Volvo Car Corporation launches automatic DRIVe diesels with the same fuel consumption as manual versions

Volvo Car Corporation is already in the lead among European carmakers when it comes to reducing carbon dioxide emissions - and the journey continues with two new CO2 cutting initiatives:

• The 1.6-litre diesel combined with automatic Powershift gearbox now comes with the same low fuel consumption and CO2 levels as the manual DRIVe versions.
• At the same time, CO2 emissions from the turbocharged, 1.6-litre T3 petrol engine with manual gearbox are down to 135 g/km.

 

The new possibility to combine the four-cylinder, 1.6-litre diesel engine (115 hp) with the six-speed Powershift gearbox is available in four models: Volvo S60, V60, V70 and S80.
"For the first time ever, we have managed to bring the fuel consumption in variants with 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.

Fuel consumption in the Volvo S60 with the 1.6D engine and Powershift is 4.3 l/100km. This translates into CO2 emissions at 114 g/km. The corresponding figures for the Volvo V60, V70 and S80 with the same engine and gearbox are 4.5 l/100 km and 119 g/km.

The low consumption and emission levels are the result of a number of technological improvements:

• Friction between gearbox components has been reduced.
• The engine and gearbox software have been modified.
• The start/stop system cuts off the diesel engine when the car is still rolling (below 5 km/h).
• All electrical systems have been optimised to create lower energy consumption.

Petrol powered T3 under 140 g/km
Volvo Car Corporation's DRIVe Towards Zero also includes improvements of the petrol engines.
By optimising the four-cylinder, 1.6-litre T3 engine (150 hp), which is available in the Volvo S60 and V60, the engine experts have managed to bring fuel consumption down do 5.8 l/100 km in the S60. This corresponds to CO2 emissions at 135 g/km.

The figures for the direct-injected T3 engine combined with automatic Powershift in a Volvo S60 are 7.1 l/100 km and 164 g/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 loosing the engine characteristics," says Peter Mertens.

  

European leader in CO2 reduction
Volvo Car Corporation leading position among European carmakers when it comes to reducing carbon dioxide emissions is shown in the annual analysis presented by the European Federation for Transport and Environment (T&E).
Volvo Car Corporation outperformed Europe's eight largest car manufacturers in 2010 by cutting overall CO2 emissions with no less than 9 percent.
"This excellent result is the outcome of a dedicated environmental focus under our "DRIVe Towards Zero" banner. One third of our research budget is earmarked for reducing CO2 emissions. Our new, upcoming Volvo Environmental Architecture engine range, which consists solely of four-cylinder engines, will ensure that we continue to beat our toughest competitors when it comes to fuel economy," says Peter Mertens.

 

**  Courtesy of Volvo Cars Newsroom