New Car Design : Volvo Beefs Up Flexifuel Lineup

Volvo is expanding its biofuel offerings by including them in the larger S80 and V70 models, the company said on Wednesday. Volvo expects 10,000 global sales of its biofuel lineup this year, but the new E85 models are for Europe only at this point.

There are "no immediate plans" to offer them in the U.S., said company spokesman Dan Johnston, "meaning [in the] next few years." Currently, Volvo's FlexiFuel E85 bioethanol engine is only available on the smaller C30, S40 and V50.

The V70 and S80 get a 2.0-liter FlexiFuel unit that will arrive in late 2007, followed by a five-cylinder 2.5-liter turbocharged engine in 2008. The 2.0F engine makes 143 horsepower and 136 pound-feet of torque and returns 24.4 mpg in the V70 and 25 mpg in the S80, according to preliminary fuel consumption numbers provided by Volvo. The 2.5-liter five-cylinder turbocharged FlexiFuel will deliver 197 hp. Volvo said other technical specifications for the 2.5F will be announced in the fall.

"It's a move that is being driven by the extended availability of biofuels throughout Europe," said Lex Kerssemakers, Volvo senior vice president of brand, business and product strategy.

The biofuel engines run on 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline and produce 80 percent fewer carbon emissions than conventional gas engines. E85 is made from biomass sources such as corn, wheat or sugar beets.