The unveiling of a new four-banger engine wouldn’t normally garner much attention, but Volvo's High Performance Drive-E Powertrain Concept is an exception. The 2.0 liter, gas-powered unit features "triple boost" technology capable of generating no less than 450 hp.
Unlike regular turbocharged engines which rely on engine exhaust to spin the turbos, thus forcefeeding additional air into the engine, Volvo has come up with a clever bit of pre-spooling engineering. Ahead of the parallel twin turbochargers are two compressor units that “wind up” the impeller units prior to power coming online. This pre-spooling thus reduces, or almost eliminates, the dreaded turbo-lag disease that plagues most old-school turbo engines.
The 4-cylinder gas engine concept is capable of developing power outputs on par with many high output V8s and race tweaked track engines. A direct injection system with dual fuel pumps working at 250 bar pressure helps meet added fuel requirements and also assists in developing extra power to the hungry 2.0 liter.
"When we launched the Drive-E powertrain family, our aim was to deliver the most advanced 4-cylinder engines in the industry based on emissions and fuel consumption relative to performance and drivability," says Dr. Peter Mertens, Senior Vice President for Research and Development at Volvo Car Group. "We knew that 320 horsepower in our petrol configuration was just a starting point. The 450 horsepower High Performance Drive-E Powertrain Concept, demonstrates this ambition and the versatility of the Drive-E Powertrains."
Although Volvo is taking much of the credit for the highpowered powerplant, it’s important to note that its suppliers such as AVL, Denso and even Volvo’s Polestar Racing team helped bring performance and racing technologies into the process.
"This was a very exciting project as we pioneered a combination of technologies in the same application, and the result is a quite unique engine with its high power yet quick response," says Mattias Evensson, Race Engine Director at Volvo Polestar Racing. "Above all, its compact size improves weight distribution between the front and rear axle and lowers the center of gravity - two factors that have a significant effect on the handling, whether it is a race car or a street car."
Volvo's development of the concept engine is part of an ongoing process that aims to reduce emissions without compromising performance."Down-sizing must offer customers attractive and usable power for broad scale emissions reduction to work," Dr. Mertens points out. "Compact powertrains free up space and weight in the structure of the car, which can be used for electrification and even further emissions reduction, and that is our ultimate ambition."
Source: Volvo Cars
While 450HP is great for that engine, your comparison to "high output V8s and race tweaked track engines" is a bit of a stretch. That is a highly tuned and stressed 4 cylinder engine, whereas common V8s that will last 100's of thousands of miles (e.g. Camaros, Mustangs) make similar power without high performance tuning. Tuned V8s (e.g. Hennessey, Saleen) will make 1000+HP in very streetable cars. So, no, 450HP doesn't compare to modern high output V8s.
I think squeezing as much power as possible out of as little displacement as possible is outstanding, not only for enthusiasts, but the environment.
Audi's RS7 puts out darn near 600hp and gets upwards of 28mpg highway. And that's a V8! 20 years ago that kind of power would get single digit MPG. This is outstanding progress. Fun goes up parallel to environmental responsibility. What's not to love?
450hp for a fuel efficient 4 cylinder? What's not to love? Fun and efficiency. Win-win.
Your sentiment would actually impede progress.
Over the last year, some 862 deaths have occurred on English country roads and 7,537 people have been severely injured, the DoT said.
Despite these statistics, drivers still remain oblivious to the danger; over a quarter (28%) of drivers admit to having had a near miss on a country road.
Some 6% admitted to having a collision, while 40% have been surprised by an unexpected hazard, such as an animal.
A third (34 %) said they took a bend too fast."
I suspect that if we could ask them, more than 34% of those killed would also admit to taking a bend too fast. The problem is that a percentage of those killed were not going too fast, they just happened to get in the way of someone who was.
Whilst I don't like autonomous cars, one spin off from their development will be that speed and acceleration rate will be limited to what is safe for the road and its condition. Perhaps then, the likes of Volvo, erstwhile a 'safety -first' car maker might try and reclaim that image. Leave the "BRRRM! BRRRM!" stuff to those who cannot see the wood for the trees. As oil supply struggles to meet demand, their products will go the way of the dinosaurs. Even then, it is by no means certain that we will have sufficient oil to produce the crops and transport them as supply struggles to meet the demands of a rising population.
Perhaps Volvo might like to see what they can do with a 500 cc engine. It should still deliver over 100 hp. With acceleration being limited, turbo lag won't be a problem so it could even be a simpler unit.
That said....I tend to agree with JweenyPwee.....
I would like to use this Engine on a water pump system I am designing for a village in rural South Africa....(incidentally gas (biogas in particular) is readily available and supa cheap.....Nice idea.....for this reservoir i have in mind!!!!!