A NEW direct injection diesel engine is poised to put Volvo on the road to a dramatically improved fleet market performance this year. Officials believe the extra pulling power of Renault's latest 1.9-litre turbo engine will give the Swedish firm greater success in the competitive sector for upper medium business cars.

'We see this as a tremendous opportunity. Even though the whole UK market is in an uncertain state this year, this unit is good enough to effectively double our diesel sales and could do even better,' said a Volvo Car UK spokesman. As the engine made its European debut in Geneva in the Dutch-built S40 saloon and V40 estate, the spokesman told Fleet NewsNet that diesel had been identified as a key area for progress during the next few years.