Volvo to introduce diesel hybrids and plug-ins in the U.S. by 2012

According to Magnus Jonsson, Volvo’s senior vice president of r&d, Volvo will introduce a diesel hybrid in Europe and the U.S. by 2012. Jonsson said that diesel hybrid systems will first appear in large sedans, crossovers and SUVs.

Volvo’s diesel hybrid system will consist of a 5-cylinder turbodiesel engine driving the front wheels while the rear wheels will get a separate electric motor. The hybrids will be able to operate on battery power alone when traveling at low speeds that are yet to be confirmed – we’re guessing 25 mph.

Jonsson also said that a plug-in hybrid variant will follow the launch of the diesel hybrids. Volvo’s senior vice president of brand, business and product strategy also said that Volvo is considering stopping the use of V8 engines in favor of turbocharged 6-cylinder engines.

“I don’t think there is a bright future for the V-8, especially for Volvo,” he said. “It’s the best engine we have. But if the environment is changing, you can be stubborn, or you can look for alternatives.”

Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)