Volvo’s five-cylinder D3 and D4 diesel engines were never the most efficient two-liter units on the market, but they did punch well above their capacity in terms of torque and, of course, they made a pleasant telltale thrum that accompanied each prod of the throttle.
Now, the Swedes have brought out a new Drive-E powertrain for use under the bonnet of the S60/V60, but it’s not based on the old D4, because this new 181 hp one loses one cylinder, and with it, a lot of charm.
Speaking of torque, Volvo omits to mention if the figure has changed or not, but the old 163 hp version had 400 Nm, which is close to what some mainstream V6 diesels make… What we can tell you without fear of misinforming is the Drive-E unit’s claimed fuel consumption, which sits at 3.8 l/100 km or 74.3 mpg UK. Then, there are also the very low CO2 emissions, which are a claimed 99 g/Km if buyers go for a six-speed stick.
“The Drive-E diesels feature world-first i-ART technology with pressure feedback from each fuel injector instead of using a traditional single pressure sensor in the common rail” – still won’t sound as good as before, though… “The combination of injection pressure at 2,500 bar and i-ART technology gives the customer an engine with high performance, improved fuel economy and considerably lower emissions. It is a breakthrough comparable to our invention of the lambda sensor for the catalytic converter in 1976,” according to Derek Crabb Vice President Powertrain Engineering at Volvo Car Group.
Next up, Volvo has another two-liter unit with the wrong number of cylinders for auditory pleasure in store, and it’s somewhat misleadingly named the T6. However, this one is fueled by gasoline, makes 306 hp and pushes the S60 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 5.9 seconds, benefiting from being both turbocharged and supercharged. However, it’s still touted as being efficiency-oriented too, using up just 6.4 l/100km (44.1 mpg UK/ 36.75 mpg US) and emitting an almost unbelievable 149 g/km CO2 – that’s very good for its power output. These figures are achieved in conjunction with a new eight-speed automatic gearbox that will become available throughout the range. The new T6 debuts next year, so if you want a six-pot, with the prettier facelifted body, you still have some time to pick one up.
By Andrei Nedelea
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