Volvo launches sub-120g/km DRIVe range

Volvo has launched a line of low-CO2 diesel vehicles, offering some of the lowest-emissions levels of any cars in the premium sector.

With DRIVe versions of the C30 SportsCoupe, S40 saloon and V50 Sportswagon, Volvo breaks into Band B for road tax, with carbon emisisons under 120g/km, and joins the hallowed ranks of manufactures with low-CO2 ranges featuring BIG LetterS and SmaLL LetterS to denote eco lines.

The DRIVe C30 SportsCoupe, S40 saloon and V50 Sportswagon models will launch next month at the Paris Motor Show , with production starting in mid-November and first UK customer deliveries in January.

The new 1.6D DRIVe models will offer fuel consumption of 64.2mpg on the C30 and 62.8mpg in the S40 and V50, with CO2 figures of 115g/km for the C30 and 118g/km for the S40 and V50. Volvo says the Volvo C30 and V50 now offer best-in-class CO2 in their segments.

The V50 is the first estate car to offer an engine emitting less than 120g/km, while the C30's somewhat ambiguous segment of origin makes it harder to compartmentalise.

The price supplement for the DRIVe package is estimated at between 150 and 450 euros depending on model and market, translating to a £120-£360 premium at current rates.

"We wanted to demonstrate that low CO2 ratings are not solely the preserve of small diesel cars. By offering the Volvo V50 with emission levels below 120g/km, we are also making it possible for families and other customers who require extra space to make an active pro-environmental choice," says Volvo Cars President and CEO Fredrik Arp.

Volvo has increased fuel economy, ad thus emissions, on the DRIVe models by increasing aerodynamic efficiency, lowering friciton through using low rolling resistance tyres, introducing longer gear rations, and optimising the drivelines - including engine cooling, engine management and power steering - for efficiency.

Use of low-friction oils and adding an optimum gearchange indicator to the dashboard further reduces fuel consumption. Similar programmes from other manufacturers include Volkswagen's BlueMotion, Seat's ECOnetic, Ford's ECOnetic, Seat's Ecomotive, Peugeot's Blue Lion and BMW's EfficientDynamics.

"Changing the transmission oil gives us a 0.75 percent lower fuel consumption. Tyres with low rolling resistance save another 2 percent. Each of these measures may seem rather modest, but it is important to look at the whole picture," said Magnus Jonsson, Senior Vice President, Research & Development at Volvo Cars.

"Taken together, all the small adjustments have helped us achieve our aim, with emissions below 120g/km for all three cars, without in any way compromising on either driving properties or comfort, which was an important requirement,"

All new diesel models from Volvo are also fitted with a maintenance-free particle filter that traps about 95 percent of all soot particles, while driver benefit from lower road tax and benefit-in-kind taxes.

Volvo Cars expects to sell over 20,000 1.6D DRIVe cars next year in Europe.

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