The Volvo XC60 and XC70 With Front Wheel Drive

Volvo XC60

The introduction of front-wheel drive and the new 2.4D engine to the Volvo XC60 crossover and XC70 premium estate will see CO2 figures tumble to 159 g/km. This will mean the Volvo XC60 will be the first premium SUV falling below the all-important 160 g/km Writing Down Allowance threshold for company cars, making the award-winning XC60 an attractive choice for the Fleet Manager once the threshold has been adopted on 1st April 2009. Company car drivers will also benefit significantly from lower Benefit-in-Kind taxation bills.

In addition to front wheel drive, a number of improvements all help deliver the new model's competitive fuel consumption and CO2 figures. Volvo Cars' engine experts have also succeeded in reducing friction and pump losses in the diesel engine and in cutting the pressure drop in the intake and exhaust systems.

Injection pressure has increased with the latest generation of high-pressure pumps and the injection architecture has been refined with the help of a piezo-electric system. The engine now has lower compression, more efficient combustion and the latest generation of engine management software. What is more, the turbocharger has been tuned to deliver high torque from low revs.

The gear ratios have also been optimised so the car can be driven economically. For instance, when driving at 62 mph in top gear, engine revs and thus also fuel consumption are significantly lower with the new powertrain.

One important part of the development brief was to retain the sporty driving properties. "More horsepower, higher torque and a sporty chassis setting all help give the front-wheel drive version of the XC60 and XC70 the right driving dynamics. It is the perfect choice for the customer who wants to focus on CO2 emissions without compromising on driving pleasure," says Magnus Jonsson, Senior Vice President, Product Development at Volvo Cars.

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