This really is impressive. Volvo have now got into Ward's top 10 engines (in different years) with their 6-cylinder T6, their Drive-E T5, and now the Drive-E T6.

Tony

Edit : the link for the Volvo Press Release is incorrect (its for the IIHS crash tests)
Correct link : https://www.media.volvocars.com/us/...pressreleases/171813/volvo-cars-wins-wards-10-best-engines-award-for-t6-drive-e

 

IMO the two core strengths of Volvo is safety and engine-making. Not a wide range of engines, but the engines they make are first rate. (There are a couple of other core strengths that are not as important.)

 

I am not convinced on the longevity of a 2.0L Turbo making 300+ hp pushing around 5000lbs. Seems to me that to make the kind of power this motor makes it needs to run on boost (supercharger or turbo) for a large percentage of the duty cycle than a 3.0 T6 for example. You only get a certain level of torque from a motor of a fixed displacement. Small displacement motors can make power from lots of revs or forced induction. Lots of revs mean no power down low and that is fine for sports cars where you want revs. In big heavy cars that is not really very desirable. Now the supercharge can without a doubt solve that, but that the question is what hot compressed air does for reliability long term. Forced induction motors die not from power, but from detonation (which can be controlled with modern fuel systems) and from heat. Intercoolers reduce heat, but forced induction still run hotter than naturally aspirated motors. These motors might work out fine, but then again I am not one to want to be the first to pull 100k from one of these after pushing around a 5000lbs car.

 

I think you are wrong; you will need to spend more time with any Volvo equipped w/ the Drive-E engines and you will change your mind very quickly. The XC90 T6 actually revs less than its predecessor whether equipped w/ the 3.2 inline-6 or 2.5T 5-cyl turbo engine. It is a very advanced powerplant, paired w/ an 8-speed transmission that helps propel it more powerfully and at lower RPM points than first generation XC90s did.

Volvo was not FORCED into making a hasty or bad or irrational decision by designing and going for the 2.0L engines. It was a conscious and well thought out decision and it is proving to be the right move.

 

The first Volvo engine, made in 1927, was also a 2.0L 4-cyl. It made 28 HP. Technology marches on. I'm sure people in that day would doubt that a 2.0L 4-cyl making, say, 80 HP would run the risk of exploding, or something.