The Doha Marketing Services Company (Domasco) has announced that Volvo’s Iron Knight truck broke world speed records for 500m and 1,000m.
Reaching a top speed of 276kph, Volvo’s Iron Knight set the new unofficial world record for trucks, covering a distance of 1km in 21.29 seconds.
The record is being reviewed by international motor sport association FIA, according to a press statement from Domasco, the authorised distributor for Volvo Trucks in Qatar.
The tests were carried out on an airplane runway in Sweden and the driver was former European Truck Racing champion Boije Ovebrink.
The truck covered 500m in 13.7 seconds.
After starting, the 4,500kg Iron Knight can reach 100km/h in just 4.6 seconds, the statement notes.
Specialists from different Volvo Trucks departments worked together to develop this “one-of-a-kind truck with unsurpassed performance”.
Apart from Volvo Trucks’ powertrain, which is the heart and soul of the Iron Knight, they have hand-built the truck from the ground up just for this special test.
The vehicle’s diesel engine is based on Volvo’s normal design for tractor-trailer trucks, but was modified to enhance the usual power and performance.
The truck was also designed to reduce wind resistance in order to increase speed and reduce fuel use.
The truck’s transmission was made to give the driver smoother control when changing gears.
This helps the truck perform better under extreme conditions, such as carrying a heavy load up a steep hill.
The previous record for 1km — 21.59 seconds — was set in 2012 by Volvo’s Mean Green truck.
Faisal Sharif, managing director of Domasco, said: “Combining good drivability with fuel-efficiency is a great achievement.
“For many of our customers, maintaining a high average speed is important in order to save time — time that may be crucial to the transport mission.”
“In the same way, it’s important to minimise fuel costs.”
“What Volvo Trucks offers is an engine and gearbox that utilise their full combined potential to deliver more efficient transportation.”
Mohamed Majeed, sales and marketing manager of commercial vehicles at Domasco, added: “Our customers constantly demand new solutions that are both productive and cost-effective.”
“Volvo trucks are brawny steel titans that can take on any extreme road condition or climate variances while guaranteeing maximum fuel efficiency and smooth driving.”