Just four short years ago, Volvo diminished the V-8 cylinder engine business, and now Volvo is getting out of the five-and-six cylinder engine business. This comes as no surprise as gas prices are increasing, and car buyers are beginning to purchase the most fuel-efficient cars.
Volvos in the future will be powered by four-cylinder engines with turbochargers, four-cylinders with turbochargers and belt-driven superchargers, four-cylinders paired with hybrid power trains, and turbocharged four-cylinders that burn diesel fuel.
The first vehicles you will see implement these 2.0-liter Drive-E engines will go into Volvo’s recently updated S60 sedan, V60 wagon, and XC60 crossover for the 2015 model year. No matter how many superchargers and turbochargers are bolted to them, the Drive-E engines are of a compact and lightweight design. Volvo says each is about 100 pounds lighter than the comparably rated five- and six-cylinder engines the company has been using. And each version of the Drive-E, Volvo promises, will deliver fuel economy that’s 13 to 25 percent better.
For diesel vehicles, Volvo claims the new engine will incorporate so-called i-Art technology. The i-Art system electronically monitors the feedback pressure of each injector, and continuously adapts the combustion in each of the four cylinders. The overall goal of this system is closer-to-idea fuel metering with extremely high fuel-rail pressure.
Volvo suggests that the S60 is equipped with the T5 Drive-E, and should drive from 0 to 60 mph in 6.2 seconds. The engine in the S60 is contemporary – smooth, unflappable, and tame, similar to the competition.
The Volvo V60 wagon accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 7.5 seconds. Boasting its Drive-E engine, the V60 wagon hums a happy, slightly clattery tune while it runs through all eight gears.
The Volvo XC60 instantly announces its power with the subdued whine of the belt-driven Eaton supercharger. The XC60 accelerates from 0 to 60mph in 6.8 seconds, which is impressive for a crossover.
Although it seems like a risky strategy to have only four-cylinder vehicles, Volvo is creating fuel-efficient luxury vehicles. Fuel market analysts have long suggested that high fuel prices are not going to go down anytime soon and rather than catch up to the already saturated marketplace of car manufacturers selling economically smart vehicles, they will cement themselves into the fuel efficient marketplace from the beginning.
Source: Car and Driver
AdChoices