Volvo XC40 gets new three-cylinder petrol engine

This new powertrain is the first three-cylinder engine in Volvo’s 91-year history.

Volvo has revealed a new variant of its baby XC40 with a brand new three-cylinder Drive-E powertrain.

The all-new 1.5-litre, three-cylinder, direct-injection petrol engine was developed in-house using the same modular design as Volvo’s four-cylinder Drive-E engines. Generating 154bhp, this new motor can make the XC40 sprint from 0-100km/h in a claimed 7.8 seconds. Power transmission duties are handled by a 6-speed manual, while an optional 8-speed automatic will follow next year.

This new engine will be known as the T3, and is also expected to be offered as an option on the next-gen Volvo S60 saloon and V60 wagon. Additionally, a hybridised as well as a pure electric powertrain option for the XC40 is confirmed to be be introduced at a later stage.

Furthermore, the Swedish company claims that this new three-cylinder powertrain has been deliberately designed for integration into Volvo’s twin engine plug-in hybrid cars. In line with Volvo Cars’ strategy to continue improving economies of scale, the engine will roll off the same production lines as the company’s four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines.

The XC40 is the newest addition to Volvo’s SUV lineup which is underpinned by Geely’s new modular Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) platform. This platform will be extended to Geely’s other brands as well, most notably the Chinese company’s newly established Lynk & Co. marque.

Volvo will soon launch the XC40 in India with two engine options - a 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel that makes 187 horses and a 244bhp 2.0-litre petrol. Both these engines will come mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. Unlike the other SUVs in this class, Volvo will offer all-wheel drive as standard with both engine options.