Click on the image for high-res shots of Volvo's FlexiFuel police model

Last year, Volvo introduced a line of vehicles in Europe capable of running on E85 fuel which it refers to as the FlexiFuel range. Already available in the C30, S40, V50 and V70 and S80 models with engines ranging from 1.8 to 2.5 liters, Volvo has seen fit to add a new police-specific V70 to its range of flexible fuel vehicles. Perhaps this addition will allow for more than just 50-100 sales in the U.K. As with the current V70 and S80 FlexiFuel models, the new emergency vehicle will come equipped with the turbocharged 2.5 liter inline five cylinder engine offering 200 horsepower and a very reasonable 300Nm of torque at 1500-4500rpm. This output allows for a top speed of 130mph and a run from 0 to 60mph in 7.6 seconds -- not too shabby at all.

Volvo's V70 police car again raises the point that the U.K. police force often chooses very practical vehicles for law enforcement duties. While the estate body style makes perfect sense for police duties, we can't imagine the authorities in the U.S. rolling around with wagons any time soon (except for the Romulus MI police who have the speed traps set up in the vicinity of Detroit Metro Airport with their unmarked Dodge Magnums).

Sweden is, by percentage, one of the countries that uses more ethanol on their vehicles. That's why the Swedish marques have a broad range of models using flex-fuel powertrains.

Today, Volvo has announced that during the first half of 2008, a five-cylinder 2.5-litre turbocharged flex-fuel engine with a power output of 200 hp will be introduced in the Volvo V70 and S80. Both models will also be available with a 2-litre flex-fuel engine.

Therefore, Volvo's range of flex-fuel vehicles completes up to 5 models, C30, S40, V50, V70 and S80 (no sexy C70?) and the range of motors will include 3 offerings: the new 2.5 I-5, the 2.0 I-4 good for 145 hp and 185 Nm (137 lb/ft) of torque, and a 1.8 (which is also used in Ford) with 125 hp and 165 Nm (122 lb/ft) of torque.

Fuel consumption (EU combined) when running on E85 is 10.3 l/100 km or 23 MPG (C30 1.8F), 10.4 l/100 km or 23 MPG (S40 1.8F and V50 1.8F), 11.6 l/100 km, or 20 MPG (V70 2.0F) and 11.3 l/100 km or 23 MPG (S80 2.0F).

Full press release after the jump.

[Source: Volvo]