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The Volvo V70 DRIVe is now available with a 1.6-litre diesel engine

Peter Mertens

The new option, the 1.6-litre diesel engine combined with the Powershift automatic gearbox is available in four Volvo DRIVe models: the S60 DRIVE, V60 DRIVe, V70 DRIVe and the S80 DRIVe.

"For the first time ever, we have managed to bring the fuel consumption in variants with an automatic gearbox down to the same level as in the manual versions. An impressive achievement by our powertrain experts," says Peter Mertens, Senior Vice President Research and Development at the Volvo Car Corporation.

Reducing friction, new control software and energy management

The fuel consumption of the 1.6-litre diesel engined Volvo S60, fitted with the Powershift gearbox is 4.3l/100km, and it has a CO2 emission of 114g/km. The fuel consumption of the V60, V70 and S80 models, fitted with the same engine and gearbox, is 4.5l/100km, while CO2 emission stays below 119g/km. These achievements are the results of several technological improvements. Volvo’s engineers reduced friction between components in the gearbox, modified the software which controls the engine and the gearbox and optimised every electronic system to require less energy. The Start/Stop system engages and cuts off the diesel engine when the car is still rolling below 5kph.

Structure of the new Poweshift automatic gearbox

Petrol-powered T3 engine with CO2 emission under 140g/km

Volvo Car Corporation's “DRIVe Towards Zero” programme also includes improvements on the petrol engines as well. By optimising the four-cylinder, 1.6-litre T3 engine (150 hp), which is available in the Volvo S60 and V60, Volvo's engineering experts have managed to bring fuel consumption down to 49.0mpg in the S60 (previously 42.8mpg).  This corresponds to CO2 emissions of just 135 g/km, a reduction of 17g/km. The figures for the direct-injected T3 engine combined with automatic Powershift in an S60 are 39.8mpg and 164 g/km.

The fuel consumption of the 1.6-litre diesel Volvo S60, fitted with the Powershift gearbox, is 4.3l/100km, while its CO2 emission is only 114g/km

"Keeping the CO2 emissions below 140 grams is essential since this is a level used by many fleet customers. We have managed to do this in the T3 version through a number of small, significant improvements. We have also optimised the gearbox gearing for maximum fuel efficiency without losing the engine characteristics," says Peter Mertens.

www.volvocars.com