Click above for a high-res gallery of the Volvo DRIVe range.
Diesels and hybrids are currently fighting it out on sales floors across the world, with diesels taking claiming early victory in Europe, while hybrids hold their own in America. Volvo plans to combine the two fuel-saving technologies by 2012 in both the U.S. and across the pond. According to early reports, the system used by the Swedish automaker will be an advanced full-hybrid, with either the electric motors or an oil-burning engine capable of moving the vehicle independently. All-wheel drive will also be part of the package, as the front wheels would be powered by the diesel engine while the rears would be electrically motivated. Shortly thereafter, the automaker would release a plug-in version of its hybrid.
Before any of this takes place, Volvo will take a few hybrid baby-steps in the form of stop/start technology on its smaller models before spreading across the line. In contrast, the diesel hybrids will begin at the top, equipped in larger sedans and SUVs. Considering that Volvo's been able to get up to 76 mpg from its non-hybrid diesel DRIVe models, we will have high expectations for its diesel hybrids.
[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Ayatollah Rodriguez @ Oct 6th 2008 9:47AM
76 MPG?????
Damn the CAFE standards. Those politicians know nothing.
Russell @ Oct 6th 2008 10:05AM
What is surprising, is why none of the automakers wanted us to save fuel before. Now all of a sudden everyone wants to build a hybrid. Is it the price of energy? So before when the energy was cheap it was OK to waste it?
Carlos @ Oct 6th 2008 11:27AM
I find this hilarious how automakers are all like ZOMG THE ENVIRONMENT!!!! When 5 years ago they were resting on their laurels and now they're five years behind. We don't need these cars in 4 years, we need them now.
Martin K @ Oct 6th 2008 10:13AM
Why not start off by brining over the regular diesels, they have out in Europe, here now. Volvo is such low volume, the diesel might be just what it needs for that boost.
Mattias @ Oct 6th 2008 11:17AM
That's not easy. Homologating the 1.6l PSA diesel might seem a good idea because they could team up with Mini to do so. But I guess most US customers would feel the 110hp engine is too slow for the S40 or C30 (it is actually an adequate engine for highway commutes as long as you are not constantly trying to go 110mph+).
In my opinion the 2.0l fits best to the S40, V50 and C30 ans still provides good mileage (I get averages between 34 and 42mpg from this engine in a similar sized Peugeot 307 and I like to go fast on the autobahn). Unfortunately this engine is not sold in any other car that is currently for sale in the US, so no one to team up with.
CH @ Oct 6th 2008 3:58PM
I expect we'll see Volvo diesels in the US within the next 2 years. Volvo is reportedly doing US compliance testing which should be completed by the end of summer 2009.
Mirko @ Oct 7th 2008 7:47AM
They could certify the 2.0 PSA diesel together with Ford. Would be great in the Focus. (Euro-Focus is available with both the 1.6 and 2.0 diesels)
While they're at it, they could as well certify the 1.6 diesel for the Fiesta.
Sasha @ Oct 6th 2008 11:19AM
What the f*** is the deal with manufacturers and the ugliest wheels on their hybrids/efficient cars? It started with the Honda Insight and continues today.
Why are they making these things so ugly? Just put regular fu**ing wheels on it!
RITmusic2k @ Oct 6th 2008 11:47AM
Because spokes are less aerodynamic. It's all about little tweaks to improve efficiency in an efficiency-minded vehicle. Aesthetics always take a back seat on cars like these.
G-Meister @ Oct 6th 2008 11:51AM
Sales numbers have shown that people wont buy a hybrid that doesn't look like a hybrid, because its hard to get your earth saving credits that way. Distinct wheels cost almost nothing but set the car appart from the conventional herd.
Pat @ Oct 6th 2008 11:37AM
It's about time. I never understood why there was only 1 solution used at a time. Diesel - best mpg when on the highway, Electric - best mpg when in the city. Diesel Hybrid - all around good mpg. Add in plug-in, cylinder deactivation, stop/start, and aerodynamics and we could probably have one amazingly efficient car.
(although I can't imagine this car being light).
Brian @ Oct 6th 2008 3:48PM
I'm with you here. I'm pleading ignorant on the engineering challenges to bringing a Diesel-Hybrid to market, but it seemed so obvious to me for such a long time I was wondering why no major manufacturers were doing so.
BoxerFanatic @ Oct 6th 2008 11:56AM
Not bad...
But when is someone going to build a tiny little diesel turbine engine, instead of a diesel piston engine... and hook that up to an electric system. A diesel turbine has less inertia loss, because it isn't reciprocating.
Just don't take the name "Electromotive", that is for trains... which have been diesel turbine/electric for some time now.
Mr Stromberg @ Oct 6th 2008 6:11PM
Turbine?
Yep, do some google on Volvo ECC, enviromental concept car.
Already 1992 we (I am an Volvo Engineer) had this rolling and working prototype. Some engineers and strategy concept team foresaw the future. But then there were the economic and marketing deps that decided that the world was not quite ready for this, and this would not generate sales enough. Also there would be trouble to justify the high price (new market unproven tech). Among other things.
Anyway, only thing that came out of the ECC into production was the styling cues, the new Horbury language that took off with P2 and first out on the S80. But enviromental concepts were still growing. Then Ford bought Volvo cars 1999, and whole focus was turned into XC-cars, and making V8:s, dump the I5 in favor of the SI6 etc. And it worked...a while.
Was any of the (mostly) XC90 profits re-invested into some future enviromental efficiency vehicle? No. Course not. Most money just went into some corporate black holes. And now, when the enviromental race really took off, Volvo was not even at the grid, and have to start from the pit lane.
On the operative engineering levels many have seen this enviro-race coming in years. Management? No - probably too busy checking bonuses and chasing costs.