V-8 Extends Beyond XC90?

Volvo Cars will launch its foray into the world of V-8 engines with its popular XC90 cross/utility vehicle next year and likely won't end there.

The XC90's 4.4L V-8, supplied by Yamaha Motor Co. Ltd., has potential for Volvo passenger cars, Volvo Cars of North America CEO Victor Doolan tells Ward's.

“It's a great engine — and it can obviously find a place in our cars, in the proper range,” he says in response to whether the XC90 V-8 program can be considered a test for further applications.

The Swedish auto maker expects 75% of the V-8s to be sold in North America, Doolan says. That suggests a potential for nearly 19,000 units annually to be sold here, based on Volvo's current plan to purchase as many as 25,000 V-8 mills from Yamaha annually. Volvo North America is scheduled to get 15,000 V-8s in 2005.

While it has been announced that parent Ford Motor Co. can dip into the Yamaha engine stock for other vehicles under its brand umbrella, it has been unclear whether Volvo would matriculate the engine to its car line, namely the S80 sedan and its XC70 counterpart, both of which share the XC90's chassis design. The smaller S60 sedan also shares the P2 platform.

When Ward's first learned Volvo was in line for a V-8, sources indicated passenger cars likely would get the engine in addition to the XC90.

Doolan's vote of confidence is a clear indication Volvo will not sit on its hands when it comes to expanding its product range in North America and is not afraid to rely on V-8 engines for incremental growth.