Volvo's all-new S90 is expected to be offered in a less powerful hybrid version, with both the electric motor and the internal combustion engine having a much lower output.
The Swedes are developing a 1.5-liter gasoline engine for a future hybrid version of the S90. Apparently, the upcoming version will be made for the consumer who doesn't need excessive horsepower from their new hybrid.
This means that the 1.5-liter hybrid version of the new S90 could bring the Swedish sedan's fuel economy to new levels. Considering that the T8 Twin-Engine S90 uses just 1.9 liters for 100 kilometers when driven in the standard European mixed cycle, the future sounds exciting for hybrid Volvo S90 buyers.
The new 1.5-liter gasoline engine will be developed in a joint-venture with Volvo's Chinese partners, Zhejiang Geely Corporation. The engine is meant to be used in the next-generation Volvo V40 and XC40 as well, which will be built on a new technical platform called Compact Modular Architecture (CMA).
Volvo and Geely's future platform borrows components from the current Scalable Platform Architecture (SPA), Autocar has learned. According to Volvo's Senior Vice-President of Research and Development, Peter Mertens, the new 1.5-liter gasoline-electric hybrid variant of the S90 will be a front-wheel-drive model without plug-in abilities.
This is just a possibility for now, but a front-wheel-drive configuration is a given if the car goes into production. Furthermore, the Volvo official has specified that the company is already testing prototypes with this configuration, without providing further details on the matter.
Volvo's new 1.5-liter engine is part of the Swedish company's new Drive-E powertrain range, and will replace all 1.6-liter engines in the company's portfolio. The new 1.5-liter engine will be found in all the V60/XC40 models in Volvo's range and some of the models in the S60/V60/XC60 range.
While the Volvo versions of this powerplant will be turbocharged, the company's Chinese partners will use a naturally aspirated version of the unit, to further differentiate their future compact models.
This means that the 1.5-liter hybrid version of the new S90 could bring the Swedish sedan's fuel economy to new levels. Considering that the T8 Twin-Engine S90 uses just 1.9 liters for 100 kilometers when driven in the standard European mixed cycle, the future sounds exciting for hybrid Volvo S90 buyers.
The new 1.5-liter gasoline engine will be developed in a joint-venture with Volvo's Chinese partners, Zhejiang Geely Corporation. The engine is meant to be used in the next-generation Volvo V40 and XC40 as well, which will be built on a new technical platform called Compact Modular Architecture (CMA).
Volvo and Geely's future platform borrows components from the current Scalable Platform Architecture (SPA), Autocar has learned. According to Volvo's Senior Vice-President of Research and Development, Peter Mertens, the new 1.5-liter gasoline-electric hybrid variant of the S90 will be a front-wheel-drive model without plug-in abilities.
This is just a possibility for now, but a front-wheel-drive configuration is a given if the car goes into production. Furthermore, the Volvo official has specified that the company is already testing prototypes with this configuration, without providing further details on the matter.
Volvo's new 1.5-liter engine is part of the Swedish company's new Drive-E powertrain range, and will replace all 1.6-liter engines in the company's portfolio. The new 1.5-liter engine will be found in all the V60/XC40 models in Volvo's range and some of the models in the S60/V60/XC60 range.
While the Volvo versions of this powerplant will be turbocharged, the company's Chinese partners will use a naturally aspirated version of the unit, to further differentiate their future compact models.