Volvo Launches Drive-E Turbocharged Four-Cylinder Engine Family

VolvoVolvoSweden, 1927 > present49 models
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claims that its new Drive-E engine family of turbocharged four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines produce the power of a V8 with the fuel economy of a four-cylinder engine.

The Drive-E family will launch has three engines in the fall, including the diesel version and supercharged and turbocharged petrol version. Later it will launch more tunes of the engines including the plug-in hybrid version. The diesel versions will have 120hp to 230hp, and the petrol versions will have 140hp to over 300hp.

The diesel version includes i-Art, a Volvo technology that allows the fuel pressure from each injector to be changed. Each cylinder’s fuel pressure can be continuously changed to improve throttle response and economy.

The highest specification petrol version uses both a supercharger and turbocharger to provide increased power across the entire power band.

The Drive-E family is built for future hybrid versions and all versions have an integrated starter generator. The electric motors are designed to be placed in the front or rear with the battery pack in the center.

"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," said Derek Crabb, Volvo’s head of powertrain engineering.

The first cars to get the Drive-E engines will be the S60Volvo S60 Gen.2Sweden, 2009 > present252 versions
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, V60Volvo V60Sweden, 2010 > present301 versions
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and XC60Volvo XC60Sweden, 2008 > present261 versions
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. In these cars the engines will all be available with eight-speed automatic transmissions or six-speed manual.