Volvo Cars: Triple turbo boost!

This sounds very much like a fictional engine from our favourite car anime but it’s the real deal! By Jerrica Leong

Volvo is ambitious. Following the successful introduction of Volvo’s Drive-E Powertrain range in 2013, the powertrain team is set to wow everyone in the world with their new concept engine.

This new engine is known by Volvo as 450hp High Performance Drive-E Powertrain Concept. The concept is a triple boost 2-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine with no less than 450bhp, hence the number 450hp at the front of its title.

The 450hp concept engine demonstrates the ambition and versatility of the Drive-E Powertrains to deliver the best 4-cylinder engines in the industry based on emissions and fuel consumption relative to performance and drivability.

The engine utilises two parallel turbochargers, which are fed by an electrically powered turbo-compressor. The compressed air from this unit is used to spool up the two parallel turbochargers rather than being fed to the cylinders. 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.

Inspiration of the concept came from the lack of driving experience due to a slow engine response of engines with one large turbo. Volvo seeks to improve this problem. The company felt that with their heritage to embrace and offer a broad range of turbo technology since 1981, they would be the best candidate to fix the issue.

Volvo is very excited with the development of the concept engine. The concept had attracted attention and involvement of Volvo Cars suppliers AVL, Denso and Volvo Polestar Racing to infuse theories and technologies from racing applications in the development process. With their involvement the result is a unique engine with high power and yet quick response.

The compact size of the engine also improves weight distribution between front and rear axle and lowers the centre of gravity, two factors that have a significant effect on handling be it race car or street car.

Volvo admits that this concept may sound odd but the 450hp concept is an important part of the Drive-E development program. Compact powertrains free up space and weight in the structure of the car, which can be used for electrification and even further emissions reduction, but down-sizing must still offer drivers attractive and usable power for broad scale emissions reduction. This is Volvo’s ultimate ambition.