Video: Volvo ‘Iron Knight’ truck claims two world speed records

Updated: 25 August 2016

Volvo ‘Iron Knight’ claims two records
Top speed records for 500m and 1000m sprints
13-litre diesel puts out 2367bhp and 4425lb ft

Volvo has laid claim to two world speed records with its 2367bhp ‘Iron Knight’ truck. The custom-built racer has – pending final FIA verification – set new world truck speed records for the 0-500m and 0-1000m sprints.

It dispatched the 0-500m run in 13.71sec, achieving an average of 82mph in the process. The 1000m run took 21.29sec, during which the 4.5-tonne truck clocked an average of 105mph. Both recorded top speeds surpassed Volvo’s previous record-breaking ‘Mean Green’ by 10mph.

More remarkably, during the runs, the Volvo – the engine of which pounds out 4425lb ft – hit a top speed of 172mph. Not one to be confined to the inside lane, then.

Olof Johansson, a Volvo trucks technician, said: ‘Specialists from several different Volvo Trucks departments worked closely together to develop a truck with unsurpassed performance. Apart from Volvo Trucks’ powertrain, which is the heart and soul of The Iron Knight, we’ve hand-built the truck from the ground up.’

Volvos ‘Iron Knight’ specifications

Engine 13-litre quad-turbo straight-six diesel
Transmission 12-speed I-Shift dual-clutch gearbox, RWD
Output 2367bhp, 4425lb ft
Kerb weight 4500kg
Top speed (during run) 172mph

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By Lewis Kingston

Formerly of this parish. Inveterate car buyer and seller; currently owner of a '68 Charger project car

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