Volvo Produces 450 hp Four-Cylinder Engine

Volvo Cars has produced a 2.0L four-cylinder gasoline engine that generates 450 hp using "triple boost" technology and the automaker's Drive-E powertrain.

"When we launched the Drive-E powertrain family, our aim was to deliver the most advanced four-cylinder engines in the industry based on emissions and fuel consumption relative to performance and drivability," said Peter Mertens, Volvo's senior vice president for research and development. "We knew that 320 hp in our petrol configuration was just a starting point."

The 450 hp concept engine is based on a set of technologies not usually found in a four cylinder engine. The engine utilizes two parallel turbochargers, which are fed by an electrically powered turbo-compressor. The compressed air from this unit, rather than being fed to the cylinders, is instead used to spool up the two parallel turbochargers. Fuel is fed by a dual fuel pump working at 250-bar pressure. With this kind of power density, this triple boost installation and unique fuel system, enables a very dynamic drivability without any turbo lag, compared to a mono-turbo, according to Volvo.