Content area
Full Text
'If you were a fan of the T2, and I count myself as one, then you can take comfort in knowing there's an even better truck waiting in the wings. It makes it easier to say good-bye.'
MOUNT VERNON, Wash. - The T2000 era at Kenworth has come to an end and rising from its ashes is a truck that's every bit as good, and then some.
The new Kenworth T700 has retained much of the styling that made the T2 stand out on the road: a wide, imposing wire mesh grille, sloped hood and broad stance. By using computational fluid dynamics (CFD), engineers have designed a truck that's aerodynamical Iy superior to its predecessor without sacrificing aesthetics or interior space. Perhaps it's not fair to compare the T700 to the T2000 - after all, it's a completely new design, not just the reworking of an old model that's being put out to pasture.
Nonetheless, the T2000 was retired to make room for the T700, so comparisons are inevitable. The T2000 had its detractors, but occasional complaints of wind noise and cab sway won't haunt its replacement. The solid door closes firmly and excellent insulation keeps wind and road noise about as muted as one could hope. The suspensions on the two versions I recently drove (Kenworth AG130 Front Air Ride 13.2K on the front and Kenworth AG400 4OK on the rear of both tractors) provided a smooth ride absent of any rocking. The smooth-shifting UltraShift Plus surely contributed to that as well.
It was hard to find fault with any aspect of how the T700 performed on the road and the fact it's aerodynamic as well as comfortable and fun to drive is a bonus - a bonus that pays big dividends, mind you. And how about that aero? According to Kenworth, the T700 is its most aerodynamic vehicle ever, boasting 3% less drag than the fuel-efficient, narrow-nosed T660. Somehow, that's been accomplished without eating into the spacious interior which includes 60 cubic feet of storage, 25 more cubic feet of roominess than the T660 and a towering, 8 -ft. "cathedral" ceiling that allows a driver to comfortably sit upright in the top bunk. This may be the ultimate team truck. Better yet,...