Volvo Trucks expanded its XE powertrain lineup Tuesday with the introduction of the XE11 for its 11-liter Volvo D11 engine.
Available on Volvo VNM and VNL models and rated up to 80,000 lbs. GCWR, Volvo says XE11 is ideal for less-than-truckload, distribution, bulk haul and other regional applications. The powertrain package improves fuel efficiency by up to 3 percent, the company adds.
“Demand for XE powertrain packages continues to grow as customers increasingly look to combat fuel costs through optimized truck specifications,” said Gӧran Nyberg, president of Volvo Trucks North American Sales & Marketing.
Volvo first introduced XE packages for its 13-liter D13 and 16-liter D16 engines, and says to-date, more than 24 percent of all Volvo-powered trucks ordered in 2013 feature XE powertrain packages.
The XE11 package includes a Volvo D11 engine with 405 horsepower rating and 1550 lb.-ft. of torque; Volvo I-Shift overdrive transmission with a 0.78:1 ratio; Axle ratios of 2.64 to 2.80; and proprietary software that facilitates seamless communication between Volvo’s integrated powertrain components.
“Like our XE13 and XE16 options, XE11 ensures that the engine runs in its sweet spot without wavering at any road speed,” says John Moore, Volvo Trucks powertrain product manager. “The intelligent Volvo I-Shift, coupled with XE’s proprietary software, controls the engine to maintain rpm as low as 1,150 while cruising at 65 mph.”
Volvo says through the combination of the I-Shift automated manual transmission and a Volvo engine with modified software, XE allows the engine to cruise about 200 rpm less than the average truck sold today, with a fuel efficiency improvement of about 1.5 percent for every 100 rpm of “downspeeding.”
