Volvo's "Iron Knight" Breaks World Speed Records

Volvo wanted the perfect way to show the power of their trucks and generate new insights into technical and design solutions. In order to do this, a team of Volvo's technicians, engineers, and designers have come together and built the "Iron Knight", a 2400hp, 4,500kg truck.

On august 24, European truck racing champion Boije Overbrink drove the Iron Knight across an old airfield in Sweden. With a top speed of 275.95 km/h and travelling one full kilometer in just 21.29 seconds, the Iron Knight broke the world record for being the fastest truck in history.

For a truck designed to beat records, Volvo's engineers put special emphasis on power on performance.

“In order to beat a world speed record, you have to have exceptional performance. The I-
Shift Dual Clutch is the best possible transmission for the job since it maintains torque on the drive wheel during gear changes, just like a racing car does. Thanks to this The Iron Knight can accelerate without losing vital time during gear changes,” explains Niklas Öberg, Test Engineer at Volvo Trucks.

The Iron Knight is powered by a modified D13 unit with water-cooled intercooler and turbochargers, giving it up to 2400hp and 6,000nm of torque. In order to harness the engine's raw power, the team used an I-Shift Dual Cluth transmission, which is also found in the series-manufactured Volvo FH models. The gearbox also had to be equipped with a reinforced clutch to handle the high torque. Electronic systems have been scaled down and software had to be reprogrammed accordingly.

To minimise weight and cut down air resistance, the body is made of specially designed fiberglass. The side skirts doesn't just give the truck an impressive stance, but also help suppply cooling air for the engine. "Even when it’s at a standstill it looks like it’s on the move,” says Nigel Atterbury, Senior Designer at Volvo Trucks.

The Iron Knight wasn't Volvo's first record-breaking truck. In 2007, the "Wild Viking", a 1600hp custom truck, broke the official FIA record with a top speed of 158.8 km/h. Their 1800hp diesel and 300hp electric motor "Mean Green" hybrid truck also set a record as the fastest hybrid truck at 152.2 km/h.

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