Volvo Trucks expanded its XE powertrain package lineup with the introduction of XE11 for its 11-liter Volvo D11 engine. XE11 is available on Volvo VNM and VNL models and rated up to 80,000 pounds GCWR. The powertrain package improves fuel efficiency by up to 3%, according to the company.
 
“Demand for XE powertrain packages continues to grow as customers increasingly look to combat fuel costs through optimized truck specifications,” said Gӧran Nyberg, president of Volvo Trucks North American Sales & Marketing.
 
Volvo first introduced XE packages for its 13-liter D13 and 16-liter D16 engines. To date, more than 24% of all Volvo-powered trucks ordered in 2013 also feature XE powertrain packages.
 
The XE11 package includes the following components:

• Volvo D11 engine with 405 horsepower rating and 1550 pounds-feet of torque.

• Volvo I-Shift overdrive transmission with a 0.78:1 ratio.

• Axle ratios of 2.64 to 2.80.

• Proprietary software that facilitates seamless communication between Volvo’s integrated powertrain components.

“Like our XE13 and XE16 options, XE11 ensures that the engine runs in its sweet spot without wavering at any road speed,” said John Moore, Volvo Trucks powertrain product manager. “The intelligent Volvo I-Shift, coupled with XE’s proprietary software, controls the engine to maintain rpm as low as 1,150 while cruising at 65 mph.”
 
XE packages improve fuel efficiency by lowering engine rpm at a given vehicle speed, a concept Volvo calls “downspeeding.” Possible through the combination of Volvo’s I-Shift automated manual transmission and a Volvo engine with modified software, XE allows the engine to cruise about 200 rpm less than the average truck sold today. Fuel efficiency improves by about 1.5% for every 100 rpm of downspeeding, so customers spec’ing the XE package can expect up to a 3% improvement when compared with another overdrive transmission in a similar operation.