Volvo Trucks Australia announces 780hp engine

Volvo Trucks has taken the wraps off the highest horsepower FH16 it has offered in Australia to date. The powerful new D17 engine was launched in Sweden in January with a new range of horsepower ratings stretching from 600hp to 780hp.

Volvo has said that the entire D17 power-train offering with options from 600hp to 780hp will be launched locally mid-2024 making the new FH16 Australia’s most powerful on-highway truck, taking the title away from Scania's 770hp V8.

Along with the added power ratings, the updated FH16 also sees a significant jump in torque.

The 600hp variant now offers 3000Nm of torque, while the 700hp offers 3400Nm, the range topping 780hp option tops out at 3800Nm.

The 17-litre, Euro 6 powerplant shares the same basic architecture as the 16-litre engine it replaces with the extra capacity resulting from an increase in cylinder bore.

In pursuit of efficiency and cleaner operation, the engine also features a new fuel injection system, low-friction cylinder liners as well as wave top pistons to ensure optimised combustion.

Volvo says that all power ratings are HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil) compatible.

“A world of possibilities has been built into this engine platform,” said Shayne Commons, Director of Product and Performance, Volvo Group Australia. “Highly efficient drive-trains capable of using alternative fuels will be a key part of our path to net zero emissions,” Commons added.

“More power gives us the option of gearing our trucks for more efficiency on highway, more torque means less gear changes and more top gear time.

“However, for the person behind the wheel, the performance of the D17 engine in the new FH16 will impress. Driver feedback so far has been overwhelmingly positive, especially in regard to holding road speed in undulating terrain,” said Commons.

The new FH16 and D17 engine will be available to order for Australian customers from July 2024.