Volvo Uses Three-Cylinder Engines to Save Fuel

The Swedish car maker has only just released two new members of the 90 series, the S90 Saloon and V90 Estate. They join the XC90 and all of which use four-cylinder petrol, diesel and hybrid engines. In fact Volvo exclusively uses 4-cylinder engines right across the range.

Despite this, a 1.5-litre turbocharged 3-cylinder engine is being tested in a V40 with a dual-clutch automatic gearbox. Dr Peter Mertens, the boss of research and development at Volvo, says that it will easily get up to 150 bhp although that isn't its limit. He also says that "unless somebody told you, you wouldn't know it's a three-pot", suggesting that the infamous 3-cylinder thrum will no longer be a drawback for many buyers.

It will certainly be used in the next 60 series - S60, V60 and XC60 - although that's not to say it won't make an appearance in the 90 family sometime down the line. In fact, it could be offered as part of a more humble hybrid setup. The four-wheel-drive hybrid will sit below the T8 hybrid that we see today, and could produce in the region of 250 bhp.