Volvo Engine Development
With a new, downsized engine range which features four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines only, Volvo is moving towards zero emissions and a reduced environmental impact.
"It's time to stop counting cylinders. At the Frankfurt Motor Show we will reveal a new concept car. It proves that downsized engines can go hand in hand with our customers' expectations on luxury and driving pleasure," says Peter Mertens, Senior Vice President Research and Development at Volvo Car Corporation.
A new range of four cylinder VEA (Volvo Environmental Architecture) engines which includes common rail diesels and direct injected petrol engines, covers the entire range from high power and torque to fuel efficient versions.
"Our four-cylinder focus is the perfect way for us to quickly reduce CO2 emissions and fuel consumption. We will develop four-cylinder engines with higher performance than today's six-cylinder units and lower fuel consumption than the current four-cylinder generation," continues Peter Mertens.
The new VEA engines are up to 90kg lighter, reduce unique parts by 60 percent with up to 35% improved fuel economy.
In order to provide for all customer requirements, some engines will offer added performance from hybrid or other technology such as flywheel drive.
Autumn 2011 will see Volvo become one of the first car makers in the world to test flywheel drive on public roads. The Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) captures braking energy in a flywheel which spins at up to 60,000 revs a minute. The stored energy can the be released to accelerate the car or propel it at cruising speeds.
"The flywheel system offers the driver an additional 80 horsepower while reducing fuel consumption by up to 20 percent," says Peter Mertens.
Volvo will promote economies of scale with a model range via the Scalable Platform Architecture, allowing most Volvo models to be built on the same production line no matter what vehicle size or complexity.
"We're taking our technological future into our own hands. Both our new architecture and the new engine range will enable us to be on par or even beat our toughest competitors in crucial areas such as driving dynamics and fuel economy," says Peter Mertens.
The new concept car which will be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show also shows that SPA allows Volvo Car Corporation's design team more freedom to give forthcoming Volvo models more exciting looks.
"The new architecture means we can sharpen our design language, carving out just the right athletic and dynamic aura that is so important to the most demanding prestige car buyers. The Frankfurt concept car is a great example of what we can achieve with the new architecture," relates Peter Horbury, Vice President Design at the Volvo Car Corporation.
