Volvo News: Next Volvo S60 To Not Come With A Diesel Engine

[William Maley]

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Within the next few weeks, Volvo will unveil the all-new S60 sedan. It will be the first model in Volvo's lineup to not be offered with a diesel engine.

“Our future is electric and we will no longer develop a new generation of diesel engines. We will phase out cars with only an internal combustion engine, with petrol hybrid versions as a transitional option as we move towards full electrification. The new S60 represents the next step in that commitment,” said Håkan Samuelsson, president and chief executive of Volvo Cars in a statement.

This news isn't that surprising when you back at comments made by Samuelsson in 2016.

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“It is a very attractive alternative to a diesel engine. It offers much lower CO2 levels but more or less the same performance in both horsepower and torque. On cost, I would say that within a couple of years we will see a crossover, the diesel getting more expensive and the [hybrid system] going down,” said Samuelsson.

“Diesels will be more expensive, they will have much more advanced after-treatment with additional fluids that have to be filled not once a year, but probably every time you refuel the car.”

Starting next year, Volvo will begin rolling out their electrification strategy that will see all-new Volvo models be equipped with either a mild-hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or full-electric powertrains. By 2025, Volvo is expecting 50 percent of new cars to be fully electric.

Source: Volvo

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Volvo Cars to eliminate diesel from the new S60 sedan

The new Volvo S60 sedan - to be launched later this spring - will be the first Volvo to be produced without a diesel engine, highlighting Volvo Cars’ commitment to a long-term future beyond the traditional combustion engine.

All new Volvo models launched from 2019 will be available as either a mild petrol hybrid, plug-in petrol hybrid or battery electric vehicle. This is the most comprehensive electrification strategy in the car industry and Volvo Cars was the first traditional car maker to commit to all-out electrification in July 2017.

“Our future is electric and we will no longer develop a new generation of diesel engines,” said Håkan Samuelsson, president and chief executive of Volvo Cars. “We will phase out cars with only an internal combustion engine, with petrol hybrid versions as a transitional option as we move towards full electrification. The new S60 represents the next step in that commitment.”

Last month, Volvo Cars reinforced its electrification strategy, by stating that it aims for fully electric cars to make up 50 per cent of its global sales by 2025. The announcement was made at the 2018 Beijing Auto Show, positioning it as a powerful player in China, the world’s leading market for electrified cars.

The new S60, a premium mid-size sports sedan, is based on Volvo’s in-house developed Scalable Product Architecture (SPA), which also underpins the company’s award-winning new 90 Series and 60 Series cars. The S60’s estate sibling, the V60, was launched earlier this year in Stockholm.

The new S60 will initially be available with a range of four-cylinder Drive-E petrol engines as well as with two petrol plug-in hybrid versions. Mild hybrid versions will follow next year.

Production of the new S60 will start this fall at Volvo Cars’ brand new manufacturing facility outside Charleston, South Carolina. The Charleston plant will be the only manufacturing  location for the new S60, meaning American-built S60s will be sold in the US market as well as overseas through exports.

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[David]

This totally makes sense that Hybrids are a stepping stone to full EV auto's. I do think that Kia might have hit the Nail on the Head in having a Diesel Hybrid. Will be interesting to see what the MPG is for that hybrid in comparison to the petro hybrids that Volvo puts out.

[Drew Dowdell]

Volvo has managed to reduce core components of their engine lineup substantially while still offering differentiation between vehicles.  Every engine is the same basic 2.0 liter 4-cylinder, and then by adding turbocharging, supercharging, and electric motors, they have everything from a base XC40 with 248hp all the way to a top line S90 Plug-In hybrid with 400hp and 472 lb-ft of torque. .... but the basic block, cylinders, and side accessories are all identical. 

It's a product planner's wet dream.... and I expect a number of other manufacturers to pursue it.