Volvo's New D5 Diesel Motor

Direct from Volvo, we bring you the following. No word yet on whether or not the Cross Country will get the diesel as an option, but it's worth a mention. =)

September 10, 2001: New leading diesel technology from Volvo Car Corporation Volvo D5 – Power and pleasure

Volvo Cars first in-house produced diesel engine
World-leading qualities in performance and fuel economy
From 6.3 litres/ 100 km (Volvo S60)
Second generation common rail technology
Variable Nozzle Turbine
Lightweight – 185 kilos

Volvo Car Corporation is making considerable strides in the premium segment for diesel engines. The new D5, the first passenger-car diesel engine designed and made in-house by Volvo Cars, employs spearhead technology to achieve world-class standards of performance and fuel consumption.

The D5 turns a new leaf in Volvo Cars engine history. This advanced new common rail unit is the company’s first in-house produced diesel engine – and evidence of just how important it is for Volvo Cars to be able to offer a modern diesel engine in the premium segment. The new engine made its debut this summer in the S60 sports sedan, the prestigious S80 and the V70 – perhaps the best estate car in the world.
“The starting-point was that the new Volvo diesel should be both sporty and cultivated and offer absolute world-leading qualities in a number of key areas: performance, fuel economy, noise level, weight and emissions,” says Lars-Gustaf Hauptmann, project manager of the D5 project. “It is these particular criteria that customers in the premium segment prioritise when they specify a diesel engine.”

Aluminium for low weight
One obvious parameter in the design brief was to utilise one of the most compact and strongest engine blocks on the market: Volvo’s own 5-cylinder aluminium block that was originally launched in the Volvo 850 in 1991 and which has since thus far seen a production run in excess of 2 million units. This block was designed and dimensioned from the very outset to be able to accommodate diesel power.
Since the cylinder head too is made of aluminium, the Volvo D5 weighs just 185 kg – a major benefit since low weight plays a major role in ensuring high performance and low fuel consumption.
Since the Volvo D5 is a transverse in-line engine that is relatively narrow, it contributes considerably to crash safety. The compact engine leaves maximum possible space for the all-important crumple zone.

Generous torque and low consumption
The new Volvo D5 produces higher torque than the most powerful 5-cylinder petrol engine in the Volvo Cars range. What is more, this high torque is available at even lower revs. The D5 pumps out no less than 340 Nm at just 1750 rpm, as compared to the 330 Nm at 2400 rpm produced by the 250 hp T5 petrol engine. This means there is plenty of power on tap irrespective of engine speed and driving style – driving enjoyment was top of the list of priorities in the development of the new Volvo D5. “We want the driver to feel that the engine has more horsepower than it actually has,” explains Lars-Gustaf Hauptmann.
The Volvo D5 produces 163 hp (120 kW) at 4000 rpm, which in a Volvo S60 gives acceleration from 0-100 kph in 9.5 seconds (9.8 seconds for the Volvo S80 and V70). Top speed in all three cars is 210 kph.
However, there are other equally interesting figures to take into account:

- acceleration from 80 to 120 kph in top gear: less than 10 seconds
- kW per litre of engine displacement: 50 (67.9 hp per litre) – one of the highest figures on the market
The power is transmitted via Volvo’s manual 5-speed M56L gearbox, a smooth and robust unit already doing sterling service in other Volvo models. An automatic transmission will be available towards the end of the year.

Low fuel consumption is one of the strongest customer motives for buying a car with a diesel engine. With its consumption of only 6.3 - 6.5 litres/100 km (depending on specification), the new D5 as installed in the Volvo S60 takes the lead in the premium segment. The Volvo S80 records 6.5 litres/100 km and the V70 6.5 – 6.7 litres/100 km (depending on specification).

VNT turbo and Common Rail
The major source behind this engine’s enormous reserves of torque, 340 Nm, is the turbocharger, which is of VNT or Variable Nozzle Turbine type. With this system, the turbine on the intake side has movable guide vanes that change position to provide optimum flow conditions and a high turbine efficiency rating, throughout the engine speed range. This permits high boost pressure from low engine speeds, and thus a flatter torque curve and higher power output. The movable guide vanes are controlled by the engine management system, adjusting gas flow to the turbine to ensure optimum efficiency. The result is that the engine responds instantly to the throttle, providing excellent driveability. The turbocharger is cooled with the engine oil.
Common-rail technology plays a vital role in modern diesel engines. The common-rail system adopted in the new Volvo D5 is a second-generation development, featuring a higher pressure and load-responsive volume and pressure control. This makes it one of the most modern and advanced systems in the automobile industry today.
The amount of fuel and the injection timing are controlled electronically by fast-acting solenoid valves. Fuel is injected directly into the cylinders under exceptionally high pressure, up to 1600 bar. The result is extremely finely atomised fuel, ensuring that combustion is as efficient as possible, while at the same time minimising emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulates. In order to further reduce exhaust emissions, the Volvo D5 is equipped with the very latest advances in EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) technology. With this system, some of the exhaust gases are returned to the combustion system, further reducing emissions of nitrogen oxides.
The Volvo D5 easily exceeds the new Euro 3 standards, halving exhaust gas emissions compared with Volvo’s previous passenger-car diesel engines. With the introduction of the new D5, Volvo Cars is turning to an entirely new customer category in several key European markets, where diesel power accounts for 44 per cent of sales in the premium segment. This is a figure that is growing fast. Belgium has the highest proportion of diesel engines in the premium segment, at 87 per cent. Austria is next with 84 per cent, followed by France at 82 and Italy at 70 per cent.

In Volvo Cars’ European sales of large cars, that is to say the Volvo S80, Volvo V70 and Volvo S60, the proportion of diesel cars is expected to increase from 20 to 30 percent with the introduction of the new diesel engines.
“I am convinced that the D5 will enjoy a really positive welcome on the market. It combines the sort of dynamic driving characteristics, comfort and economy that will place it well and truly in the lead,” says Hans-Olov Olsson, President & CEO of Volvo Car Corporation. The sales target for the first 12 months of production is 55000 Volvo S60, S80 and V70 cars with the new diesel engine. “We’re confident that our new diesel engines will give us a major upswing in European sales,” adds Hans-Olov Olsson.

The top 3 markets will be Germany, Italy and the UK.
A 130 hp version of the new Volvo turbodiesel will be introduced early next year.

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