Later this year, Volvo will launch the world’s first injection technology in the new VEA (Volvo Engine Architecture) engine variants. This new injection technology will help in cutting fuel consumption in these new diesel engines as it replaces 8 existing Ford and VCC engine architectures in three platforms.

Volvo i-Art process paves the way for injection technology

The i-ART technology will feature pressure feedback from each fuel injector as opposed to using a traditional single pressure sensor in the common rail. This will make it possible to continuously monitor and adapt fuel injection per combustion in each of the four cylinders.

“Increasing the rail pressure to an exceptionally high 2500 Bar, while adding the i-ART technology, can be described as the second step in the diesel revolution. It is a breakthrough comparable to when we invented the ground-breaking lambda sensor for the catalytic converter in 1976. It’s another world-first for Volvo,” said Derek Crabb, Vice President Powertrain Engineering at Volvo Car Group.

He adds: “Each injector has a small computer on top, which monitors injection pressure. Using this information, the self-adapting i-ART system makes sure that the ideal amount of fuel is injected during each combustion cycle.”

Injection technology improves fuel economy and more

The combination of the higher injection pressure and the i-ART technology will give the customer an engine with improved fuel economy, lower emissions and high performance output.

In addition to the VEA, Volvo will also introduce a new 8-speed automatic gearbox to contribute to a refined drive and excellent fuel economy. The range of diesel and petrol engines will consist of the diesel common rail and petrol direct injection as standard, namely the Volvo Engine Petrol (VEP) and Volvo Engine Diesel (VED).

Several levels of turbo charging open up for the flexibility to cover the whole range from fuel-efficient derivatives through to high power and torque variants. To meet all customer requirements, some engines will also gain added performance through electrification or other spearhead technology.

Engines Variants

The engines will be built at Volvo Car Group’s high-tech engine plant in Skovde, Sweden but South Africans can expect to see the new VEA engines early in 2014. The engines will be available with the following derivatives:

VEP4 (206kW) in Volvo S60, V60 and XC60, all with Automatic transmission.

VEP4 (169kW) in Volvo S60, V60 and XC60, all with Automatic transmission.

VED4 MP 181hp (133kW) in Volvo S60, V60 and XC60 with Manual and Automatic transmission.

Further detailed specification and pricing will be revealed closer to the launch date.