Currently reading: Volvo S90 to get three-cylinder hybrid
Forthcoming 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine will feature in flagship saloon - as part of a cheaper hybrid set-up

The new Volvo S90 is likely to get three-cylinder power after all - as part of a more modest version of the Swedish brand’s hybrid set-up.

Volvo is developing a 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine as part of its joint venture with owner Geely on a new platform for small vehicles, called Compact Modular Architecture (CMA). Initial speculation had ruled out the prospect of this motor ending up in the flagship saloon - even though elements from the S90’s Scalable Platform Architecture (SPA) will be used in the smaller vehicles.

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However, Volvo’s senior vice-president of research and development Peter Mertens has now suggested that the three-cylinder engine could indeed form part of a hybrid powertrain that would sit lower in the range than the S90’s 401bhp TwinEngine model. It would probably be front-wheel drive only, and not feature the ability to charge via a plug socket.

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“That engine [the 1.5] will definitely be used in the 40 models [believed to be S40, V40 and XC40] and 60 models - so it goes across CMA and is also suitable for our larger Scalable Platform Architecture (SPA),” said Mertens. “I could also see how it would form part of a different TwinEngine combination - and that could see use in the S90.”

Mertens also confirmed that Volvo already has prototype S90s running with three-cylinder hybrid power.

The new 1.5-litre motor - part of the same family as Volvo’s latest 2.0 petrol - will replace all 1.6-litre four-cylinder motors in the Volvo line-up. All Volvo versions of the motor will be turbocharged, but some Geely 1.5s are likely to be normally aspirated.

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Citytiger 5 December 2015

I really cant see a 1.5 not

I really cant see a 1.5 not matter how good being very popular, refined or economical enough in a car as big as the XC90, If I was Volvo and wanted to offer a lower powered hybrid, it would be with the current 2.0 litre but with a lower power output, perhaps without the supercharger, perhaps 200bhp from the petrol and 80 coming from the electric motor.