Lex Kerssemakers bij de Detroit Autoshow
1. Diesel is done
A few years back, Volvo surprised us when it announced it would move to four cylinder engines across all models. The company has nearly made good on that promise in the name of emissions reduction. We sat down with Lex Kerssemakers, Volvo's senior vice president of product strategy and line management, to flesh out what the next few years look like from the company's engine bays.
2. No EVs, either
The two benefits of diesel engines are big torque and big fuel economy. Volvo has both of those covered with its plug-in hybrid system, which will debut here on the next XC90, making 472 lb-ft of torque and returning 59 MPGe. Developing a diesel in addition would be redundant, and probably not as efficient.
3. No EVs, either
Plug-ins are the solution for now. The T8 powertrain coming to the new XC90 will offer an electric-only range of 25 miles.
4. Polestar will live on as the performance brand
Volvo was surprised at the response to the 750 Polestar S60s and V60s it built for 2015, so the 350-hp inline-six will return for another run. The inline-six, by the way, isn't completely absent from the lineup yet, and won't be for a few years. "It's still a great engine," Kerssemaker says, so there's no reason to just throw it away. After that, we could see a version of the three-turbo, four-cylinder engine concept Volvo showed recently.
5. The three-turbo engine is a hopeful concept
There's a gap to be made up between today's 325-horsepower four-cylinder and the 450 hp of the concept engine. That will take time, and Kerssemakers says the company currently has its hands full with electrification. The triple-turbo arrangement first needs to prove its durability and make sense financially—all those compressors and the super capacitors that feed the electric turbo aren't cheap.
6. No decision on motorsports yet
Volvo may or may not stay in V8 Supercars—the company hasn't decided. With a four-cylinders-or-less lineup, you can see how running a big eight-cylinder on the track would be a confusing brand message. Kerssemakers does say that Volvo, either with the company's direct backing or through customer cars, will always have its hands in racing. This is good news.
7. The "T" names aren't going away
Though no longer tied to cylinder count, the T4, T5, T6, and T8 names will continue to indicate where a Volvo engine falls in relation to the others in power. The T is at least still accurate, as they'll all carry turbochargers, while some will also be supercharged. Bright side: They're better than IKEA names.
8. The three-cylinder is likely for the U.S.
Volvo aims at building global products it can sell everywhere. Right now, the only ones it doesn't bring to the U.S. are the V70 (we get the crossovered XC70 wagon instead) and the smaller V40. When the next-generation V40 shows up here, it's likely to carry the company's new turbo three-cylinder engine.
Aldus Lex
VOLVO
1. Diesel is done
A few years back, Volvo surprised us when it announced it would move to four cylinder engines across all models. The company has nearly made good on that promise in the name of emissions reduction. We sat down with Lex Kerssemakers, Volvo's senior vice president of product strategy and line management, to flesh out what the next few years look like from the company's engine bays.
2. No EVs, either
The two benefits of diesel engines are big torque and big fuel economy. Volvo has both of those covered with its plug-in hybrid system, which will debut here on the next XC90, making 472 lb-ft of torque and returning 59 MPGe. Developing a diesel in addition would be redundant, and probably not as efficient.
3. No EVs, either
Plug-ins are the solution for now. The T8 powertrain coming to the new XC90 will offer an electric-only range of 25 miles.
4. Polestar will live on as the performance brand
Volvo was surprised at the response to the 750 Polestar S60s and V60s it built for 2015, so the 350-hp inline-six will return for another run. The inline-six, by the way, isn't completely absent from the lineup yet, and won't be for a few years. "It's still a great engine," Kerssemaker says, so there's no reason to just throw it away. After that, we could see a version of the three-turbo, four-cylinder engine concept Volvo showed recently.
5. The three-turbo engine is a hopeful concept
There's a gap to be made up between today's 325-horsepower four-cylinder and the 450 hp of the concept engine. That will take time, and Kerssemakers says the company currently has its hands full with electrification. The triple-turbo arrangement first needs to prove its durability and make sense financially—all those compressors and the super capacitors that feed the electric turbo aren't cheap.
6. No decision on motorsports yet
Volvo may or may not stay in V8 Supercars—the company hasn't decided. With a four-cylinders-or-less lineup, you can see how running a big eight-cylinder on the track would be a confusing brand message. Kerssemakers does say that Volvo, either with the company's direct backing or through customer cars, will always have its hands in racing. This is good news.
7. The "T" names aren't going away
Though no longer tied to cylinder count, the T4, T5, T6, and T8 names will continue to indicate where a Volvo engine falls in relation to the others in power. The T is at least still accurate, as they'll all carry turbochargers, while some will also be supercharged. Bright side: They're better than IKEA names.
8. The three-cylinder is likely for the U.S.
Volvo aims at building global products it can sell everywhere. Right now, the only ones it doesn't bring to the U.S. are the V70 (we get the crossovered XC70 wagon instead) and the smaller V40. When the next-generation V40 shows up here, it's likely to carry the company's new turbo three-cylinder engine.
Aldus Lex
VOLVO
