By tuning in to Volvo Trucks’ YouTube channel on August 24th, you’ll be able to watch the 2,400 HP Iron Knight attempt to set a new international speed record.

Aside from the D13 power unit and its factory-standard I-Shift Dual Clutch transmission, “The Iron Knight” is fully custom-built. According to Volvo, it took a unique collaboration between technicians, designers and engineers in order to come up with such a powerful machine.

Volvo Trucks are of course no strangers to performing all sorts of cool stunts, so if you’re not demonstrating your Dynamic Steering System by having Jean-Claude van Damme do an “epic split” between two moving Volvo FM trucks, you might as well attempt something a little more realistic such as setting a speed record.

“The Iron Knight is the perfect way to showcase the competence and innovative power of Volvo Trucks,” said Claes Nilsson, President and CEO of Volvo Trucks. “At the same time, our aim was to generate new insights into technical and design solutions. The intention is to transfer some of these to our series-produced trucks.”

With its 2,400 HP and 6,000 Nm (4,425 lb-ft) of torque, the Iron Knight should prove a formidable foe if you’re looking at what it can do from the perspective of gravity.

“In order to beat a world speed record, you have to have exceptional performance. The I-Shift Dual Clutch is the best possible transmission for the job since it maintains torque on the drive wheel during gear changes, just like a racing car does. Thanks to this The Iron Knight can accelerate without losing vital time during gear changes,” explains Niklas Oberg, Test Engineer.

Aside from its impressive power and torque figures, The Iron Knight weighs in at around 4.5 tonnes (9,920 lbs) and has a power to weight ratio of over 0.5 hp/kg. Mods include re-written software, an aerodynamically optimized fiberglass cab and large air intakes in the side-skirts.

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