Volvo S60 Concept revealed ahead of Detroit

Press Release

The Volvo S60 Concept: GTDi Technology for Lower C02 Emissions

Volvo Cars has chosen a four-cylinder 1.6-litre petrol unit using highly-efficient Gasoline Turbocharged Direct Injection (GTDi) technology to feature in the Volvo S60 Concept. Volvo Cars' first production vehicle with GTDi technology will be introduced in 2009.

Producing 134kW, the engine - in combination with a range of other technical measures - makes it possible to return an average fuel consumption rate of just 5.0l/100km and cut carbon dioxide emissions to 119 g/km.

In a conventional petrol engine, fuel is injected into the inlet manifold ahead of the inlet valves. With direct injection, however, the fuel is injected directly into the combustion chamber under high pressure.

This technology promotes better gas flow with optimised air/fuel mixture and greater resistance to uncontrolled combustion. The result is higher power and lower fuel consumption.

GTDi technology combined with turbocharging makes it possible to reduce engine displacement with maintained performance, but with about 20 per cent lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

"GTDi technology is an important CO2-cutting technology for petrol engines. In the S60 Concept we have also added a number of other developments that further reduce fuel consumption. Several of these features will make their way into our production models in the coming years," says Derek Crabb, Vice President Powertrain at Volvo Cars.

Electric power steering, stratified combustion and other measures

In addition to GTDi technology, the Volvo S60 Concept integrates the following technical features to bring CO2 emissions down to 119 g/km:

• Stratified combustion. The combustion chamber is designed such that a an optimal blend of air and fuel is formed around the spark plug, surrounded in turn by pure air. This allows the engine to operate with a surplus of air, thus cutting fuel consumption.
• Start/stop functionality that switches off the engine when the car is at a standstill.
• Powershift geabox featuring two manual gearboxes working in parallel, each regulated by its own clutch.
• Electric Power Assisted Steering (EPAS), which in principle is an "electric servo" where the conventional hydraulic pump has been replaced by an electric motor.
• "DRIVe-Mode". Gives the driver the possibility of reducing fuel consumption via an "economy mode" that limits the function of a number of selected electrical or mechanical systems.
• Grille shutter. A wind-deflecting panel that can be closed to reduce air drag when there is less need for cooling air.
• Flat underbody panels.
• The use of lightweight materials in the car body.

The driver chooses

"Several of these solutions can deliver significant CO2 reductions in the future since they can be used throughout large sections of the model range. When it comes to "DRIVe-Mode", for instance, the driver can actively cut fuel consumption by reducing the function of certain comfort systems. The idea is that every owner can individually choose which systems he or she wants to limit," says Magnus Jonsson, Senior Vice President, Research & Development at Volvo Cars.