Volvo plans to release 'micro-hybrid' in 2011
Click above for a gallery of the Volvo ReCharge Concept
Volvo's product development unit is still hard at work, even as Ford has slapped a price tag on the brand. In an effort to develop more environmentally-friendly vehicles capable of meeting stringent emissions regulations on the horizon, the Swedish automaker has been working on some new highly-efficient vehicles. In addition to the DRIVe trio of ultra-efficient diesel-powered models, Volvo is working on an all-new micro-hybrid model. Set to join the lineup in 2011, the vehicle will be available with a choice between gasoline or diesel power, and a manual or automatic transmission. Fuel-saving technology will include a start-stop system plus brake-energy regeneration to cut consumption by nearly 5 percent. We'll see a full hybrid (with the ability to run on electric power only) in 2012 with the D5 diesel engine (Volvo's similar battery and flexfuel ReCharge Concept is above). A plug-in electric is also expected to follow down the road.
Gallery: Volvo ReCharge Concept
Gallery: Volvo DRIVe C30, S40, V50
[Source: Channel4]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Kumail 7:08PM (12/10/2008)
the UP! hopefully....
i really like that car...
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Jake B 7:09PM (12/10/2008)
Yeah a Volvo UP! huh. You aren't too bright are you?
Kumail 7:25PM (12/10/2008)
whoops, misread, lol.
oh well, i guess its a car i ain't buying then...
P.V. 7:20PM (12/10/2008)
Very good, considering that Volvo's current lineup isn't exactly a paragon of fuel efficiency.
Oh, and I just noticed the "Team Autoblog" column. This makes it far more useful for me to know who exactly these writers are. Thanks Autoblog! Now can you please fix the commenting system (and (this may be just me but) can you please replace the star rating system with the relative ranking system (that's just my preference, as I prefer relative ranking scales to absolute ranking scales))? Everything else is superb!
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Jrejre 7:21PM (12/10/2008)
I totally agree. You're like the 10th person I've seen bring this up. The stars suck.
Kumail 7:46PM (12/10/2008)
i like what you suggested but you left out the "edit" button!
Jomama 8:15PM (12/10/2008)
This was cooler when Saab tried this two years ago. Thanks GM!
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Temple 8:36PM (12/10/2008)
These micro-hybrids, or mild-hybrids are going to become ubiquitous in the next few years. BMW already has one on the Mini D diesel engine without the "hybrid" label. Also its is currently on the Malibu "Hybrid", what GM calls BAS. Citroen also plans to also have a 'micro-hybrid' C3. Toyota had one almost a decade ago in the Crown mild-hybrid and plan on releasing the Toyota IQ equipped with one in a year or two as well.
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L3 11:46PM (12/10/2008)
whoops! too late! gas is $1.57!
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ant_ 5:05PM (12/11/2008)
Wait will we finally get some diesel/electric hybrids in the US? Lets hope they use lithium polymer batteries, start-stop system, cylinder deactivation, and brake-energy regeneration and we will be set.
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cars & tips 8:32AM (12/11/2008)
woo ! best cars
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