Volvo Introduces New Higher-Powered FlexiFuel Versions of V70 and S80
13 May 2008
The Volvo V70 and S80 are now available with a five-cylinder, 2.5-liter turbocharged E85-capable Flexifuel engine with a power output of 200 hp (147 kW) and 300 Nm (221 lb-ft) of torque. Both the S80 and V70 have been available with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder, naturally aspirated Flexifuel engine since the end of 2007. The 2.0F produces 145 hp (107 kW) and 185 Nm (135 lb-ft) of torque.
Although it was technically feasible to reach a higher power output, the higher power would have required more fuel in the upper rev range, resulting in considerably higher fuel consumption, according to Volvo.
200 horsepower is the ideal power level for this engine. This makes it possible for the car owner to cover the daily driving without the need for a richer air/fuel mix than the ideal value, which is 14,7:1. We think that our buyers will appreciate that we are focusing on a competitive fuel consumption.
—Magnus Jonsson, Senior Vice President, Research & Development at Volvo Cars
Fuel consumption (EU combined) for the new 2.5-liter Flexifuel version is 9.2 l/100 km (25.6 mpg US) (V70 and S80) with a manual transmission and 10.2 l/100 km (23 mpg US) (V70) and 10.1 l/100 km (23.3 mpg US) (S80) with the automatic transmission.
The Flexifuel cars can run on E85 bioethanol or 95-octane unleaded gasoline or any mix of those two fuels. Due to the lower energy content of ethanol, fuel consumption when running on E85 is 30-40% higher than when running on gasoline, according to Volvo. The exact difference depends on variables such as driving style, exterior temperature and variations in the fuel specification.
Five Volvo models—the Volvo C30, S40, V50, V70 and S80—are available with one or two Flexifuel engines. The Flexifuel variants of the Volvo S40, V50 and C30 have a four-cylinder 1.8-litre naturally aspirated engine, the 1.8F, which produces 125 hp (92 kW) and 165 Nm (122 lb-ft) of torque. All engines and other relevant components have been adapted for driving on E85 through a number of modifications.
Volvo Cars expects to sell around 20,000 Flexifuel cars in 2008.
This seems to be a strange offering. I don't ever see 95 Octane gas being sold around here. Just 87, 89, and 91. Can you even drive the car with 91 octane gas?
Posted by: Lulu | 13 May 2008 at 10:45 PM
That probably refers to a European octane number as opposed to the one we use here; 95 octane there is roughly equivalent to 91-92 octane 'premium' fuel in the U.S.
Posted by: Matthew | 14 May 2008 at 05:22 AM