Volvo upgrades V70, XC70 and S80
The Volvo V70, XC70 and S80 have been upgraded with a number of features including driveline, interior and exterior equipment, and are available to order now. The changes further emphasise the company's focus on cars designed around the needs and wishes of people in modern society. The on-the-road prices start from £25,995 for the V70, £25,245 for the S80 and £28,815 for the XC70.
Upgraded Engines with More Power and Improved Fuel Economy
The upgraded versions of the Volvo V70, XC70 and S80 are the first in the model range to feature sharpened versions of the five-cylinder D5 and D3 turbo-diesels. The V70 and S80 also join Volvo's ultra fuel-efficient DRIVe range, which means Volvo now offer seven cars producing below 120g/km of CO2.
D5 - 2.4 litre twin-turbo
In the D5 engine Volvo Cars' engine experts have boosted performance and torque from 205 hp/420 Nm to 215 hp/440 Nm while at the same time reducing fuel consumption by eight percent.
"It's actually all about improvements in several areas that together make the cars both more enjoyable and cheaper to drive. This is the science of the small incremental steps. The engines are already so optimised that it takes many man-hours to identify and refine the tiny details that can make them even more efficient," says Derek Crabb, Vice President, Powertrain Engineering at Volvo Cars.
The previous generation of D5, first seen in the S80, was the first Euro 5-compliant engine and amongst the most fuel-efficient engines in its segment when launched in 2008. It featured advanced solutions such as sequential twin-turbo technology, ceramic glowplugs and piezo-electric fuel injectors.
The twin-turbo setup with two different-sized turbochargers operating in tandem provided added power across a wider rev band. The configuration gives alert response and fast, powerful acceleration high up the rev range.
Advanced injection technology using piezo-electric fuel injectors ensures highly precise distribution of fuel in the combustion chamber. This promotes efficient fuel combustion and low emissions. At the same time, this technology and its efficient combustion system help create a pleasant engine note.
This means that the fuel consumption (EU Combined) of a Volvo S80 D5 is now an impressive 57.7 mpg (129 g/km of CO2) with manual gearbox and start/stop. The corresponding figures for the automatic version are 47 mpg (158 g/km of CO2).
The figures for a Volvo V70 are 55 mpg (134 g/km) with the manual gearbox and 46 mpg with the automatic. Fuel consumption in the XC70 is 50 mpg (149 g/km) in the FWD version with manual gearbox and 42 mpg (179 g/km) with the automatic.
D3 - 2.0 litre turbo
The medium-performance D3 with 163 hp and 400 Nm of torque was introduced in the Volvo S60 and V60 in 2010. It is in principle the same engine as the 2.4-litre version, but with a shorter stroke that reduces displacement to 2.0 litres.
The two-litre diesel engine's driveability is now further improved thanks to fine-tuning of the turbocharger. This is an excellent example of the fact that efficiency enhancement in modern combustion engines is now taking place at microscopic levels.
Its injection system has the same type of piezo-electric fuel injectors as the D5, but tailored for the smaller engine. The injectors reduce combustion with exceptionally quick and precise injection sequences under high pressure. The result is particularly effective combustion.
In order to give the car even better driving properties, it is fitted with a variable-geometry turbocharger.
"When comparing modern diesel engines, torque is of far greater interest than the number of horsepower. It is the available torque that gives the diesel the sort of acceleration and potent driveability that many petrol engines can barely match," explains Derek Crabb.
The corresponding figures for the D3 engine with manual gearbox are 57.7 mpg (129 g/km) in the Volvo S80, 54 mpg (137 g/km) in the V70 and 51 mpg (144 g/km) in the XC70 (DRIVe version).
D3 and D5 Enhancements
Overview - Most of the latest engine-related improvements apply to both the D5 and D3 engines:
Both the camshafts and connecting rods have been weight-optimised, that is to say they do the same efficient job using a smaller amount of steel.
The new piston rings are of low-friction type.
The oil pump is chain-driven.
With the piston cooling valves controlled solely by demand instead of opening regularly, consumption can be reduced.
The new vacuum pump has been optimised to affect the engine as little as possible.
The D5 engine now gets the same lighter type of connecting rod that the 2-litre D3 had when it was introduced in 2010.
All six-speed manual versions also get start/stop, which switches off the engine when the car is at a standstill. The engine fires up immediately when the driver presses the clutch pedal.
All variants are also available with a six-speed automatic transmission.
In autumn 2011 the Volvo S80 and V70 with D3 engine and automatic transmission will become available with the start/stop function.
DRIVe - 1.6 litre turbo
The four-cylinder 1.6-litre diesel fitted to the C30, S40, V50 and most recently in the S60 and V60 is now available in the V70 and S80. It is an improvement over the previous DRIVe derivative by offering an increase from 109 hp to 115 hp whilst keeping a maximum torque of 270 Nm. The engine is available with a six-speed manual gearbox and also benefits from start/stop technology which results in fuel consumption of 62.8 mpg and emissions of only 119 g/km for both the V70 and S80.
The DRIVe features the same technology as announced on the recent S60 and V60 DRIVe specifications. Brake Energy Regeneration, low rolling resistance tyres and precise fuel management all help to achieve these impressive fuel economy and CO2 figures.
