Volvo S80's new inline-six a tidy package

The new 2007 Volvo S80 will debut with an all-new inline six-cylinder engine designed in-house. The all-aluminum straight six was designed to be as small as possible, nearly the same size as the company’s trademark five-cylinder engines, so that it can be mounted transversely in the S80 and mated to a new six-speed automatic transmission. The package’s tiny dimensions are due in part to the relocation of the ancillary systems like the power steering pump and air conditioning compressor to behind the engine and above the gearbox. These items are therefore not driven by belts at the front of the engine but rather by gears at the rear.

The new 3.2L powerplant produces a healthy 232 horsepower and 236 lb/ft of torque and delivers about 24 mpg. We expect a silky smooth power delivery due to the nature of the inline six form factor and wouldn’t mind seeing this gem in other Ford products that might require big power in small places