Volvo Cars claim that their new Drive-E range of powertrains takes efficient driving pleasure to a new dimension in which the number of cylinders is no longer important to describe power and drivability.
The first three engines from the 2.0-litre, four-cylinder Drive-E powertrain family will be launched this autumn. The diesel version features world-first i-Art technology, and the most powerful petrol version comes with a combination of a compressor and a turbocharger.
“We have created smaller, more intelligent engines with power curves that give exciting drivability 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,” says Derek Crabb, Vice President Powertrain Engineering at Volvo Cars.
The whole Drive-E engine range, which during the development phase was called Volvo Engine Architecture (VEA), basically consists of two four-cylinder engines, one common rail diesel and one direct-injected petrol version. They replace eight engine architectures on three platforms. Drive-E diesels will range from 120 to 230 bhp. Petrol versions will start at 140 hp and go all the way up to 300-plus hp.
Several levels of turbo charging open up the flexibility to cover the whole range, from fuel-efficient derivatives through to high power and torque variants. In order to cover all customer requirements, some engines will also gain added performance via electrification or other spearhead technology.
Two Drive-E engines heading here
Initially, the new S60, V60 and XC60 FWD, should be available with the first diesel engine from the Drive-E family, the new D4, with 181bhp. The S60 and V60 should also be joined by a new T6 engine, with 306bhp powering the front wheels. Both engines will be available with a new eight-speed automatic gearbox, contributing to a refined drive and excellent fuel economy.
Volvo Cars’ powertrain experts have developed the engines in-house. They are being built at their high-tech engine plant in Sweden.
