As well as going on sale in the facelifted S60, V60 and XC60, the new engines will also be on offer in the V70, XC70 and S80.

In addition to the new engines, Volvo will also offer a new eight-speed automatic gearbox (replacing the ageing six-speed Geartronic) or a company car tax-friendly six-speed manual. The latter has been tuned especially to offer improved fuel economy and should appeal to cost-concious business car managers.

Also on display at the Frankfurt Motor Show was the sleek new Volvo Concept Coupe – previewing a high-performance petrol-electric hybrid engine with around 400bhp and over 600Nm of torque.

The company used the show to pledge its commitment to a more environmentally-friendly future and continually greener development.

Lex Kerssemakers, Volvo senior vice president of product strategy and vehicle line management, said: “Our successful V60 Plug-In Hybrid has already proved that the most efficient car can be one of the most fun to drive.” He also confirmed that the new Volvo XC90 will get a plug-in hybrid engine when it arrives in late 2014.