Upgraded Volvo V70, XC70 & S80 Models

Upgraded Engines with More Power and Improved Fuel Economy

The upgraded versions of the Volvo V70, XC70 and S80 are the first in the model range to feature sharpened versions of the five-cylinder D5 and D3 turbo-diesels.  The V70 and S80 also join Volvo's ultra fuel-efficient DRIVe range, which means Volvo now offer seven cars producing below 120g/km of CO₂.

D5 - 2.4 litre twin-turbo

In the D5 engine Volvo Cars' engine experts have boosted performance and torque from 205 hp/420 Nm to 215 hp/440 Nm while at the same time reducing fuel consumption by eight percent.

"It's actually all about improvements in several areas that together make the cars both more enjoyable and cheaper to drive. This is the science of the small incremental steps. The engines are already so optimised that it takes many man-hours to identify and refine the tiny details that can make them even more efficient," says Derek Crabb, Vice President, Powertrain Engineering at Volvo Cars.

The previous generation of D5, first seen in the S80, was the first Euro 5-compliant engine and amongst the most fuel-efficient engines in its segment when launched in 2008.  It featured advanced solutions such as sequential twin-turbo technology, ceramic glowplugs and piezo-electric fuel injectors. 

The twin-turbo setup with two different-sized turbochargers operating in tandem provided added power across a wider rev band. The configuration gives alert response and fast, powerful acceleration high up the rev range.

Advanced injection technology using piezo-electric fuel injectors ensures highly precise distribution of fuel in the combustion chamber. This promotes efficient fuel combustion and low emissions. At the same time, this technology and its efficient combustion system help create a pleasant engine note.

This means that the fuel consumption (EU Combined) of a Volvo S80 D5 is now an impressive 57.7 mpg (129 g/km of CO₂) with manual gearbox and start/stop. The corresponding figures for the automatic version are 47 mpg (158 g/km of CO₂).

The figures for a Volvo V70 are 55 mpg (134 g/km) with the manual gearbox and 46 mpg with the automatic. Fuel consumption in the XC70 is 50 mpg (149 g/km) in the FWD version with manual gearbox and 42 mpg (179 g/km) with the automatic.

D3 - 2.0 litre turbo

The medium-performance D3 with 163 hp and 400 Nm of torque was introduced in the Volvo S60 and V60 in 2010. It is in principle the same engine as the 2.4-litre version, but with a shorter stroke that reduces displacement to 2.0 litres.

The two-litre diesel engine's driveability is now further improved thanks to fine-tuning of the turbocharger. This is an excellent example of the fact that efficiency enhancement in modern combustion engines is now taking place at microscopic levels.

Its injection system has the same type of piezo-electric fuel injectors as the D5, but tailored for the smaller engine. The injectors reduce combustion with exceptionally quick and precise injection sequences under high pressure. The result is particularly effective combustion.

In order to give the car even better driving properties, it is fitted with a variable-geometry turbocharger.

"When comparing modern diesel engines, torque is of far greater interest than the number of horsepower. It is the available torque that gives the diesel the sort of acceleration and potent driveability that many petrol engines can barely match," explains Derek Crabb.

The corresponding figures for the D3 engine with manual gearbox are 57.7 mpg (129 g/km) in the Volvo S80, 54 mpg (137 g/km) in the V70 and 51 mpg (144 g/km) in the XC70 (DRIVe version).

D3 and D5 Enhancements

Overview - Most of the latest engine-related improvements apply to both the D5 and D3 engines:

• Both the camshafts and connecting rods have been weight-optimised, that is to say they do the same efficient job using a smaller amount of steel.
• The new piston rings are of low-friction type.
• The oil pump is chain-driven.
• With the piston cooling valves controlled solely by demand instead of opening regularly, consumption can be reduced.
• The new vacuum pump has been optimised to affect the engine as little as possible.
• The D5 engine now gets the same lighter type of connecting rod that the 2-litre D3 had when it was introduced in 2010.
• All six-speed manual versions also get start/stop, which switches off the engine when the car is at a standstill. The engine fires up immediately when the driver presses the clutch pedal.
• All variants are also available with a six-speed automatic transmission.
• In autumn 2011 the Volvo S80 and V70 with D3 engine and automatic transmission will become available with the start/stop function.

DRIVe - 1.6 litre turbo

The four-cylinder 1.6-litre diesel fitted to the C30, S40, V50 and most recently in the S60 and V60 is now available in the V70 and S80.  It is an improvement over the previous DRIVe derivative by offering an increase from 109 hp to 115 hp whilst keeping a maximum torque of 270 Nm.   The engine is available with a six-speed manual gearbox and also benefits from start/stop technology which results in fuel consumption of 62.8 mpg and emissions of only 119 g/km for both the V70 and S80.

The DRIVe features the same technology as announced on the recent S60 and V60 DRIVe specifications.  Brake Energy Regeneration, low rolling resistance tyres and precise fuel management all help to achieve these impressive fuel economy and CO₂ figures.

Volvo Sensus - ergonomic high-tech

In Sensus, all information is presented on a five-inch or seven-inch colour screen in the upper part of the centre stack.  The screen is positioned high up to make it easy for the driver to keep his or her eyes on the road without being distracted.  All the functions can be controlled via buttons built into the steering wheel or via touch buttons located just below the colour screen.

Pressing once on the "My Car" button in the centre stack offers access to a range of settings, such as for City Safety, Collision Warning, Pedestrian Detection, Driver Alert System, Active Cruise Control, lighting, door mirrors, climate unit, central locking and audio system.

If the customer chooses a multimedia audio system, Volvo Sensus comes upgraded with the larger seven-inch screen that also displays information and images from the navigation system, phone, reversing camera, panorama camera, DVD player, digital TV and so on.

The Bluetooth connection has been upgraded to allow not only hands-free phone conversations but also music streaming from your preferred Bluetooth enabled portable music player.

Integrated navigation with voice commands is available as an option as well as an entertainment system for rear-seat passengers. This package includes among other things a DVD player, two eight-inch screens integrated into the front seat headrests, wireless headphones and remote control.

City Safety as Standard 

A new feature is that City Safety is standard in all three models. This system can lessen the severity of or entirely avoid low-speed rear-end collisions at speeds of up to 30km/h.

City Safety keeps watch on vehicles in front with the help of a laser sensor built into the windscreen at the height of the rear-view mirror. The car automatically brakes if the driver does not respond in time when the car in front slows down or stops - of if the driver is driving too fast towards a stationary object.

If the relative speed difference between the two vehicles is less than 15 km/h, the collision can be entirely avoided. If the speed difference is between 15-30 km/h, the speed of impact is reduced to minimise the effects of the collision.