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e have to admit that some roadtes-ts fill us with
Page 26
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a greater sense of excited anticipation than others and, let's face it, 18-tonne distribution rigids aren't the sexiest vehicles on the road. Add the fact that behind the recently facelifted visage, Volvo's FL has long passed the first flush of youth, and you can appreciate that CM's technical team weren't fighting over the keys.
Glamorous they may not be, but it's the 18-tonners that deliver many of life's daily essentials, such as beer and pork pies. With this important fact in mind, we headed west on our Welsh distribution test route to see if the Volvo can still prove the value of function over fashion.
Product profile
Volvo's lightweight FL range incorporates rigids with GVWs from 12-26 tonnes and A small tractive unit. The r2.-tonne rigids are designated FLL; the 35-tonners and the tractor are FLHs; the 18 and 26-tormers are FLEs. We've tested one of three FLE i8-tonners in the lineup. This one has rear air suspension. the other two are a distribution chassis and a tipper, both running on steel suspension.
Other major choices facing potential FLE buyers include wheelbases (there are seven, from 4,000-6,500mm), and engines (three, nominally rated at 180, 220 and 25ohp). OUT example has the 6,000rnm wheelbase and the nominal 22ohp engine.
The FL family can trace its roots back to the late '8os, but a major revamp early in 2000 gave it a fresh new face as well as a host of less visible improvements. The biggest mechanical change was the adoption of electronic control for the engine, necessitated by the demands of Euro-3. As well as keeping the fuelling under control, it has allowed the FL to benefit from features previously only seen on its bigger brothers, such as cruise control and driver's information display.
Other changes affect the running gear, including disc brakes front and rear and a lighter. two-bag
rear air suspension with electronic levellini Our test truck arrived with a represent spec; its few options included the Comfi trim level, an Eberspacher night heater, at management kit and Volvo's data recur( system, Dynafieet Logger. In a taste of thinj come (heralded by new legislation in Holl and Belgium) a front blind-spot mirror wa: ted above the windscreen.
Productivity
Since our lords and masters graciously allo trucks with an i8-tonne design GVW to ope at that weight, we've only been able to test tl of this Volvo's competitors (not countinj FM7 250 stablemate). They were all powere theoretically more economical Euro-2 eng so a direct comparison is unreliable, but FL:s performance bears up respectably. Its c all r2.7mpg is only bettered by the Daf and FM7, while its motorway figure beats the lc Despite having the lowest power ratin its peer group, the FL also managed highest average speed on every sect thanks to its surprisingly flexible po characteristics. Mind you, at least sorni the credit for its impressive operational 1 figures must go to the body.
Although this is a c-urtainsider in a gr dominated by box vans its Lawrence D; body was fitted with the very effective Fast-S air-tensioning system that holds the curt; taut at all speeds. It was also fitted with an F foldaway cantilever tail-lift. Even with an o sized fuel tank and that long chassis, the V( weighed in at a respectable 5,640kg ready tc Taking the 2,570kg of the well-featured b and tail-lift into account, that leaves the part of so tonnes for payload.
On the road
The willing 220 engine was a revelation, giN this workmanlike truck a highly respectable formance. Although no ball of fire in a strai line drag race, it makes up for sheer horsepo in other ways. The flexibility given by a tor, curve that peaks at 1,200rpm and stays ab 90% of that peak all the way to the red line impressive, snaking fifth gear a particularly satile ratio. The ability to maintain its speed the %4's hills gave the Volvo a welcome cha to break out of the speed-limited rat-ract many other trucks were pulled back.
The shift for the Eaton six-speeder is Mr spaced and angled towards the driver, givini easy and consistent change. Not so impress