Extreme engine down sizing with Volvo

Many European car companies have gone the route of engine down sizing to improve efficiency. All this came when the oil price was very high but in the recent year the oil price is at its all time low but yet car companies are still going on with engine down sizing. Volvo has been one of the early birds with engine down sizing sticking to their 2.0 and 2.3 litre turbos since the 1990s when most of the other car companies like BMW, Mercedes and Japanese makers were sticking to their bigger capacity naturally aspirated engines.

this time round Volvo took the step a little further and will introduce a 1.5 litre 3 cylinder engine with a turbo charger. With this small engine one would expect them to bolt it on a smaller model like the S40 or V40 model but this is not the case. The new 1.5 turbo is planned for the S60 and S90 models which are much bigger in physical size. Volvo also plans to connect a hybrid system with this engine similar to that of the new XC90 with a plug-in hybrid system.

Volvo seems to be serious about push their development and with the improvement in financial position since being Chinese owned, Volvo has really found their step in the R&D department. It is yet to be seen if Volvo can catch up to the Germans but they are moving in the right direction. Previously Volvo was very conservative with their design approach and appeared lost, they didn't have a very good selling individual model and the line was ageing fast. Something had to be done to inject some life into the brand and by developing new technology it appears that Volvo is back on the map again.

Volvo is also putting to use their Polestar department where performance oriented models will be released. Volvo is following the footsteps of BMW with their M division and AMG for Mercedes. It is a good move to help shake the sedate and boring image of Volvo. Polestar is relatively unknown to people who are not fans of Volvo. It is about time the Polestar brand came to light and show the world that Volvo cars are not necessarily safe and boring.