Filed under: New York Auto Show, Wagons/Estates, Crossovers/CUVs, Volvo
Volvo to offer T6 engine option in XC70 this fall
Click above for high-res gallery of the 2008 Volvo XC70
The Volvo XC70 recently spent some time in the Autoblog Garage, and while we liked the vehicle overall, we had a few major complaints: its high price, poor gas mileage and a noticeable lack of power. At least one of those issues will be rectified somewhat this fall when Volvo begins offering the turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine for the XC70. This engine is already available in the S80 sedan, and since the V70 and XC70 use similar chassis architecture, it was only a matter of time before the T6 engine migrated down the line. The 281 horsepower of the T6 engine should offer a useful improvement over the standard 235 horsepower 3.2 liter six. According to AutoWeek, the T6 model will be the crossover's flagship, so it seems unlikely that the 311 horsepower V8 will show up underhood any time soon. Power often covers a multitude of sins, so we're betting that the boosted-six will prove to be a popular option among buyers.
Gallery: Autoblog Garage: 2008 Volvo XC70
[Source: AutoWeek]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
SPG 5:57PM (3/20/2008)
Awesome, finally some power for this car.
And that T6 engine is very quick to say the least.
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polar 6:26PM (3/20/2008)
Any thoughts on the T6 making it into the standard V70? Unless I'm not seeing that stated somewhere.
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mike 6:29PM (3/20/2008)
Are you people insane?
Gas will be $4 next year.
Where's the 4 cyl Diesel?
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Dan 7:04PM (3/20/2008)
This is a $40,000 luxury car, buyers can afford another couple bucks worth of gas.
MikeW 9:09PM (3/20/2008)
This was entirely unnecessary.
All it needed was shorter gearing.
Save the T6 for the XC90.
Ethan 6:42PM (3/20/2008)
As someone who lives in an environment that sometimes requires driving up snowy hills, and who is easily able to climb them in an S80 T6 FWD after driving for only a couple years (and would bet money that most everyone else could too), I don't see the point of getting a jacked-up station wagon, in this case the XC70, unless you need to do relatively technical off-road driving.
So I have a request I'd like to make. V70 T6 AWD. For those of us that realize that you don't need that kind of ground clearance for any kind of on-road driving.
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Dan 7:10PM (3/20/2008)
The ground clearance isn't for clearing offroad obstacles, it's for easier egress curbside, reaching drive through windows, and a better view in traffic.
Subaru used to sell a Legacy wagon, they don't anymore because the raised Outback outsold it 30-50:1.
Ethan 7:31PM (3/20/2008)
That's not what they're marketed as. The Outback and XC series are designed to be and are marketed as semi-off-road vehicles. Tall wagons/hatches are generally marketed as on-road vehicles, and wagons such as the CX-7, lambdas, etc. often have lower ground clearance.
Dan 9:02PM (3/20/2008)
That's what they're marketed as, but marketing is fiction.
Z06, H1, Camry they're all home to work to mall appliances when it comes down it.
DKB_SATX 4:52PM (3/21/2008)
They also lie to the EPA and tell them the XC70 and XC90 are trucks instead of tall cars, just like Subaru does with the Outback. That gets them more lax CAFE regs.
Dan: The Outback outsold the Legacy Wagon in part because of the offroad fantasies, but mostly because Subaru just flat doesn't market the Legacy. I drive a Legacy GT Wagon, so I notice Subarus on the road and in the magazines and TV I'm exposed to, and I see WAY more ads for Foresters and Outbacks than for Legacies, to the point that it's a surprise if I see an ad for a Legacy sedan, and I never EVER saw an ad for a Legacy wagon.
It's highly likely that I won't own another Subaru. I'm tremendously happy with me warp-drive wagon and would buy another, but I don't want a tall-tippy wagon, it doesn't suit my driving style and looks dorky. The good thing is, the way Subies are built I won't need another new car for years, they have time to change their ways.
Level 7:24PM (3/20/2008)
why couldnt they just offer the V6 engine in the newer Fords with higher output as the standard engine beats me...
Nissan/Infinit is a prime example of simplifing engines...
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MikeW 10:57PM (3/23/2008)
The Ford 3.5 sucks. Where is the refinement? This is an inline6, so it will be smoother than a V6.
It also pales in comparison to Toyota's 2gr-fe V6.
Anyway, it already has good power, good mileage [if you stay out of VTEC]
So shorter gearing, or a transverse 7,8, or 9 speed automatic.
antrow 9:21PM (3/20/2008)
I have an 08 XC70 and while the thought of more power sounds good, I wonder if the car in it's current state could handle it. It is a little floaty and not very nimble which dose not give me the confidence to push it too hard.
Personally, if I had to pay an additional $4K to get a T6 XC70, I would have been tempted to go over to the BMW dealer and get a 5 series wagon with more power, better gas mileage, covered maintenance and a more solid feel.
I think Volvo should focus of a diesel or hybrid engine instead of worrying about more power. I don't think people who drive XC70 are looking to blow away other drivers taking off from stop lights.
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