Volvo V60 diesel public review

... at the Green Zone Drive in Melboune later this month.

Volvo Australia spokeswoman Jaedene Hudson confirmed the company will launch a new diesel variant but wouldn't comment on the engine capacity other than to deny it would be a 1.6-litre DRIVe powerplant that is expected to join the range at some stage. That makes the likely culprit the 2.0-litre D3 turbodiesel, which in Europe is good for 6.1 litres/100km with an automatic transmission.

The V60 will headline a green car technology showcase that is designed to let the public poke, prod and drive 12 new low or zero tailpipe-emission vehicles around Melbourne's CBD.

The RACV-backed program aims to hold 800 drives over the five-day event, which starts on August 29. Aspiring test drivers need to book a vehicle and time by logging on to www.greendrivezone.com.au.

The program isn't promoting any one technology over another - vehicles in the fleet are a representative cross-section covering pure electric motoring, petrol-electric hybrids and fuel-efficient petrol and diesel-powered vehicles.  Carmakers taking part include Audi, Honda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Renault and Volvo.

"Our members are increasingly interested in the environment and want to do their bit while they're driving," RACV public policy manager Brian Negus said at the launch. "These vehicles are the best-of-breed at keeping emissions down while not giving up anything, driving enjoyment, build quality, that motorists expect."

Future Climate Australia executive director Henry O'Clery noted that average European CO2 emissions were around 140g/km compared with 205g/km in Australia.

"That is purely about the Europeans being more aware of efficient vehicles and carmakers giving them access to that technology. It is only recently that these efficient engines have made their way into vehicles sold in Australia," he said. "And it doesn't matter whether you are worried about climate change or the fact fossil fuels are a finite resource; either way there is still a demand to reduce our fuel use," he said.

The 11 vehicles on show during the Green Drive Zone are:

ELECTRIC

• Mitsubishi i-MiEV (two): 0g/km CO2
• Nissan Leaf (two): 0g/km CO2

HYBRID

• Honda Insight VTI-L: 4.6 litres/100km, 109g/km CO2
• Honda CR-Z (display only): 4.7 litres/100km, 109g/km CO2

PETROL

• Audi A1 1.4 Sport: 5.9 litres/100km, 139g/km CO2
• Honda Jazz GLi: 6.1 litres/100km, 138g/km CO2

DIESEL

• Audi A6 3.0 quattro: 6.0 litres/100km, 158g/km CO2
• Renault Latitude (two): 6.5 litres/100km, 170g/km CO2
• Volvo C30 DRIVe (display only): 3.9 litres/100km, 104g/kkm CO2
• Volvo V60 wagon: less than 7 litres/100km, less than 160g/km CO2
• Volvo XC60 D5 Teknik: 6.9 litres/100km, 183g/km CO2.