Volvo takes on Koenigsegg
In Volvo Trucks’ new film ‘Volvo Trucks vs Koenigsegg’, motor racing personality Tiff Needell drives a Volvo FH against one of the world’s fastest sports cars – a Koenigsegg One:1. The aim is to put the new I-Shift Dual Clutch gearbox, based on a technique used in sports cars, to the ultimate test.
Beside a Volvo FH – designed for long heavy transport assignments, stands a Koenigsegg One:1 – one of the world’s fastest cars that is capable of 0–400 km/h in less than 20 seconds.
Behind the wheel of the truck sits the experienced motor racing personality Tiff Needell, who normally presents the British motoring programme Fifth Gear. In a few seconds, the two vehicles will come up against each other on the Knutstorp race circuit in southern Sweden, a track known for its hills and sharp curves.
To stand a fair chance, the Volvo FH received a minor handicap – the truck will drive one lap while the Koenigsegg drives two. Despite this, the conclusion is still unpredictable.
“Being a racing driver, you’re never afraid. You are always confident in your machinery. I was a bit apprehensive about driving a truck on a race track, since I’d never done it before. However, after I had driven it for a while I began to have full confidence in the Volvo,” says Tiff Needell.
The decision to challenge a racing car with a truck is no coincidence. The newly launched transmission in the Volvo FH – the I-Shift Dual Clutch – is based on a technique used in sports cars.
“Matching a Volvo FH against Koenigsegg One:1 was a great challenge, to see if our new gearbox delivers what it promises in terms of driveability,” says Per Nilsson, PR director at Volvo Trucks.
Without revealing the results, Tiff Needell admits he was impressed by the performance of the truck.
“I-Shift Dual Clutch is absolutely incredible. It is particularly noticeable on slopes, the truck does not hold back – it just flows smoothly, without the gear changes being felt. When you brake, it switches down very softly and comfortably. The truck definitely has the heart of a sports car,” says Tiff Needell.
At Koenigsegg, they had no hesitations in taking up the challenge from Volvo Trucks.
“We are always open to an exciting challenge. At the same time, it was particularly fun to race against a Volvo truck, because we have much more in common than just having sports car technology in our vehicles.
We are two Swedish premium brands that are both at the forefront of our different segments,” says Christian von Koenigsegg, founder and CEO of Koenigsegg.
You can see how it went at http://www. youtube.com/watch?v=PlFiKo64kQw&fe ature=youtu.be.