Volvo FL

Last updated
Volvo FL series
Volvo FL 210 mit Kofferaufbau (2018).jpg
Volvo FL Second Generation (Facelift)
Overview
Manufacturer Volvo Trucks
Production1985–present
Body and chassis
Class Light truck
Body style COE
  • Day cab
  • Crew cab
Powertrain
Power output180 kW (FL Electric)
Battery 565 kWh (FL Electric)
Chronology
Predecessor Volvo F series
1995 Volvo FL double cab fire engine of the London Fire Brigade 1995 London Fire engine.jpg
1995 Volvo FL double cab fire engine of the London Fire Brigade

The Volvo FL is a series of trucks manufactured by Volvo Trucks. It was introduced in 1985 and has remained in production ever since, in a variety of different models of different weight ratings. It has been used in a variety of different roles aside from a truck, including as a fire engine.

Contents

First generation

"FL" stands for "Forward Control" and "Low-level Cab". [1] The FL6 and the larger FL7 and FL10 appeared in the summer of 1985. [2] In 1986 the smaller FL4 also appeared, with a 4-litre TD41 turbodiesel engine. [1] The model originated after Volvo had lost much of its global market share in the medium weight segment by the 1970s, prompting the development of an entirely new model to replace the previous Volvo F series.

Beginning in 1995 some of the FL6 models were equipped with the D6A250 engine, which utilized a turbocharger as well as a supercharger. This allowed for an unusually high power-to-weight ratio and plentiful low-end torque. Volvo's larger D7A engine, as fitted to the FL7, could have been easily made to produce the same power but was considerably heavier as it was the same size as the larger ten-litre D10. [3]

The FL4 and FL6 have a cabin 2.3 m (7.5 ft) wide, to allow for city use. The FL7 and FL10's cabins are 2.5 m (8.2 ft) wide. The heavier FL7 and FL10 was available in a variety of configurations, ranging from 4x2 to 8x6. [2] In 1997 the Volvo FLC arrived, a lighter model rated for 7.5 tonnes (16,500 lb) rather than the 10 t (22,000 lb) of the regular FL. The FLC has Volvo's D4A 3989 cc turbodiesel with 135 PS (99 kW), a five-speed manual, and an air sprung rear axle. [4]

FE6/7 (North America)

1992 Volvo FE6 (North America) 1992 Volvo FE6 13 in black.jpg
1992 Volvo FE6 (North America)

For North America, a version called the FE6 was introduced in 1986. There was also a heavier duty seven-litre version called the FE7 - this combines the narrow FL6 cabin with the engine of the FL7. [1] Aside from Volvo's own engines, Caterpillar's 6.6 litre 3116 engine was also offered at a lower price. In 1990 the FE6/FE7 was gradually replaced by the FE42. This sturdy model used the Swedish-built FL/FE cab placed atop the chassis of the 1988 medium bonneted Volvo WG range. The name stood for "Forward control", "Economy", 4x2 configuration. [5] Later the 6x4 FE64 was added to the lineup. In the mid-nineties sales of the FE42/64 series began shrinking as American truck buyers gradually changed back to conventional models. [5] A tractor version was called the FE42T. The last model year for the American range was 1998. [6]

FS7

Volvo FS7 20 (Portugal) Volvo FS7 20, Lisbon.jpg
Volvo FS7 20 (Portugal)

For customers needing a compact truck with high maximum loads, the FS7 was presented in 1987. Very similar in execution to the US market FE7, it combined the FL6 cabin and chassis with the bigger 7-litre TD73 engine from the FL7. The FS7 was mainly intended for inner-city distribution roles and was manufactured until 1996, when the more powerful and even lighter FL6 Supercharged made the FS7 redundant. [7]

Facelift

In 2000 the FL series received a facelift, which included a new front clip. The doors and cab structure remained mostly the same.

Engine (FL6)

The Volvo FL6 is powered by a Volvo D6B 180-250 hp, six-cylinder turbocharged and intercooled diesel engine. The control system had a major update, with Volvo's TEA electronics architecture to bring it to line with the rest of its bigger cousins. Inline fuel injection pump was replaced with the EDC rotary distributor pump from Bosch with the identical horsepower; despite the loss of supercharger from the previous D6A engine. The cruise control, automatic exhaust brake and accelerator now became the so-called fly by wire as standard. Full integration with the rest of the vehicle system such as Electronic Suspension Control and ABS made it much more efficient and user friendly.

Transmissions

The Volvo FL transmission is offered as a manual or as an automatic. The manual gearbox made by ZF Friedrichshafen AG for the Volvo FL has full synchromesh, 9-speed and a wide range of gear ratios. The manual gearbox also features an easy-changing gear selector that requires little pressure to operate.

The Automatic gearboxes made by Allison for the Volvo FL are available in several variants adapted to different engine models in 5-speed versions. Volvo FL gearboxes are fitted with a hydraulic torque converter to give superior starting traction and offer a high level of performance and excellent ergonomics.

