Volvo's family facelift

Volvo has announced a raft of powertrain and interior updates for its V70, XC70 and S80 models, including a new version of the 1.6-litre DRIVe diesel engine. 

Under-bonnet changes focus on oil-burners, with the 2.4-litre twin-turbo D5 and 2.0-litre D3 units each receiving upgrades. The former now produces 215bhp – up 10bhp from the old model – and gives the S80 combined fuel economy of 57mpg with the manual gearbox, a figure which drops to 47mpg with the automatic option. Power in the D3 remains the same, but each model gains an extra 3mpg: the S80 now claims 57.7mpg on the combined cycle, with an equivalent figure of 54mpg for the V70  and 51mpg for the XC70.

S80 and V70 models also benefit from the uprated 1.6-litre DRIVe diesel engine already featured in the S60 and V60. That means peak power is hiked by 6bhp, up to 115bhp, while claimed fuel consumption is now 62.8mpg on the combined cycle. CO2 emissions are down from 129g/km to 119g/km.

The Swedish firm has also given the interiors of the trio a nip and tuck with new upholstery options, and each car now comes fitted with the company's latest Sensus infotainment system.

Some of Volvo's latest safety features also appear on the models for the first time. These include City Safety with Pedestrian Detection, which made its debut on the XC60 and serves to prevent low-speed collisions, and Adaptive Cruise Control, which automatically keeps the speed of the car consistent with the vehicle in front.

The refreshed cars are available to order now, with prices starting at £25,995 for the V70, £25,245 for the S80 and £28,815 for the XC70.don't forget to check back next week to see the first official pictures.

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