The general rule among new car buyers has always been that if you want ultimate fuel efficiency, you need to get a vehicle equipped with a manual transmission. However, Volvo, in adopting their "DRIVe Towards Zero" philosophy started thinking this is one rule that's widely accepted for no real good reason. As such they set out to break it. Of course, like anything the Swedish automaker undertakes, it didn't take long for them to succeed.

As Mr. Peter Mertens, Sr. Vice President, Research & Development, explains, "For the first time ever, we have managed to bring fuel consumption in variants with automatic gearbox down to the same level as in the manual variations..."¹ And, impressive feat, indeed!

How did Volvo do it? Well, first off all, by not accepting unproven truths. Second, they optimized their car technology by reducing friction between gearbox components, added a fuel-economy-enhancing start-stop system, and revamped electrical systems to be as energy efficient as possible. And, what is at the end of this deliberate path, but four Volvo models that offer the innovative possibility of combining four-cylinder, 1.6-liter diesel engines with a six-speed Powershift gearbox: the S60, V60, V70 and S80.

Volvo's position as a leader in reducing carbon emissions in the industry, however, is not solely due the significant strides they're taking in their diesel architecture. They're substantially reducing CO₂ emissions in their petrol variants as well. Mertens shares that the numbers for a Volvo S60 fitted with a direct-injected T3 engine mated to the auto Powershift transmission are 135 g/kg. "Keeping the...emissions below 140 grams is essential since this is a level used by many fleet customers," he later professes. "We have managed to do this in the T3 version through a number of small, significant improvements. We have also optimized the gearbox gearing for maximum fuel efficiency without losing engine characteristics."²

What will Volvo think of next? Stay tuned in to the Weston Volvo blog and find out. Given Volvo has a dedicated one-third of their R&D budget to CO₂ reduction, we're betting it will be good. And, if you're interested in test-driving one of our eco-conscious, new Volvo models in the meantime, remember you can always find us at 3650 Weston Road in Davie, FL 33331.

Source: ^1,2