Second generation (2006)

Engine (D7E)

The 2006 Volvo FL is powered by Deutz's newly developed D7E 6-cylinder turbocharged intercooled diesel engine with a displacement of 7.2 litres.

Transmission

The 2006 Volvo FL transmission is offered as a Manual made by ZF from its Eco Mid series or Automatic by Allison. The Volvo FL is available with two overdrive manual gearboxes, one with six gears and the other with nine. The gearboxes are servo-assisted and light in operation, with a short gear lever. The lever is vibration-free and has a short throw and a very well-defined shift pattern.

The automatic transmission with its six speeds is operated smoothly and conveniently with push-buttons on the instrument panel. The automatic transmission is easy on the truck since the engine always operates within its optimum rev. range. This also results in fuel savings. Thanks to a hydraulic torque converter, the transmission provides considerable pulling power when starting off.

Facelift (2013)

Volvo FL280 2013 Volvo FL 280 Modell 2013 Kuhlkoffer-LKW.jpeg
Volvo FL280 2013

The latest version of the Volvo FL was launched in May 2013. [8] It's available with either a 6-cylinder D8 engine or a compact 4-cylinder D5 engine. The engines meet the new Euro 6 environment requirements. This was a rather thorough facelift, with a new grille and much black plastic cladding up front. The corners are also new, as is the front bumper. [8] The interior is also improved, with particular concern for entry and exit.

As a part of the Euro 6 renewal of the FL, a 12-tonne version was also launched. It is a lighter and lower truck compared to the 2006 Volvo FL. It uses a four-cylinder D4 with 240 horsepower.

Latin American derivative

A similar model made by Volvo's Brazilian branch, named Volvo VM, is similar in concept and appearance to the second generation of the Volvo FL. A major difference is the VM being only fitted with MWM-International/Maxxforce inline-6 engines, and with the option for either manual or automated-manual transmissions as standard equipment. Other variations besides the 4X2 and 6X4 include the 8X4 rigid and a 4X2 tractorhead. Cabin options are limited to daycab and sleeper, even though crew-cab third-party conversions are available in Brazil.

Related Research Articles

Scammell Lorries Limited was a British manufacturer of trucks, particularly specialist and military off-highway vehicles, between 1921 and 1988. From 1955 Scammell was part of Leyland Motors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Volvo 700 Series</span> Range of executive cars

The Volvo 700 series is a range of executive cars produced by the Swedish manufacturer Volvo Cars from 1982 to 1992. The 700 series was introduced in 1982 with the luxurious 760, followed two years later by the lower priced 740 which capitalized on the prestige attained by the very similar 760. The 700 series was then gradually replaced, beginning in 1990, by the 900 series. The 700, designed by Jan Wilsgaard, was originally to have been a replacement for the 200 series, but production of that model continued until the early nineties. The expensive 780, a Bertone-designed coupé version, entered production in 1986 and departed without a direct successor only four years later.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lancia Kappa</span> Motor vehicle

The Lancia Kappa or Lancia k is an executive car manufactured and marketed by Italian manufacturer Lancia from 1994–2000, with saloon, estate, and coupé variants — sharing platforms with the Alfa Romeo 166. The Kappa has a front-engine, front-drive, five passenger, left-hand drive design.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isuzu Forward</span> Line of medium-duty commercial vehicles manufactured by Isuzu

The Isuzu Forward is a line of medium-duty commercial vehicles manufactured by Isuzu since 1970, following the earlier TY model which occupied the same slot in the market. All F-series trucks are cab over designs and the cabin comes fully built from the factory. Most models come with a diesel engine; but, some markets get CNG derivatives as well. The F-series is available a variety of cab styles, engines, 4WD or 2WD depending on the market it is sold. While Isuzu's main plant is in Japan, these trucks are locally assembled from CKD kits in numerous countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isuzu D-Max</span> Pickup truck manufactured by Isuzu Motors

The Isuzu D-Max is a pickup truck manufactured since 2002 by Isuzu Motors. A successor of the Isuzu Faster/KB, the first and second-generation model shares its platform with the Chevrolet Colorado. The third-generation model shares its platform with the third-generation Mazda BT-50, which is produced in the same Isuzu plant in Thailand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hino Ranger</span> Motor vehicle

The Hino Ranger is a medium or heavy duty commercial truck produced by Hino Motors since 1964. In the domestic market, its principal competitors are Isuzu Forward, Nissan Diesel/UD Condor and Mitsubishi Fuso Fighter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Volvo FH</span> Motor vehicle

The Volvo FH is a heavy truck range manufactured by the Swedish company Volvo Trucks. It was originally introduced in late 1993 as the FH12 and FH16. FH stands for Forward control High entry, where numbers denominate engine capacity in litres. The FH range is one of the most successful truck series ever having sold more than 400,000 units worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Volvo F10, F12, and F16</span> Motor vehicle

