Volvo debuts baby BMW beater

Turbo-diesel engines are about to become as synonymous with Volvo as safety judging by the Swedish company’s latest product roll-out plans revealed at the Australian international motor show.

Volvo Car Australia announced that it would be adding D5 2.4-litre turbo-diesel models to its S40 and V50 prestige small car range from next March.

It also unveiled the S80 large saloon and C30 small hatch for the first time here and both these models will also include the D5 in their model lineup.

This dramatic expansion comes just one month after Volvo launched its first turbo-diesel model in Australia, the XC90 D5 light duty SUV wagon.

The D5 is an inline five-cylinder engine that produces 136kW, 350Nm and is Euro IV emissions compliant.

“The swing to diesel has been so big,” said Volvo Cars Australia general manager Alan Desselss. “There has been so much fuss about diesel, I think it was a natural thing for us to do.”

Pricing of the new S40/V50 variants are expected to start close to $45,000 for the sedan and $48,000 for the wagon. Equipment will be equivalent to the petrol-engined LE models.

VCA predicts D5 will take up about 25 per cent of total volume for the two bodystyles.

The second generation S80 should go on-sale before Christmas, available as either the $71,950 D5 or all-wheel drive 4.4-litre V8 priced at $95,950.

The C30, a three-door four-seat hatchback that Volvo is hyping strongly for its urban attributes, will be offered as a D5 and two petrol models, the entry-level 2.4 and the performance oriented 162kW turbocharged T5. 

No pricing is confirmed for the C30, which will be launched in February or March. But considering the broad swathe of competitors that Volvo envisions for the car – everything from the VW Golf to BMW 1 Series – then you can expect pricing to start above $30,000 and finish around $50,000.

VCA also officially launched the two-model C70 hardtop convertible range for sale in Sydney. The 2.4-litre LE retails for $69,950, while the T5 turbo is $79,950. No sign of a turbo-diesel model though – at least not yet.

Volvo is growing against the industry’s downward trend this year, with 4000 sales the aim. That is only the start point however, with 5000 the target for 2007.