Volvo currently produce some of the most exciting engines money can buy. The 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel D4 is a prime example – this engine has 178 bhp and 295 lb /ft of torque, yet equipped with a manual six-speed gearbox, it’ll emit just 99 g/km of CO2. That’s less than any German competitor and the same can be said of the D2 and D3.
In terms of petrol power, though, Volvo isn’t quite up there yet with the best. The current crop of petrol’s are neither as efficient nor as fun to drive as Ford’s EcoBoost range or Volkswagen’s TSI range. In the future, though, that could change.
The future of Volvo is as such – the company will offer twin-turbocharged and supercharged power when it introduces its new-generation “Drive-E” line-up of smaller engines later this year. The new petrol engines will be designed to offer diesel-like driving characteristics in the low and mid-range but they’ll be able to rev to the limit and be driven enthusiastically. The new direct-injection petrol engine will be included in the V40 range and above.
Diesel engines have not been left out, though. A new common-rail diesel engine will replace the existing one’s across the line up. This diesel engine will be available in D2, D3, and D4 power outputs, and it is presumed that it’ll be more fuel efficient than ever before. This means better economy, cheaper company car tax, and a happier planet Earth.
Volvo Car Group vice-president of power train engineering, Derek Crabb, said the new engines and addition of plug-in hybrid technology would ensure more power, but better efficiency than the current crop of engines. “We have created smaller, more intelligent engines with power curves that give exciting drive ability compared with engines with more cylinders, yet deliver the fuel economy of only four cylinders,” he said.
Vertu Cars believe that Volvo is on the right track with its engines “Higher capacity engines are fine for cruising on motorways, but they are limited in their potential economy. Smaller capacity engines which are twin-turbocharged or supercharged for efficiency will deliver much better real world economy. Ultimately, Volvo wan t to reduce their fleet emissions, and they are on the right track with that.”
There will be three new power plants in Volvo cars come 2015. These will include a new turbocharged T6, a new turbocharged T5, and updated D4.
