The aerodynamic Kenworth T700 equipped with the low-emission PACCAR MX engine was named the 2011 Heavy Duty Commercial Truck of the Year by the American Truck Dealers (ATD) Sunday at the annual ATD Convention and Expo in Phoenix.
“It’s a great honor for Kenworth Truck Co. to receive the prestigious Heavy Duty Commercial Truck of the Year award presented by the American Truck Dealers,” said Bill Kozek, Kenworth general manager and PACCAR vice president. “The Kenworth T700 with the PACCAR MX engine provides a winning combination that offers high performance, outstanding driver comfort, enhanced fuel efficiency and reduced emissions.”
The winner was selected by a judging panel of journalists from leading truck publications in North America. Major judging criteria included innovation, design, driver and owner satisfaction, ease of maintenance, and safety, the truck maker noted.
According to the company, the T700 is the latest evolution in Kenworth’s history of industry-leading, fuel-efficient trucks. The Kenworth T700 has the lowest aerodynamic drag of any Kenworth truck in company history, and has earned EPA SmartWay certification. In addition to modern aerodynamic styling, the T700 has best in class forward lighting and excellent serviceability features, the company said.
The Kenworth T700 targets over-the-road and team driver operations with its driver comfort features, according to its maker. The T700’s spacious, wide cab has nearly 30 in. between the driver and passenger seats for convenient access to the 75-in. Aerodyne sleeper and its 8-ft. cathedral ceiling. The roomy interior provides an industry leading, 60-plus cubic feet of storage space, Kenworth added.
The T700’s ergonomic cab features modern dash styling, state-of-art multiplexed instrumentation, and Kenworth Driver Information Center. To further enhance the award-winning T700, the new Kenworth NavPlus – a PACCAR proprietary in-dash, PC-based system with true truck-specific navigation, vehicle data, hands-free phoning, audio controls, camera inputs, roadside assistance, and optional Internet access – will be available this year, according to Kenworth.
The PACCAR MX engine is available with a horsepower range of 380 HP to 485 HP and torque up to 1,750 ft./lb. on selected Kenworth Class 8 models. This power range, combined with excellent fuel efficiency, high reliability and durability, lightweight design, and low cost of ownership, makes the PACCAR MX engine an ideal choice for Kenworth customers operating in many over-the-road, pickup and delivery, and vocational applications, the company noted.
The very low-emission PACCAR MX engine achieves U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and California Air Resources Board (CARB) certification, and meets the stringent emission standards of 0.2 grams per brake horsepower hour of NOx and 0.01 grams per brake horsepower hour of particulate matter, the truck maker added.
