Volvo rolls out efficient 'Drive-E' powertrains across its range

Volvo is taking the fight to its German rivals after announcing it will roll out a range of new, more efficient engines across its current model line-up. Dubbed 'Drive-E', the new petrol and diesel engines will be fitted to all front-wheel-drive cars.

The cleaner four-cylinder units are available to order now on the V40 hatch, the S60 saloon and V60 estate, plus the V70 load-lugger, as well as the XC60 and XC70 off-roaders. Alongside the addition of these new engines, existing engines and specs for the various model ranges are tweaked for the 2016 model year.

The Volvo V40 range now hits the headlines with all manual diesels (including R-Design spec) now squeezing below the 110g/km CO2 emissions barrier. The D3 diesel's economy is improved by 8.6mpg, while a new turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol engine debuts with the T2 and T3 models, producing 122bhp or 152bhp.

The V40 Cross Country diesel range sees similar improvements, while the S60 saloon gets a new 2.0-litre T3 petrol with 152bhp and economy of 50.4mpg. The auto option, with the same power output, uses the 1.5-litre petrol turbo instead.

A new 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel engine in the V60 estate promises up to 74.3mpg economy, while there are power increases across the range, on top of the addition of the new turbo petrol engines. The tweaked V60 diesel hybrid is now renamed D6 Twin Engine, bringing it in line with the hybrid version of the new XC90.

The XC60 SUV sees power increases and CO2 improvements across its diesel range, as does the XC70. All models get new colour choices, while some benefit from an upgraded kit list and new wheel designs. Deliveries for the revamped Volvo range will start in May.

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