Shortly after the announcement of a more powerful Volvo D5 turbodiesel engine, a report suggests that Swedish marque is developing new six-cylinder petrol powerplants for the next S80.
Shortly after the announcement of a more powerful Volvo D5 turbodiesel engine, a report suggests that Swedish marque is developing new six-cylinder petrol powerplants for the next S80.
It is expected that when the next-generation S80 is launched on the international market in the middle of next year, it will feature a new four-valves-per-cylinder powerplant, known as the SI6.
According to a British source, the SI6 will have an all-aluminium cylinder block and a total weight of just over 180 kg. With a compact chain-driven camshaft system, the SI6 is actually one millimetre shorter than Volvo’s five-cylinder.
Three different versions of the SI6 are planned: a naturally-aspirated 3,2-litre and a pair of performance-oriented turbocharged 3,0-litre units. The former receives variable cam timing on the inlet valves, with the latter two adopting a more advanced system operating both the inlet and exhaust valves and Garrett turbochargers equipped with variable vane geometry.
Sources say the 3,2-litre could produce 177 kW at 6 000 r/min and 320 N.m of torque at 3 500 r/min, the light-pressure turbo unit 213 kW and 400 N.m of torque and the top-of-the-range high-pressure turbo engine 260 kW and 450 N.m.
Although likely, it remains to be seen whether SI6 engines will also be adapted for performance versions of Ford models, Jaguar’s R models and Volvo’s R performance cars.
