Volvo also launched its latest I-Shift transmission, now available with Crawler Gears, which brings crawler functionality and start ability, making it ideal, according to Volvo, for vocational trucks requiring slow speed and maneuverability like the one pictured here.

Features like I-Shift crawler gears have some wondering about the future of manual transmissions–is there any place for them in the market when so much of what they do, like the precise placement of a vocational truck like the one seen above, can be achieved by automated manuals? Read here for more on the subject.

I-Shift transmissions will now also come with the Volvo I-See system, a new feature which learns the topography of the road, memorizes it and stores it in the transmission for use the next time the driver travels the routes. The system stores up to 4,500 different hills. The built-in electronics constantly monitor factors such as road grade, speed, weight and engine load to help maintain the most efficient gear possible. When the truck is operational, it automatically uses its knowledge to save fuel during the driving cycle. It optimizes gear shifting on rolling hills and hilly terrain. I-See handles hills efficiently by building speed before the hill, then curbs speed before the crest, Eco-Rolling down the hill and engine braking if necessary.

RELATED: See how the Volvo Adaptive Loading suspension 6×2 liftable forward axle works.

Volvo trucks spec’ed with integrated powertrains reached an all-time high in 2015, with 94.5% of customers spec’ing a Volvo engine and 88.8% spec’ing a Volvo transmission.

All photos credit: Alex Crissey, Fleet Equipment.