All-new Volvo Truck – A sports car under the hood with I-Shift Dual Clutch
In Volvo Trucks’ new online film The Casino, parking valet Ambrogio Adani is expected to park a truck outside a casino on the Italian Riviera. He looks surprised – but in actual fact the truck has a lot of similarities to the sports cars he usually parks. All thanks to the world-first transmission I-Shift Dual Clutch.
First day on the job as a parking valet at the Casino San Remo, Italy.
Suddenly a new Volvo FH drives up and stops outside the casino. The parking valet, Ambrogio Adani, is handed the keys – and his heart stops “When I realized that I was expected to park a truck, my heart just stopped. I thought: How can I park it there?” says Ambrogio Adani.
But actually, thanks to the new I-Shift Dual Clutch transmission, the truck has a lot in common with a sports car. I-Shift Dual Clutch has double transmissions, a technology found in many sports cars. Volvo Trucks is now the only manufacturer in the world that can offer this type of transmission for series-produced heavy vehicles.
“I-Shift Dual Clutch can be described as two parallel-linked transmissions. When one gear is active, the next gear is pre-selected in the other transmission. During the gearchanging itself, the first clutch is disengaged at exactly the same instant that the second one is engaged, so gearchanges take place without any interruption in power delivery. The result is much smoother and easier driving,” says Astrid Drewsen, Product Manager Drivelines at Volvo Trucks.
With The Casino, Volvo Trucks is continuing on the communication journey it launched with a series of commercials in 2012 and 2013.
“With our latest film, we continue to communicate our technological innovations in a way that is not only relevant to people interested in trucks but also to a wider public,” says Claes Nilsson, President Volvo Trucks.
I-Shift Dual Clutch will be available from September 2014 on all markets selling the Volvo FH with Euro 6 D13 engines producing 460, 500 or 540 horsepower.
Facts about I-Shift Dual Clutch
– I-Shift Dual Clutch is based on the I-Shift transmission. Despite its many new components the new transmission is just 12 cm longer than a regular I-Shift unit.
– I-Shift Dual Clutch changes gear without any disruption to power delivery. When driving in conditions where it is more optimal for the transmission to skip a few gears, the transmission changes gear just like a regular I-Shift unit.
– I-Shift Dual Clutch can change gears without any interruption in power delivery, with the exception of the range-change, which takes place when shifting from 6th to 7th gear.
– Smooth, gentle gearchanges cut wear on the driveline and the rest of the vehicle.
– Fuel consumption with I-Shift Dual Clutch is the same as with regular I-Shift.
– I-Shift Dual Clutch will be available on the new Volvo FH as an alternative to I‑Shift and manual transmission.
The Casino
Watch the parking valet getting pranked by Volvo Trucks
The Casino – Behind the Scenes
You can learn more about Adani and the production of the video in the behind-the-scenes video which was also released on YouTube
Client: Volvo Trucks
Creative Agency: Forsman & Bodenfors
Director: Henry Alex Rubin
Art Director: Anders Eklind and Sophia Lindholm
Copywriter: Martin Ringqvist, Björn Engström
Post Production: Absolute Post, London
Executive Producers: Chris Barett and Fergus Brown
Music: “Tighten Up”, Al Escobar and His Orchestra Courtesy of Fania Records
D.O.P: Matthew Woolf
Editor: Spencer Ferszt, Marshall Street Editors
Later edit:
‘Ambrogio The Valet’ charms the world in Volvo Trucks’ new video success ‘The Casino’
Just a week after its premiere, Volvo Trucks’ new film ‘The Casino’, has clocked up more than 2 million views on YouTube. Much attention has been directed towards the surprised valet, who is left with the keys to a brand new Volvo FH in his hand – “The first time I saw the movie I laughed so much,” says Ambrogio Adani, the film’s involuntary star.
In the film, Adani is left with the keys to a brand new Volvo FH during his first shift at the Casino Sanremo in Italy. What he doesn’t know is that the whole thing is a hidden camera set-up in which he has starred. A week after the film’s premiere, Adani’s stressful first day at work has been viewed more than 2 million times, earning more than 100 thousand social shares globally.
“It has been a very funny week. The first time I saw the movie I laughed so much. Everything was so real, my face and my reactions are all real. I feel a bit like a star,” says Ambrogio.
It all started with a job ad, looking for someone to park flash sports cars during a gala evening. Adani was at the interview along with thirty others. “I got asked what I would do if Angelina Jolie stepped out of one of the cars. I said that I would take her number and give her mine. Everybody laughed. A few days later I got a call and got the job,” says Adani.
When the truck pulled up in front of the Casino Sanremo that night, he thought at first that there had been some mistake with a delivery. When he realised that he was expected to park the truck he panicked, but in hindsight he laughs heartily at the joke.
“I do not have any hard feelings, I feel like the chosen one. I’m a happy person. It was a great adventure and I had the opportunity to drive sports cars that I would never have driven otherwise. I thank Volvo Trucks for this,” says Adani.
The reactions from colleagues, friends and family – he says – has only been positive.
“The funniest comment I’ve had is that I look like a young Tom Cruise. I made all my colleagues read that,” laughs Ambrogio.
Volvo Trucks views the film as a great success. With previous successes like The Epic Split and The Hamster Stunt behind them, the organisation has set the bar high. But the question is – can we expect more exciting videos showing more truck features?
“We are of course looking forward to the future where we create communications in new and perhaps unexpected ways, to reach out with our products to a wider audience. However, at the moment we don’t know exactly what this will include,” says Per Nilsson, PR Director, Volvo Trucks.
