New Volvo Drive-E engine delivers 444bhp – from just 2.0 litres

A new Drive-E engine concept from Volvo delivers a massive 450 PS from just 2.0 litres thanks to triple-turbo technology and high pressure injection.

When Volvo announced its new Drive-E engine range would consist of just a single petrol and diesel engine of 2.0 litre capacity, we did wonder if Volvo had given up on the idea of delivering properly powerful road cars. But it seems not.

We already know that the T8 hybrid powertrain for the new XC90 will deliver 394bhp, but now Volvo has revealed a Drive-E concept engine that delivers an even more impressive 444bhp without the aid of electric motors and batteries.

In fact, Volvo say the new engine will deliver ‘not less’ than 450 hp, so it could be even more, meaning the output will be at least 225hp per litre, making the new Volvo engine the most powerful production engine in the world.

Volvo has achieved this feat by using a pair of conventional turbochargers which are aided by an electric turbo which is used to boost the main turbos at low revs and all but eliminate turbo lag, and providing fuel injection at very high pressure – 250 bar (that’s 3626 psi in real money).

Peter Martens, Volvo’s R&D man, said:

When we launched the Drive-E powertrain family, our aim was to deliver the most advanced four-cylinder engines in the industry based on emissions and fuel consumption relative to performance and drivability.

We knew that 320hp in our petrol configuration was just a starting point. The 450hp High Performance Drive-E Powertrain Concept, demonstrates this ambition and the versatility of the Drive-E powertrains.

The new engine – especially with its compact dimensions – means we could see it fitted right across Volvo’s range – from the V40 to the new XC90 – and it looks like it could be possible to boost its power output further still by making it part of a hybrid powertrain.

Which means we could see a 2.0 litre Volvo with something north of 500bhp before too long.