Creating more efficient new Volvo vehicles first requires creating more efficient Volvo parts. In order to ensure that the former happens, the Swedish automaker has chosen to implement the latter through the rejection of large six- and eight-cylinder engines. Instead, Volvo will begin to use much smaller options.

Beginning in 2013, a new supply of three- and four-cylinder engines will find homes in Volvo models. Specifically which model? At this point we can't say for sure. However, the head of Volvo Research and Development, Peter Mertens, confirmed that the first to receive a new powertrain will be a pre-existing model.

The automaker's push towards more efficient engines is part of an initiative called "Volvo Environmental Architecture" (VEA). Starting out, the VEA power lineup will include the following four engines:

-          1.5 liter, three-cylinder gasoline
-          1.5 liter, three-cylinder diesel
-          2.0 liter, four-cylinder gasoline
-          2.0 liter, four-cylinder diesel

Merten describes what he feels this switch in drivetrain will accomplish. "We will develop four-cylinder engines with higher performance than today's six-cylinder units and lower fuel consumption than the current four-cylinder generation,"¹ he says. Specifically, the new engines are 90-kilograms lighter and gain a 35-percent increase in fuel economy. With these improvements in the works, Volvo hopes to see a double in annual vehicle sales by 2020 and intends to inject a total of $11 billion across several markets to increase demand over the next five years.

If you have any further questions regarding the automaker's plan, feel free to contact Jaffarian Volvo online or simply chat with us in person at 600 River Street Haverhill, MA 01832. And be sure to stay tuned - we promise to deliver all the latest Volvo news.