Volvo is now offering a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission with the 115-horsepower 1.6-liter turbodiesel engine that comprises its fuel-thrifty DRIVe lineup. Unlike the automaker’s previous automatic transmission offerings, the dual-clutch unit achieves exactly the same fuel economy as its manually-shifted counterpart.
Volvo offers the small-displacement diesel in its S60, V60, V70 and S80 models in Europe, the latter three of which achieve about 62 mpg on the European combined cycle with either the new dual-clutch transmission or the still-standard six-speed manual. The S60 DRIVe nets about 66 mpg.
Aiding efficiency is an auto start/stop system, which has been programmed to turn off the diesel engine at speeds lower than 3 mph. In addition, the automaker says that it has reworked its electrical system to reduce its power draw.
The dual-clutch unit, which is marketed under the PowerShift moniker, isn’t new for Volvo; the automaker first began using the Ford/Getrag-built unit in 2008 in its S40, V50 and C30 models.
Volvo’s DRIVe lineup is not offered in North America.
