After recently releasing the new range in Europe, Volvo Trucks will be introducing the FH Aero to Australian shores next year.
Volvo says the FH Aero range has been impressing the industry with its on-road refinement and energy efficiency, with European testing showing it has efficiency improvements of up to five per cent.
The FH Aero will be available in Australia with a choice of 13-litre and 17-litre Euro 6 ICE powerplants as well as Volvo’s heavy duty electric driveline.
ICE powered FH Aero variants will be built at Volvo Group Australia’s Wacol manufacturing facility from mid-2025, with order books open December 2024.
Volvo Trucks says the FH-Aero in I-Save guise will be the most fuel-efficient option – this turbo-compound unit is rated at 500hp yet also punches out 2800Nm of torque.
“We’re super excited to be launching the Aero range here in Australia,” Volvo Trucks Australia Vice President Tom Chapman says.
“This truck represents a critical step along the path to sustainable transport as well as lowering running costs for operators along the way.
“The drive experience of this vehicle is nothing short of astonishing, the performance of our new generation I-Shift transmission, coupled with our refined Euro 6 engine range or our powerful electric drivetrain, will find no complaints from drivers.”
The 13-litre 540 also remains an option for Aero as does the new D17 powerplant in ratings from 600hp and 3000Nm up to 700hp and 3400Nm. Aero cab options span sleeper, Globetrotter XL and Globetrotter XXL options, with Volvo’s newly launched Camera Monitor System, or CMS, also being standard equipment on the FH Aero.
CMS features a zoom out function, automatic panning that tracks the rear of the vehicle while negotiating intersections, fixed reverse panning and an infra-red mode for low light conditions.
The system’s camera lenses are heated and will automatically activate depending on the outside temperature to ensure a clear view in all weather conditions.
Aerodynamic improvements have been achieved by extending the front of the existing FH cab by 240mm, allowing for a smoother more rounded frontal area to reduce drag and energy consumption whilst remaining within the 26-metre B-double envelope.
“The range of powerplant options allows operators to tailor their Aero perfectly for their application,” Tom says.
“From our I-Save engine to our fantastic new D17 powerhouse we can choose to gear this truck for maximum line haul efficiency.
“This is a remarkably smooth and quiet vehicle to drive. However, safety as always is paramount for us, with added features like Pilot Assist and Front Short Range Assist for detecting vulnerable road users such as cyclists and pedestrians being made available across the Volvo heavy duty range.”
