UK farewell to the FL4
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• Volvo has decided to pull its unpopular FL4 model out of the UK market before the end of this year and replace it with the heavier FL608. The new contender in the 7.5-tonne market is a down-rated FL6 and Volvo hopes to have it for sale in Britain later this year. It is already sold in Europe and Scandanavia.
UK sales of the FL4 model have been very disappointing and, although managing director Bernt Brandt2aeg predicted that the little truck would take 10% of the UK 7.5-tonne market "within a reasonable time," sales have been languishing at around 2% of the 7,401kg to 7,500kg market sector. Supplies of the FL4 from the Belgian Ghent factory were slow at first, but the model's main problems are generally accepted to be an underpowered 3.59-litre engine, and a very high price.
The FL608 replacement model has all-round disc brakes and a standard exhaust brake. The UK-favoured multi-leaf semi-elliptic springs are also available as an optional extra. The engine is the TD 61G type, which displaces 5,480cc and in its blown form delivers 112kW at 2,800rpm, and 430Nm at 1,900rpm. The sixcylinder unit drives through a ZF five-speed gearbox to the rear axle.
Although the FL608 has more power than the FL4, it is also heavier than its hightensile-steel chassisedpredecessor. The Continental versions of the FL608 have a kerb weight of between 3,730kg, and 3,840kg, depending on specification. Initial dealer reaction has been one of surprise, followed by a concern over the loss of payload in what is seen as a payloadconcious end of the market. They have been very pleased that the replacement model will have more power than the FL4, but are concerned that the price is kept as low as possible to remain competitive with the Iveco Ford Cargo, and the Leyland Daf Roadrunner.
The FL608 is also built at Ghent, although fewer supply difficulties are anticipated with this model. The final UK specification has yet to be announced, but at the time of going to press most of the senior Volvo staff were out in Sweden at the Volvo factory.