Green light from Volvo
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by Colin Sowman • Volvo has announced a range of Euro-2 7-litre engines and a new light version of the FL7 4x2 tractive unit. Nominal power ratings of 282hp (210kW), 256hp (191kW) and 227hp (169kW) mean the uprated range closes the gap between the 7 and 10-litre engines.
Changes to the engine include redesigned combustion chamber in the cylinder head, a new fuel pump with higher injection pressures and optimised injectors. The strengthened block has improved crankshaft/flywheel fixings and is fitted with new pistons, liners and turbocharger.
On the lower powered options Volvo has pegged the output but rated speeds are 200rpm below those of the existing engines with the 256hp model having a 6% increase in torque. The "green band" moves down to 1,200-1,900 on the new engines from 1,300-2,100rpm.
While the 282hp D7A285 engine is an addition to the range, the TD73ES and
TD73E will be replaced by the D7B260 and D7B230 over the next few months. Specific fuel consumption has been improved, says Volvo: prices have yet to be announced. Behind the two lower powered engines sits the R1000 gearbox but the R1400 is used to transmit the higher power and torque produced by the D7A285.
Using the 282hp engine in a lightweight FL7 4x2 tractive unit Volvo has kept the unladen weight down to around 6.0 tonnes (depending on spec), a saving of up to 500kg over the equivalent FLIO model.