Heavy Duty Trucking, November 2018
QUICK SPIN HDT NOVEMBER 2018 46 WWW TRUCKINGINFO COM With a roomier cab a bigger hood lots of real stainless steel and aluminum trim along with very contemporary styling the W990 is a capable contender for the top spot in the Kenworth stable The view from the cab is dominated by acres of hood but visibility isnt hampered thanks to the absence of the old canister style air cleaners Driving impressions I dont think the big new hood compromises visibility at all Its wider at the cab but without the old air cleaners Id say its a wash Straight out front while its a bit longer the hoods extra width seems to even things out optically It doesnt look longer but it certainly occupies more of the drivers field of view One of the trucks had a 300 inch wheelbase which required slightly wider turns I had no difficulty swinging through a couple of street corners near the dealership where we picked up the trucks nor making a 180 degree turn in the dealers back lot I really liked the steering partly the result of the set forward steer axle and partly Kenworths trademark slightly firm steering feel The truck kept a perfectly straight track out on I 15 near Las Vegas I checked the noise level in the cab with an iPhone sound meter app and found the truck with the X15 had a reading of 686 dB while the MX 13 equipped truck racked up a slightly quieter 673 dB I also got a reading of 63 dB on one try the app takes a 10 second reading and provides an average but I think the truck was just coasting at that point By comparison my VW Jetta has an interior noise level of 63 dB The W990 is a quiet truck indeed It wouldnt be fair after a couple of hours Watch the video at hadleyadvantage com smartvalveSmartValve uses automatic ride height functionality to raise and lower the suspension optimizing vehicle aerodynamics to save fuel With its onboard J1939 controller and the ability to customize safety interlocks and performance parameters SmartValve advances the safety of the suspension system reduces air consumption and maintains precise control of driveline angles Optimize Your Vehicle Aerodynamics WithSmartValves Automatic Ride Height ControlsSuperior Fuel Savingsis AUTOMATICwith SmartValveTM
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