All-new Volvo engine range announced
Details of a new range of 2.0-litre four-cylinder Volvo engines have been released
Volvo has confirmed details of its new, downsized Drive-E powertrains that will replace its entire range of engines and gearboxes.
The new Volvo engines are based on two, 2.0-litre four-cylinder units – one direct-injection petrol and one common-rail diesel – and use a combination of supercharging, turbocharging or hybrid to extract extra power.
The diesel Volvo engine specs will range from 118bhp to 227bhp, while the petrol versions will range from 138bhp to over 300bhp, with Volvo claiming that each new engine is between 10 and 30 per cent more efficient than the one it replaces.
Gearbox options will either be an upgraded six-speed manual, or an eight-speed automatic in place of the current six-speed Geartronic.
The first Volvos to receive the new engines will be the S60, V60 and XC60. These will get the new supercharged and turbocharged 302bhp turbo petrol T6 that replaces the current turbocharged in-line six that develops 300bhp.
Also available will be the new T5 petrol that develops 242bhp instead of the current 237bhp 2.0-litre four-cylinder and the new 179bhp D4 turbodiesel that replaces the current 161bhp 2.0-litre five-cylinder.
The new T5 and D4 engines will also be available in the V70, XC70 and S80.
Talking about the new engines, Volvo’s Vice President of Powertrain Engineering, Derek Crabb, said: “We have created smaller, more intelligent engines with power curves that give exciting driveability compared with engines with more cylinders, yet deliver the fuel economy of only four cylinders. In addition, by adding electrification such as plug-in hybrid technology, we will reach power figures in the V8 territory.”
The diesel engine features i-Art technology, which Volvo claims is a world first. This means that instead of one fuel injection sensor, each cylinder has its own CPU, which monitors and adapts the fuel injection more precisely, ensuring none is wasted. The fuel pressure has also been raised to 2,500bar.
The Drive-E engines have also been designed with plug-in hybrid in mind, including being linked to the firm’s modular hybrid system used in the V60 plug-in.
Unlike now, where some engines are sourced from or built by Ford, Volvo has designed and developed the new units in-house, over the past two years. The engines will be built in Sweden at Volvo’s engine plant in Skovde at a rate of 2,000 units per week.
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