Volvo secret developments?

Post by **Red-Arrow** » 24 Jan 2011, 07:08

Hi guys, off the wall question but did Volvo ever make some kind of secret engine modification that never hit the market for what ever reason?

For example Saab built a variable engine head that used hydraulics to move the head up or down to alter the engines compression, I think they had oil seal problems but it could have worked given enough investment. The up shot would have been a great torque curve and lower fuel consumption.

Post by **jimmy57** » 24 Jan 2011, 07:50

The V6 that Volvo used 76-86 was developed with Peugeot and Renault as a V8 and was supposedly a SWEET V8 but the Arab oil embargo hit and they lopped off 2 cylinder to drop the displacement and to make it more palatable in a world of oil starvation.
The 87-90 V6 was a close relative to the other V6 but it had a lot of changes to address concerns and to move it a bit further from the V8 roots.
There was a car displayed in the Volvo Museum in Arendal south of Torslanda with the engine it. It was a 240 body 2 door hatchback. <gag>

Post by **Red-Arrow** » 24 Jan 2011, 18:56

I remember the oil embargo well. I'm trying to find out if Volvo have some kind of Ace card up their sleeves because fuel prices are getting very high here in LA. I can pay $3.99 in West Hollywood and yet when I was in Houston Texas fuel was only $2.79.
I know BMW and Audio are making the idle shut down engines to save fuel at traffic lights and so on. I think trucks in Europe will have this as a law pretty soon.

Post by **jimmy57** » 24 Jan 2011, 19:16

Electric hybrids and plug-in electrics are(were)being shown at Detroit Auto Show. Volvo was the first to show a crash tested car and the battery pack was not distorted and did not leak.
Diesel large trucks in US have idle time limits and have for 3 years but it was a phase in and I think it became 100% for class 7 and 8 trucks as of 1-1-2010

Post by **Red-Arrow** » 25 Jan 2011, 02:45

I take manufacturers crash test results and methods with a pinch of salt. I helped my brother in law for a few months as an accident crash recovery driver. When a family car hits another family car at 60mph (combined 120mph) there is nothing left of the front cabin cell. Now if they had front air bags that shoot out the bumper it could help

RedVolvo36 · Post by **RedVolvo36** » 25 Jan 2011, 13:09

Red-Arrow wrote:I take manufacturers crash test results and methods with a pinch of salt. I helped my brother in law for a few months as an accident crash recovery driver. When a family car hits another family car at 60mph (combined 120mph) there is nothing left of the front cabin cell. Now if they had front air bags that shoot out the bumper it could help

I can't remember the movie, I think it was something with Mr. Stallone, some future cop movie where the car filled with foam upon impact. Now THAT would be awesome, but let's make it memory foam and make it smell like roses

As for the secret engine development, let's just hope that is under wraps so we can have our minds blown and drop another sixty, seventy grand!

Post by **matthew1** » 27 Jan 2011, 10:08

Not a secret, but how about bringing the D5 engine to the States? We're ready now, Volvo! We like economy, we get it now.

D5 manual V70. It would probably be the first new car I would ever really consider buying.

Post by **jblackburn** » 27 Jan 2011, 10:14

^^^This. Please? Then make it get the same gas mileage as a TDI. I'd buy one!

Gas has gone over $3.15 here again. It cost me $45 to fill up my car the other day, which lasts me about a week of driving. Sigh.

Post by **jimmy57** » 27 Jan 2011, 14:18

would you buy a D5 that gets 25 city and 36 hwy and it requires you refill DEF tank with 5 gallons $4/gallon DEF every 6000 miles? Probably will need a $1200 DPF cleaning or exchange at 120K miles. Has fuel filter that must be changed every 20K at $120.