Volvo pinning hopes on small cars, diesels
click above image for high-res gallery of the Volvo C30 Efficiency
In what sounds like an extremely unsurprising move, Volvo is planning on introducing more small cars and more diesel engines. Certainly, timing could not be better as small cars are handily outselling their larger, less fuel-efficient older brothers. Diesel engines are beginning to make a comeback of sorts in the U.S. market as Volkswagen, long the only automaker still holding the inexpensive diesel flag in the states, has reintroduced its TDI engine and such automakers as BMW and Porsche are planning on offering oil burners to their customers shortly. We would absolutely be ecstatic to see a vehicle like the C30 Efficiency concept, which was shown off at the last Motor Show in Frankfurt, introduced to the U.S. market. That concept car, with its 1.6 liter diesel engine, posted extremely good fuel economy numbers of over fifty miles per gallon. Sounds like just what the doctor ordered, wouldn't you agree?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Zim Wolfe 4:39PM (7/03/2008)
When all the automakers jump on the small car diesel band wagon that cant be good for the consumer. This is a reactionary response.
If you look at the sytling the front end is a joke, and who would want to drive a big clunker with a small diesel engine?
Not me.
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fadetoblack51 5:59PM (7/03/2008)
I'm interested in one. I like the styling/quality of volvo's, and would like a smaller one with an efficient diesel. One of the reasons I don't usually like small cars is because of their low torque, diesels don't have this problem
Nick 7:10PM (7/03/2008)
50mpg for a very small car actually isn't THAT extremely low. 50mpg equals 4.7L/100km, and there's a lot of larger cars in Europe that achieve numbers in that area (round 5L/100km).
Still, it's a great thing ! I actually personally know the designers of this car, it was supposed to be a car designed by women for women.
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Joce03 7:19PM (7/05/2008)
Just to let you know, US mpg and UK mpg aren't the same. 50 mpg US is actually 60 mpg UK.
Rich 7:08PM (7/03/2008)
They should have had they higher MPG vehicles here a couple years ago. By the time they get here in the USofA it will be too little and too late and surely too high priced.
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NoMoreSmoke 7:24PM (7/03/2008)
Hey Jeremy, How about a little mention of the Recharge Concept C30 that was shown at the Detroit Auto Show this year. I even have a picture of it with an orange power cord coming out of the front bumper. This was a very exciting serial hybrid concept that would use 4 hub motors giving this car the potential for incredible performance and computer-controlled 4-wheel drive. If they are serious about bringing this car out sometime after 2010 I might just have to hold off on the purchase of a Chevy Volt.
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ug 8:39PM (7/03/2008)
The reason they didn't metion the Recharge is because PML Flightlink has snookered Volvo into a 10+ year long R&D wild goose chase to perfect wheel hub motors. So that project, at least how it was originally planned, will NEVER see the light of day.
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