Volvo plugs into high technology

The company may be on a high-technology roll with its new plug-in diesel hybrid and its shift to a maximum four-cylinder philosophy-with three-cylinder units likely, according to Peter Mertens, Senior Vice President of Research & Development.

Image is vital for any and every car company, but in keeping with its name, Volvo (Latin for “I roll”) has experienced something of a roller coaster ride, from being widely regarded as essentially technologically conservative to this year claiming an engineering world “first” with its production V60 plug-in diesel hybrid, its most technologically advanced model ever.

And there is far more technology to come as the company, now part of the Chinese Zhejiang Geely Holding Group since August 2010, pursues its twin aims of customer focus while meeting environmental challenges, particularly low emissions.