The Renault Magnum is a

heavy-duty truck Truck classifications are typically based upon the maximum loaded weight of the truck, typically using the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) and sometimes also the gross trailer weight rating (GTWR), and can vary among jurisdictions. United ...

that was produced by the French Manufacturer

Renault Véhicules Industriels Renault Trucks was a French commercial truck manufacturer with corporate headquarters at Saint-Priest near Lyon. Originally part of Renault, it was a subsidiary of Volvo since 2001. In July 2024, John Cockerill (company) completed the takeover ...

and later

Renault Trucks Renault Trucks was a French commercial truck manufacturer with corporate headquarters at Saint-Priest near Lyon. Originally part of Renault, it was a subsidiary of Volvo since 2001. In July 2024, John Cockerill (company) completed the takeover ...

(also part of

Renault Renault S.A., commonly referred to as Groupe Renault ( , , , also known as the Renault Group in English), is a French Multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automobile manufacturer established in 1899. The company curr ...

, now

Volvo The Volvo Group (; legally Aktiebolaget Volvo, shortened to AB Volvo, stylized as VOLVO) is a Swedish multinational manufacturing corporation headquartered in Gothenburg. While its core activity is the production, distribution and sale of truck ...

) from 1990 to 2013. The Magnum was available in

articulated An articulated vehicle is a vehicle which has a permanent or semi-permanent coupling in its construction. This coupling works as a large pivot joint, allowing it to bend and turn more sharply. There are many kinds, from heavy equipment to buse ...

and rigid configurations, both configurations could be bought with a 6×2 or 4×2 drivetrain. The 6×4 is merely designed for heavy haulage uses. First launched in 1990, the Magnum was awarded the "

International Truck of the Year The International Truck of the Year (ITOY) is an annual award made by the international transport sector. Each year an expert jury, consisting of leading, authoritative specialist journalists, selects the International Truck of the Year from the ne ...

" in 1991. The Magnum was featured in Top Gear S12 E01, when

Jeremy Clarkson Jeremy Charles Robert Clarkson (born 11 April 1960) is an English television presenter, journalist, farmer, and author who specialises in Driving, motoring. He is best known for hosting the television programmes ''Top Gear (2002 TV series), T ...

bought one for less than £5,000 in the Top Gear Lorry Challenge.

History

In 1985, Renault presented a prototype truck, the VE 10, with special aerodynamics to reduce fuel consumption. The truck was launched as the Renault AE (for AErodynamic) in 1990, and notable for being the first modern truck with a completely flat cab floor and for having a mechanically separate cab and engine compartment, resulting in increased comfort inside the cab. The cab was designed by

Marcello Gandini Marcello Gandini (26 August 1938 – 13 March 2024) was an Italian Automotive design, car designer widely known for his work with the Italian car design house Gruppo Bertone, Bertone, where his work included designing the Alfa Romeo Carabo and A ...

. Engines at launch were the AE 380 with a 6-cylinder turbodiesel offering , and the AE500 with a Mack V8 diesel. It was voted Truck of the Year 1991. Since 1997 the truck was marketed as Renault Magnum and the cab was redesigned, and new engines became available. In 1995, the VE 20 prototype was presented, giving a preview of the second generation Magnum. In 2001, the major facelift was presented, with a new cab designed by Xavier Allard, keeping its characteristic boxed shape and separate engine-cab model. A few days after the presentation of its totally renewed range, in Lyon, Renault Trucks was getting ready to turn the page on the Renault Magnum. On Wednesday 26 June 2013, the keys to the last Magnum were presented to hauliers Robert Chabbert, at the Bourg-en-Bresse site, with a brand-new Renault Trucks T also present.

Technical data

Engine

The

engine An engine or motor is a machine designed to convert one or more forms of energy into mechanical energy. Available energy sources include potential energy (e.g. energy of the Earth's gravitational field as exploited in hydroelectric power ge ...

is derived from the 13L

straight-six engine A straight-six engine (also referred to as an inline-six engine; abbreviated I6 or L6) is a piston engine with six cylinders arranged in a straight line along the crankshaft. A straight-six engine has perfect primary and secondary engine balanc ...

of the AB Volvo Group. Changes include new engine management and an injection system co-developed with

Delphi Delphi (; ), in legend previously called Pytho (Πυθώ), was an ancient sacred precinct and the seat of Pythia, the major oracle who was consulted about important decisions throughout the ancient Classical antiquity, classical world. The A ...

. The engine was available in the following configurations:

Transmission

The

transmission Transmission or transmit may refer to: Science and technology * Power transmission ** Electric power transmission ** Transmission (mechanical device), technology that allows controlled application of power *** Automatic transmission *** Manual tra ...

offered as standard is a ZF servoshift air-assisted 16-speed manual. The ''Optidrive II'' 12 speed automated transmission with 4 reverse speeds was offered as an option. This transmission could also be used in manual operation mode.

References

External links