Volvo C30 DRIVe Start/Stop

Economy drive with Supergroon Volvo DRIVe

Volvo C30 Drive start/stop
Engine: 1.6 Litre Diesel
Power: 109PS
0-62: 10.7 secs
Top Speed: 118mph
Combined Mpg: 72.4mpg
OTR Price: £16,245

Drive the latest supergreen Volvo and you can travel an amazing 828 miles on a single tank of fuel.

The fuel miserly Swedes are ekeing every drop out of a gallon with its new range of clean cars called DRIVe (pronounced DRIVE-ee)

Giving drivers up to 72.4mpg and ultra low CO2 levels, its a major step forward towards the ultimate aim of zero emissions.

Product manager Terissa Winfield said: “The great news for customers is they no longer have to compromise. With DRIVe they get lower CO2 and improved fuel consumption combined with the performance, quality and safety they have come to expect from Volvo.”

Volvo engineers are working with Swedish energy provider Vattenfall to produce battery powered zero emission plug in hybrids by 2012.

But right now, the new DRIVe technology is available on five models accross the range – C30 sports coupe, S40 sports saloon, V50 sportswagon, XC60 and XC70, and will soon be in S80 and V70 (production starts at the end of August).

Volvo customers now have much more choice – as both large and small cars offer economical and enviromentally friendly derivatives. The DRIVe models have a conventional diesel engine and optimised manual gearbox, with serious modifications to reduce CO2 and slash fuel consumption.

Air resistance is cut using wind deflectors in front of the wheels, the front grille is covered to help air flow and the chassis lowered.

They have also added start-stop technology, already used by some other car makers, which switches off the engine when the car is at a standstill.

I’ve just been driving the smallest and most economical model, the C30 DRIVe, with this technology. When you stop in traffic, say at the lights or a zebra crossing, the engine turns itself off when you release the clutch. As you press the clutch to move away it switches itself on again instantly.

Volvo say this can save up to eight per cent of fuel. And regenerative charging boosts the battery when you are breaking, using the car’s kinetic energy. This saves two to three per cent of diesel. An additional battery behind the front bumper monitors comfort levels in the car. So it will restart the air conditioning if it gets too hot or cold in the car.

You can buy the new DRIVe models with or without start-stop which costs an extra £250. Even without it the DRIVe C30 has an excellent 119gms of CO2 and 62.8mpg, which means £35 a year tax band C.

With start-stop you get a fantastic 72.4mpg and exceptionally low CO2 104g/km. Performance is still very good with 0-60mph in 10.7 seconds and 118mph top speed. A C30 DRIVe in S trim costs £15,995 with start/stop the price is £16,245.

DRIVe is also available on larger Volvos, appealing to more company car drivers. Many Government agencies have a CO2 maximum of 130g/km of CO2, which means their employees have had to go to small cars. But they can now look at larger DRIVe Volvos.

The XC60 and XC70 give 47.1mpg and benefit in kind of 22 per cent, while V70 and S8- DRIVe will have 129g/km CO2 and 57.6mpg.

Volvo expect more than 65 per cent of their small car buyers will opt for DRIVe and DRIVe will account for 35 per cent of total sales.