During 1991 Volvo Car Corporation has introduced the new Volvo 850 GLT model featuring front wheel drive with transverse installation of the engine and gearbox.
The powertrain; consists of a new in-line five-cylinder engine in combination with a four speed electronically controlled automatic gearbox or a five speed manual gearbox. The engine features DOHC 20 valves, V-VIS (Volvo Variable Induction System), well tuned exhaust system and microprocessor controlled engine management systems.
The engine was designed and developed as a new member of Volvo's modular engine family. The first member was the in-line six-cylinder engine B6304F [1] introduced in 1990. The modular engines have a large number of identical components and the major components are machined in common transfer lines which makes the manufacturing process highly rational and cost-effective.
By applying simultaneous engineering and advanced CAE technology throughout the development process it has been possible to create a compact and light weight engine which is characterized by impressive performance, low fuel consumption, low exhaust emission levels, low noise and vibration levels, high reliability and long service life.
In this paper we will describe the new in-line five-cylinder engine and its development for the European version of the 1992 Volvo 850 GLT model.