I know a lot of people on VolvoSpeed aren't as busy keeping up with the current state of Volvo as they are modifying their own cars and focusing on the older generation, so I thought it might be worth sharing some info here and opening up a broader discussion as Volvo evolves. The big question is:
Will Volvo regain its former position alongside or above BMW and Audi, or will it face the same destiny as that other Swedish brand?
Volvo has revealed the first of three concept cars designed to show the direction new vehicles using its new Scalable Platform Architecture will take. Combining this with information released on the Drive-E Engines (based on what is previously known as Volvo Engine Architecture), here's what appears most likely for Volvo's future:
In the US, Volvo will offer as many as four engine choices. All will be based on the use of a new 2.0 liter, 4-cylinder engine. The levels we can expect are:
- T5 - 240 Horsepower 2.0L Turbo-charged Inline-4
- T6 - 306 Horsepower 2.0L Turbo-charged and Supercharged Inline-4
- T8 - 400 Horsepower 2.0L Turbo-charged and Supercharged Inline-4 Plug-in Hybrid
The fourth option will probably be the use of the KERS Flywheel system. This may simply be a method of adding AWD to the non-Hybrid versions of the engine.
The current generation S60, V60, and XC60 will get some of these engines next year. Then we'll have the XC90 SUV which isn't really the center of attention on this site. However, Volvo is now also showing off this bad ALL GLORY TO THE HYPNOTOAD concept, the Concept Coupe:
Links for related information:
Concept Coupe
Drive-E Powertrains