State-of-the-Art V8 for Volvo XC90

An entirely new powertrain featuring a V8 engine, six-speed automatic transmission and the latest-generation AWD system will make its debut at Paris motor show on 23 September. This leading-edge V8 engine marks a new turning-point in Volvo Cars’ history. It is the first V8 the company has produced since it was founded in 1927, and the Volvo XC90 is the first model to be powered by the new engine.

One requirement for the new V8 engine was that it had to be installed transversely in the engine compartment, just like all other Volvo engines.

“A transverse engine is helpful in maintaining the frontal crumple zones in the XC90 and thus not compromise on protective safety,” says Volvo’s Hans Wikman. For this reason, extremely compact external dimensions were essential for the new engine. This also explains the choice of just 60 degrees between the two banks of cylinders – as opposed to the more conventional 90 degrees.

The imbalance that is a natural consequence of a 60-degree ‘V’ configuration between the banks of cylinders is prevented by a counter-rotating balancer shaft.

To maintain overall compactness, all the ancillary units such as the alternator are fitted directly onto the engine itself without any space-stealing brackets. The starter motor is fitted above the transmission for the same reason.

What is more, the exhaust camshafts are driven by secondary chains running off the inlet camshafts, saving additional space.

The left-hand cylinder bank is offset half a cylinder ahead of the right bank, contradicting normal practice in the automotive world – so the engine can slot neatly into the structural beam network of the XC90 and thus enhance collision safety.

“We’ve tailored this V8 specifically for the XC90,” confirms Wikman. The result is a V8 that is just 754mm long and 635mm wide – the most compact V8 on the market compared to engines of equivalent capacity.

As a result of these compact dimensions and the fact that both the block and cylinder head are cast in aluminium, Volvo’s new V8 weighs just 190 kilograms.

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