More powerful diesel range in the Volvo S40 and V50
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Production start inGhentin early 2006
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Annual target 10 000 cars
Volvo Cars’ new D5 engine is now finding its way under the bonnet of the Volvo S40 and Volvo V50.
With 132 kW on tap, the in-house developed five-cylinder turbodiesel is a powerful complement to the four-cylinder alternative offering offering 100 kW.
The Volvo S40 D5 and Volvo V50 D5 will be unveiled at the Bologna motor show in the beginning of December. The first cars will be built in the factory in Ghent, Belgium, from early 2006. A right-hand drive version for the South African market is to be launched towards the third quarter of 2006.
The Volvo S40 D5 and Volvo V50 D5 will initially only be available with a five-speed automatic transmission.
D5 also destined for Volvo C70
The compact D5 engine will also be fitted to the new Volvo C70 during 2006, and the annual production target for the three models is 10 000 cars.
For the Volvo S40 and V50 this means that the D5 will account for about 10% of the two models’ total diesel sales in Europe.
“With these models, we are appealing to the segment’s true connoisseurs. They are often business people who cover long distances. They demand both top-class performance and low fuel consumption. With the D5 engine, we meet both requirements and in addition spice up the package with a generous measure of comfort and driving pleasure,” says Peter Ewerstrand, project manager of the Volvo S40 and V50.
Serious pulling power
The D5 engine’s maximum power output is 132 kW and it offers excellent high-speed capability. Torque is a massive 350 Nm, which means serious pulling power and alert response at both low and high engine revolutions.
The Volvo S40 D5 accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.5 seconds (V50 D5 8.6 seconds). These figures are preliminary.
Fuel consumption is modest for a car with the sort of high performance offered by the D5. In mixed driving conditions, fuel consumption is 7.0 litres/100 km (also preliminary figures).
“With 132 kW, we are considerably boosting our competitiveness in the segment and we are convinced that customers will see the Volvo S40 D5 and V50 D5 as attractive alternatives to other premium diesel cars,” says Ewerstrand.
“We feel we have produced a particularly successful combination of a compact and agile car with a powerful and responsive high-performance diesel engine.
The Volvo S40 D5 and V50 D5 will be an excellent complement to our already broad model range,” says Ewerstrand.