Interior and Exterior Enhancements
The V70, XC70 and S80 now feature the latest user-friendly Volvo Sensus infotainment system and enhanced technology that makes driving even safer and more comfortable.
"These cars mark yet another step forward in our determination to be the brand that best interprets what buyers of modern prestige cars want. Concern for the individual's well-being is at the very core of our Scandinavian origins. On this basis we create a logical, intuitive and ergonomically optimised driver's environment that promotes a feeling of relaxed control," says Volvo Cars' President and CEO Stefan Jacoby.
Volvo Sensus is an excellent example of how Volvo Cars refines the driver environment. The new infotainment system made its debut in the Volvo S60 and V60 in 2010. Now the Volvo XC60, V70, XC70 and S80 also get the same feature.
Volvo Sensus - ergonomic high-tech
In Sensus, all information is presented on a five-inch or seven-inch colour screen in the upper part of the centre stack. The screen is positioned high up to make it easy for the driver to keep his or her eyes on the road without being distracted. All the functions can be controlled via buttons built into the steering wheel or via touch buttons located just below the colour screen.
Pressing once on the "My Car" button in the centre stack offers access to a range of settings, such as for City Safety, Collision Warning, Pedestrian Detection, Driver Alert System, Active Cruise Control, lighting, door mirrors, climate unit, central locking and audio system.
If the customer chooses a multimedia audio system, Volvo Sensus comes upgraded with the larger seven-inch screen that also displays information and images from the navigation system, phone, reversing camera, panorama camera, DVD player, digital TV and so on.
The Bluetooth connection has been upgraded to allow not only hands-free phone conversations but also music streaming from your preferred Bluetooth enabled portable music player.
Integrated navigation with voice commands is available as an option as well as an entertainment system for rear-seat passengers. This package includes among other things a DVD player, two eight-inch screens integrated into the front seat headrests, wireless headphones and remote control.
City Safety as Standard
A new feature is that City Safety is standard in all three models. This system can lessen the severity of or entirely avoid low-speed rear-end collisions at speeds of up to 30km/h.
City Safety keeps watch on vehicles in front with the help of a laser sensor built into the windscreen at the height of the rear-view mirror. The car automatically brakes if the driver does not respond in time when the car in front slows down or stops - of if the driver is driving too fast towards a stationary object.
If the relative speed difference between the two vehicles is less than 15 km/h, the collision can be entirely avoided. If the speed difference is between 15-30 km/h, the speed of impact is reduced to minimise the effects of the collision.
Now also with Pedestrian Detection
Pedestrian Detection with Full Auto Brake, previously presented in the Volvo S60, V60 and XC60, is now also available in the Volvo V70, XC70 and S80. It is a support function designed to help the driver detect dangerous situations and it can actively help avoid the nightmare scenario of hitting a pedestrian.
Pedestrian Detection with Full Auto Brake uses radar and a camera to monitor pedestrians in front of the car. The system initially provides a warning to alert the driver so he or she can brake or steer clear of the pedestrian. If the driver does not respond, the car automatically brakes with full force moments before the collision becomes unavoidable. With automatic braking, collisions can in certain circumstances be avoided at speeds below 35 km/h.
If all cars had Pedestrian Detection with Full Auto Brake, it is estimated that the number of pedestrian fatalities could be reduced by more than 20 percent. The reduction in serious injuries would be almost 30 percent. In three out of ten cases, a collision could be entirely avoided.
Pedestrian Detection with Full Auto Brake has somewhat impaired "vision" in certain conditions, for instance in the dark and in poor weather.
Collision Warning and Adaptive Cruise Control
The collision warning system has also been programmed to respond to vehicles in front that are at a standstill or are moving in the same direction. In certain situations, a collision can be avoided if the speed difference between the two vehicles is less than 35 km/h.
The Volvo V70, XC70 and S80 equipped with automatic transmission can now be specified with the latest version of Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), which automatically helps maintain a constant safety margin - pre-selected by the driver - to the vehicle in front.
What is new is that this system now operates all the way down to standstill. The car accelerates automatically once the traffic starts moving again.
World-Class Audio Experience
The most advanced audio unit, Premium, has a class D digital 5x130W amplifier, subwoofer, Dolby Digital in combination with Dolby Pro Logic II Surround, the latest MultEQ from Audyssey Laboratories and 10 loudspeakers.
The market-leading MultEQ technology from Audyssey Laboratories eliminates the distortion that might otherwise be caused by the passenger compartment's particular acoustic properties. The result is crisper and clearer sound for everyone in the car.
In addition to Premium Sound, which is combined with a seven-inch screen, there are three other audio system levels. All have been tailored for the car by Volvo Cars' in-house experts.
Other New Features Inside and Out
Among the other new features in the Volvo V70, XC70 and S80 are:
New body colours Biarritz Blue (V70 and S80) and Twilight Bronze (XC70).
Redesigned headlamps. Active Xenon lights are optional.
LED turn indicators integrated into the door mirrors (V70 and S80).
Two new wheel designs for the V70, XC70 and S80.
Inside the passenger compartment there are two new highlight colours for the upholstery: Sangiovese Red (V70 and S80) and Blond (V70, XC70 and S80).
In addition there is a new three-spoke steering wheel, enhanced décor inlays and redesigned interior lighting.
