Volvo Trucks has renewed its entire Australian-built range – in what it says is its biggest-ever Australasian launch.
The new Volvo FM, FMX, FH and FH16 went on sale at the end of November – less than three weeks after they were revealed.
It is also “our safest, most productive and most efficient range of transport solutions,” says Volvo Trucks Australia vice president sales Tony O’Connell.
“This has been a massive project and we have invested heavily in our manufacturing capability to ensure that these trucks will be built at our Wacol, Queensland, production facility.” 
The new FH will have the option of Euro 5 and Euro 6 emissions levels across the range, in both 13-litre and 16-litre engine variants and a range of horsepower options. 
The FM features an all-new cab as well as Euro 5 and E6 options – with 11-litre and 13-litre engine choices.
Building on the current Euro 6 offerings in Classic Volvo FM11 and FM13 models, the entire range of models now come with options for Euro 6. 
The new FM’s Euro 6 ratings include the 11-litre at 380hp, 430hp and 460hp. The 13-litre engines have 460hp and 500hp alternatives. And the previous range of Euro 5 engines, with 330-500hp options, are still on offer. 
The FMX will also retain the option of a 540hp Euro 5 powerplant. 
Added to the FH options are 13-litre Euro 6 engines – including the 500hp D13 turbo-compound engine – in addition to the 13-litre 540hp rating. 
The FH16 has the existing Euro 5 range, with power ratings from 600-700hp, plus Euro 6 alternatives at 550hp and 650hp. 
Volvo says that the addition of the Australian I-Save package to the new FH “is set to create new levels of fuel efficiency and CO2 savings.” 
The 500hp/2800Nm Euro 6 turbo-compound engine is included in the Australian I-Save package or, for long-haul operations, there’s also an FH package combining Australian I-Save, the new Euro 6 D13TC engine and the I-See cruise control system – which accesses centrally stored topographic data to optimise transmission performance and engine efficiency. 
That package also includes I-Shift with a dash-mounted gear selector and economy transmission software, I-Cruise with I-Roll, an optimised 2.83 rear axle ratio, fuel efficient energy tyres, engine idle shutdown and a variable displacement power steering pump. 
O’Connell says that the new-generation Volvos have been “designed from the inside out with the driver in mind. We all know how hard it can be to attract drivers in this country. These trucks raise the bar in terms of comfort, performance and efficiency.” 
On the FM and FMX, visibility has been improved by more than 10% – with similar lines to the FH cab, a larger windscreen, slimmer A-pillars, slimline mirrors and a lower door line. 
To minimise blind spots a new passenger-corner camera activates when the left indicator is used – or it can be activated with the push of a button, so the driver can check the area when required. The camera image is displayed on the nine-inch dash mounted touchscreen display (which can handle input from up to eight cameras). 
On the FH and FH16 models, LED headlights feature an adaptive high beam function which partially dips the high beam lights when the headlights or taillights of another vehicle (or even the lights of motorcycles or bikes) are detected ahead. 
The new models offer adaptive cruise control down to 0km/h, hill descent control and EBS, with Volvo Dynamic Steering an option.