Volvo F10, F12, and F16 are a series of trucks manufactured by Volvo Trucks between 1977 and 1993. Volvo manufactured about 200,000 trucks in this series between 1977 and 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Volvo FM</span> Motor vehicle

The Volvo FM is a heavy truck range produced by the Swedish company Volvo Trucks. It was originally introduced as FM7, FM10 and FM12 in 1998. FM stands for Forward control Medium height cab, where the numbers denominate an engine capacity in litres. As of 2005 the engine size is no longer added to the model denomination. The FM range is a multipurpose truck range for distribution, construction and on highway/off highway transport duties. In 2013, Volvo Trucks announced an updated, Euro VI version of the Volvo FM.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Volvo 900 Series</span> Range of executive cars made by Volvo Cars

The Volvo 900 Series is a range of executive cars produced by the Swedish manufacturer Volvo Cars from 1990 to 1998. The 900 Series was introduced in 1990 to replace the 700 Series from which it derived. Prior to the end of its production, the 960 was renamed as the Volvo S90 (saloon) and Volvo V90 (estate), and the 940 was renamed 940 Classic, becoming the last rear-wheel-drive cars from Volvo, until the 2023 Volvo XC40.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nissan YD engine</span> Reciprocating internal combustion engine

The YD engine is a 2.2 and 2.5 L inline-four diesel engine from Nissan. It has a cast-iron block and aluminium head with chain driven twin overhead camshafts. The engine shares much of its architecture with the QR petrol engine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Volvo FE</span> Motor vehicle

The Volvo FE is a medium duty truck produced by Volvo Trucks Corporation since 2006, now in its second generation. The FE is available in various rigid versions and a tractor version spanning three weight classes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Irisbus Crossway</span> Motor vehicle

The IVECO Bus Crossway is an urban and intercity bus produced by IVECO Bus since 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">M915 (truck)</span> Tractor unit used for line haul missions by the US Army

The M915 is a tractor unit used for line haul missions by the United States Army. Designed for use on improved roads it does not have a driven front axle.

The Steyr 90 series is a cab over truck originally introduced in 1968, built by Steyr-Daimler-Puch AG in Steyr, Austria. It has a tilting cab and is of a distinct shape, which survived into the twenty-first century with China's Sinotruk. In 1978 the facelifted Steyr 91 replaced the 90, and it was in turn replaced by the redesigned Steyr 92 in 1986. Considering its comparatively low production numbers an unusually wide range of models and configurations were available, necessitated by Steyr's dominance of the Austrian truck market in the period - in 1980 about 35% of trucks on the roads there were made by Steyr. It was known as Steyr 800 in Japan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Volvo I-Shift</span> Automated Manual Transmission Gearbox manufactured by Volvo for Volvo Trucks and Buses

The Volvo I-Shift is an automated manual transmission developed by Volvo subsidiary Volvo Powertrain AB for Volvo Trucks and Volvo Buses, with 12 forward gears and 4 reverse gears. It became available for trucks in 2001 and later buses in 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mack MC/MR series</span> Motor vehicle

The Mack MC/MR series, also known as the "Cruise-Hauler", is a cabover truck first introduced in 1978. It is of a distinct "set back front axle" design, with the driver compartment mounted ahead of the front axle and with a large, flat, divided windscreen covering almost half of the truck's frontal aspect.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iveco EuroCargo</span> Medium-duty truck

The Iveco EuroCargo is a range of medium-duty trucks produced by the Italian manufacturer Iveco since 1991. The EuroCargo occupies a place between the light Daily and the heavy Stralis in Iveco's lineup. The EuroCargo replaced the Zeta model produced in the 1970s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mack Granite</span>

The Mack Granite is a series of heavy duty and severe service trucks built by Mack Trucks. It has a long, low-profile hood and a high-visibility cab. Designed as straight trucks for local construction, waste removal, and other vocational jobs, it is also available as a semi-tractor. Introduced in 2001, it remains in production as of today.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mack TerraPro</span>

The Mack TerraPro is a series of heavy duty and severe service trucks built by Mack Trucks. They are a forward control cab-over-engine type, where the driver sits in front of the axle. A flat front has two large windshields. A spotting feature is small notches in the lower inside of the windshields. It is used in refuse service and for construction concrete pumps.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "FL6 and FL4". Volvo Trucks Global: About Us. AB Volvo. Retrieved 2014-06-08.
  2. 1 2 "FL7 and FL10". Volvo Trucks Global: About Us. AB Volvo. Retrieved 2014-06-08.
  3. Kendall, John (1996-07-18). "D6A charges into action". Commercial Motor: 22.
  4. История [History] (in Russian). Truck-Info. Retrieved 2014-06-08.
  5. 1 2 "FE". Volvo Trucks Global: About Us. AB Volvo. Retrieved 2014-06-08.
  6. "1998 Volvo FE42". The Truck Blue Book. Penton. Retrieved 2014-06-08.
  7. "The 1990s: Entering the IT Era", Volvo Trucks Global: About Us, AB Volvo
  8. 1 2 Press release, retrieved May 28, 2013