New Volvo 3-Cylinder engine heading for the V40, XC40, S60, V60 and XC60

Volvo is extending their efficient Drive-E engine range with a new family of 3-cylinder engines offering up to 180bhp and heading for the 40 & 60 Series cars.

Volvo’s new range of Drive-E engines consist simply of a 2.0 litre petrol and 2.0 litre diesel – both 4-cylinders – but thanks to a variety of turbocharging, supercharging and hybrid add-ons they are very capable of offering not just impressive economy but performance that compares to a V8 in the most powerful versions.

But eschewing their 5, 6 and 8 cylinder engines in favour of the new 4-cylinder engines isn’t where Volvo engine downsizing will end, and there’s a new Volvo 3-cylinder engine due to arrive in the next two years.

Effectively three-quarters of the current Drive-E 4-cylinder engines, the new Volvo 3-Cylinder engines are 1.5 litres in displacement, but thanks to the aforementioned turbocharging, supercharging and hybrid add-ons they will offer up to 180bhp.

Volvo’s Dr. Peter Mertens said:

The beauty of the new 3-cylinder engine we are developing is that it can be built on the same production lines as our 4-cylinder engine, offering flexible production potential which can be adapted to suit business needs as we grow. This marks an important step forward for Volvo Cars. In terms of our power and efficiency, Volvo’s engineering excellence will shine through with the Drive-E 3-cylinder engine.

The new 3-cylinder engines will find their way in to the V40 and still to arrive XC90 compact SUV/Crossover, and will also be used in the S60, V60 and XC60.

And if the 3-cylinder engines are anywhere near as good as the new 4-cylinder Volvo engines, they should be very good indeed.