored for Volvo's D7 engine producing 260 hp in Euro 5 configuration.
- Maximum torque 1010 Nm
- Oil-change interval every 300,000 kms.
And for the final word Renault has its own version of the I-Sync which was launched last year at the IAA Show in the Midlum so presumably its going to pop up in the Premium 18-tonner if it hasn't done so already. The French call it Opti-...err...something or other. I'm struggling here, Nigel, Penny--any chance of a hand here?
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