Is US cab Volvo's new FL?
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EXCLUSIVE by Brian Weatherley.
• Is Volvo's long-awaited FL cab replacement alive and well and running in America? Following the US launch of the Volvo VN range last month Commercial Motor has taken a closer look at the bonneted truck in the Swedish truck maker's North American New River Valley, Virginia assembly plant. And its narrow (2.2m-wide) cab shell, based on the right-handdrive FH, could well be the basis for a new mediumduty cab for Europe.
Some 30% of the day-cab VN's panels, including door, roof and rear wall pressings, are shared with the right-hand-drive FH sold in Europe. These panels are sent to New River Valley from ✓ olvo's S wedish plants. But take away the day-cab VN's bonnet and you've got a "narrow" FH cab shell which could take over from the long-serving FL (Forward Low) cabin currently used on Volvo's FL7 and FL10.
Compared with the FH cabin, which was built to the normal 2.5m European maximum width, the narrower all-steel VN day cab has been developed specifically for the US market. However, with an interior width of around 2.14m this slimmer cabin would suit a European-built 32/38-tonne tractor or a multi-wheeler.
Volvo has said it wants to "Globalise" its worldwide heavy truck production, using as many components as possible including cabs and engines from the EH range. The project leader for FH, Per-Olof Eker, is ironically also working in the US for Volvo GM as chief engineer and technical advisor. So far Volvo is keeping quiet about the likely appearance of the FL replacement. All Volvo Truck Corporation boss Karl-Erling Trogen will say is that by the end of 1999 Volvo will have fully implemented its global modular concept which will undoubtedly include the successor to the FL. CM expects this to appear by 1998 at the latest.
Meanwhile, Volvo has confirmed that the NRV plant will produce cabs for Volvo's Brazilian operation.
CM will have a full report on the VN range, including driving impressions, soon.