The T2000 was the most radical Kenworth conventional of its time. Launched in 1996 as a next-generation aerodynamic tractor, it used a completely new design, the first from the company since 1961, and it was the first Kenworth conventional with a wide body.
Kenworth T2000 at a glance
| Introduced | 1996 |
|---|---|
| Role | next-generation aerodynamic conventional |
| New design | first completely new Kenworth conventional since 1961 |
| Body | first wide-body Kenworth conventional |
| Cab | shared with Peterbilt |
| Distinguishing feature | bumper-mounted headlamps |
| Discontinued | 2010 |
| Replaced by | T700, from 2011 production |
Based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on Kenworth; the T2000 is described there in the company history, so this page covers only what that article states.
History of the Kenworth T2000
By the mid-1990s Kenworth had two conventional families: the long-running W900 and the aerodynamic T600 with its sloped hood and set-back front axle. The T2000 was not a replacement for either. It was a separate, clean-sheet design, the first new Kenworth conventional since 1961, aimed at buyers who wanted the most modern aerodynamic tractor in the range.
Two things set it apart. It was the first wide-body Kenworth conventional, and its cab was shared with sister company Peterbilt, which kept development costs down inside PACCAR. The bumper-mounted headlamps made it easy to recognise against the T600 and the T800.
The T2000 stayed in production from 1996 until 2010. For 2011 production it was replaced by the T700, which kept the wide-body idea but adopted a larger grille and fender-mounted headlamps. The aerodynamic conventional line then moved on again in 2013, when the T680 arrived as a single replacement for both the narrow-body T660 and the wide-body T700.
Design and features
- Wide body: the first wide-body conventional built by Kenworth.
- Shared cab: the cab was common with Peterbilt inside PACCAR.
- Bumper-mounted headlamps: the detail that tells a T2000 from a T600 or T800.
- Clean-sheet design: the first completely new Kenworth conventional since 1961.
- Long run: built from 1996 to 2010 in a market that changed quickly.
Kenworth T2000 versions
- T2000 (1996–2010): the standard aerodynamic wide-body tractor.
- T700 (2011–2014): its replacement, with a larger grille and fender headlamps.
- T600 and T800: the older narrow-body aerodynamic line that the T2000 was sold alongside.
The T2000 was the wide-body alternative to the T600 and the T800, and it was replaced by the T700. The older long-nose conventional is the W900. More trucks are in the Kenworth collection.
Sources
- Kenworth, English Wikipedia: T2000 of 1996, wide body, Peterbilt cab, headlamps, end of production, T700 replacement
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