The international boat press is praising Volvo Penta’s new engines to the skies.
The entire new range has been exhibited at the large boat fairs in London and Düsseldorf and is now displayed at the Boat Show in Gothenburg.
Expectations were high when Volvo Penta presented the results of its recent years’ intensive product development in the summer of 2003. Volvo Penta more than lived up to the expectations.
In front of astounded representatives from the international boat press, a succession of outstanding new engines were unveiled, each of which in its own way will set an entirely new standard for the leisure boat industry in years to come.
The entire new range is now displayed at the Gothenburg Boat Show, held from January 31 to February 8, 2004
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Ultra-modern technology
The flagship among the new products is Volvo Penta’s new diesel engine designed at the Vara plant. New product launches from this completely new generation of electronic diesel engines are the four-cylinder D4-210 and the six-cylinder D6-310.
With the D4 and D6, Volvo Penta has used ultra-modern technology to create a combination of performance, environmental properties and noise levels never before possible for marine diesel engines. To do the new engines justice, Volvo Penta has also developed entirely new sterndrives and propellers. And the boat press is cheering.
A paradigm shift
The well-reputed British boat magazine Motor Boat & Yachting describes Volvo Penta’s new range of engines as “stunning” and writes that the industry is now on the verge of a “paradigm shift.”
“This is no piecemeal improvement; it’s a thorough revamp that will have far-reaching consequences for our sort of boating,” states Motor Boat & Yachting.
The tone elsewhere is similar: “Volvo Penta has struck fear into its competitors,” states the German magazine Boote. In Sweden, the Vi Båtägare magazine writes: “Penta is on its way to erasing the boundaries between diesel and gasoline.”
The new D4 and D6 alone are perhaps enough to talk about a paradigm shift, but Volvo Penta has more aces up its sleeve.
Marine version of the car engine
When Volvo Cars introduced its first internally developed diesel engine in 2001, it was praised for the engine’s fantastic properties. After a record-fast development process, Volvo Penta is now launching a marine version of the same engine.
The D3, as designated by Volvo Penta, can be used as a single-engine installation in open bow-pulpit boats, smaller daycruisers and walkaround boats in the 20- to 24-foot range, and as a twin-engine installation in 25- to 28-foot boats.
The D3’s excellent performance, compact size and extremely low noise levels make it an interesting alternative also for outboard engines. According to Volvo’s estimates, the fuel cost for the D3 is very competitive compared to similar outboard engines.
Electronic platform
The new D3, D4 and D6 are all controlled by Volvo Penta’s new electronic platform EVC (Electronic Vessel Control), an integral system that enables a boat’s engine, control systems and instruments to communicate and exchange information. The system is based on the latest CAN-bus technology for rapid and reliable data transfer, which is widely used in the automotive industry today.
EVC will make boating simpler and safer for boat builders and boat owners.
Engines for sailboats
Volvo Penta’s new product range contains novelties even for sailing enthusiasts. The D2-75 diesel engine is a compact four-cylinder marine diesel engine especially designed for sailing yachts. The engine also comes with a new version of Volvo Penta’s special sailing yacht S-drive and a new four-blade folding propeller.
“Our new products entail a giant step forward – not just for ourselves but also for the entire boat industry. Volvo Penta’s engineering throughout the years has played a significant role in developing the boat industry and we are now making an important contribution to maintain this tradition,” says Staffan Jufors, President of Volvo Penta.
January 30, 2004