Volvo News - Volvo S60 concept features GTDi engine technology and 47 mpg

December 17, 2008 by tsikot

Volvo S60 concept features GTDi engine technology and 47 mpg

Filed under: Emerging Technologies, MPG, Volvo, Detroit Auto Show

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Volvo S60 concept

Next month at the Detroit Auto Show, Volvo will shed its staid image with a new concept vehicle that points the way towards the next production S60 midsize sedan. Besides all of the stylish lines of the exterior, numerous safety features and concept-spec interior - complete with a real crystal center console - the coolest bit of tech lies under the shapely hood. Instead of dropping in the largest engine available, the Swedes have instead focused on a small displacement Gasoline Turbocharged Direct Injection (GTDi) powerplant. Perhaps the 180-horsepower isn’t quite enough to set the world on fire, but achieving that power output along with an estimated 47 miles per gallon and carbon dioxide emissions of 119g/km from an engine that displaces just 1.6-liters is really quite an accomplishment.

The best part is that this engine is expected to make it into production in 2009. Joining the new-tech powerplant are electric power steering, stop/start technology, a wind-deflecting “grille shutter,” flat aerodynamic underbody panels and a DRIVe-Mode that puts the car’s computers into a user-definable economy mode. Several of these fuel-saving bits are expected to show up on the production S60 due later this year.

Gallery: Volvo S60 concept