Stockholm  – Volvo is offering a new flexifuel engine for the V70 and S80 models that can be driven either with petrol or E85 bioethanol with the five-cylinder 2.5-litre unit producing 170 kW/231 hp.

Engineers have managed to reduce fuel consumption by between five and six per cent. The Volvo V70 2.5FT Drive fitted with manual six-gear transmission has a consumption of 8.8 litres per 100 kilometres while the S80 is listed at 8.6 litres. The optionally available automatic transmission has a higher consumption at 9.7 and 9.6 litres respectively.

In the E85 bioethanol mode consumption is about 30 per cent higher because of the lower energy level but carbon dioxide emission is down by about 80 per cent, according to the car maker.

The Volvo V70 2.5FT Drive is available at 38,580 euros (52,225 dollars) with the S80 2.5FT Drive sedan selling at 38,260 euros (51,800 dollars). (dpa)