Volvo is Racing Green

by GLADY REIGN

The Swedish-based subsidiary of Ford, Volvo Car Corporation has finally developed an all-new racing car while continuously working with bioethanol (E85) and the Green Racing in the STCC or the Swedish Touring Car Championship for the next three years.

Derek Crabb, the head of Powertrain and Engine at Volvo Cars and recently appointed to lead Volvo��s Racing department said, "Our decision is based on the positive attention and the good results that the recently concluded STCC season has meant for Volvo's brand. It is now time to take the next step for the coming STCC seasons, and to meet the growing international interest in green racing."

He also added, "The decision to leave this year's racing car, a Volvo S60, was fairly simple. The Volvo C30 with high quality Volvo car parts is a somewhat smaller and more agile car with excellent driving characteristics, even in the standard version. Development of the new racing car will be done jointly by Volvo Cars and Polestar Racing, who has successfully handled our participation in STCC for several years. However, it is currently too soon to provide any detailed information about the construction of the new car. The objective, on the other hand, is crystal clear - we will develop a winning car."

To realize this goal, Volvo Cars will be developing a new and modern green racing car based on the Volvo C30. Why the C30? Because it is the model that really demonstrates Volvo��s current environmental technology on the market such as the Flexifuel and the upcoming 1.6D Efficiency.

The Volvo 1.6D Efficiency will posts an average fuel consumption of 0.45 liters per 10km (or 52mpg-US/62 mpg-UK) while CO2 emissions are under 120 grams per kilometer.
Here are the technical specifications of Volvo��s most anticipated C30 E85 FIA Super 2000:

Body:
---A standard C30 body reinforced by a safety cage and side impact protection on the driver's side, developed in collaboration with Caran.
Aerodynamics:
---Front splitter (the lower section of the bumper) and a rear spoiler wing developed by Polestar in Volvo's wind tunnel.
Engine: ---A fully aluminium, transversely mounted, 5-cylinder, inline, four-valve, 1999 cc engine.
Only minor modifications are permitted on the cylinder block and cylinder heads, while valves, cam shafts, pistons, connecting rods, and the crankshaft have been replaced by racing-specific components.
Oil: Castrol 5W-30

Output/torque: 280 hp at 8,750 rpm/Approx. 230 Nm at 7,300 rpm. Fuel: E85

Exhaust system:
---Stainless steel with catalytic emission controls, specially manufactured by Ferrita.

Driveline: 6-speed sequential gearbox with straight-cut gears, manufactured by Hewland. Front-wheel drive.
Mechanical differential with a torque controlled ramper and friction discs.
SACHS 184mm two-disc carbon fibre clutch.
Oil: Castrol TWS 10W-60.
Weight: Minimum weight 1,134 kg including the driver (58-60 kg).
Front wheel suspension:
?hlin's McPherson struts developed together with Polestar. Racing-specific support arms and adjustable anti-roll bar.
Rear wheel suspension:
Multilink system with coil springs and ?hlin's dampers. Racing-specific support arms and adjustable anti-roll bar.
Front brakes:
Performance Friction
4-pistion callipers with radially and axially ventilated discs 332x32 mm.
Rear brakes:
Alcon 2-piston callipers with axially ventilated discs 290x10 mm.
Steering:
Servo-assisted rack and pinion.
Wheels:
17x10,0" BBS wheels
Tyres:
Michelin 17", slicks (no tread), or rain tyres