Volvo has been using Ford engines various models for some time. In a move towards more independence, lesser engine variants, greater flexibility and more influence over quality Volvo has invested in developing and producing its own range of four cylinder petrol and diesel engines. These engines are part of the new Volvo Engine Architecture (VEA) family. These engines have been developed by a Swedish team of engineers and will deliver more performance than current day six cylinders while offering fuel efficiency higher than that of current day four cylinders.
Volvo will stick to four cylinder engines in the near future with turbocharging and electrification to vary the levels of performance offered.
“This marks a milestone in Volvo Cars’ history. With our new engine family we are focusing on two additional vital properties – driving pleasure and fuel efficiency,” says Derek Crabb, Vice President Powertrain Engineering.
Volvo has invested about two billion Kronor in the Skovde engine plant. Preparations have been on for about two years now. The engine line is flexible and can build all the engine versions.
“One of the biggest challenges was the remodelling of the line for cylinder block processing. 30 machining cells were replaced or converted at a cost of about half a billion kronor,” says Oskar Falk, Vice President Global Engine Production.
VEA will replace nearly eight engine architectures on three different platforms that Volvo has been using. The new engines will be introduced between 2013 and 2015. The first variants will be fitted to the Volvo S60, V60, XC60, V70, XC70 and S80 in autumn 2013. The introduction of the new engine family will also see a new 8 speed automatic transmission.
The VEA engine family boats of world first technologies. The diesel engines will feature the i-ART technology, which enables monitoring the and adapting fuel injection per combustion cycle in each of the four cylinders. The injection pressure will also be higher at 2500 Bar allowing improved fuel efficiency.