Whittley Marine Group launches Volvo Penta's new V6-280 and V8-300

Whittley Marine Group will unveil two new Volvo Penta engines not previously seen outside the US at the 2016 Melbourne Boat Show in its latest crusade to convert more family boaters and fishers from outboard power to inboard with sterndrive.

This will be the first time Volvo Penta’s Next Generation V6-280 and freshly-minted V8-300 have been seen in public in Australia.

THE NEW V6-280HP
The new V6-280 is a high-output version of Volvo Penta’s all-alloy V6 platform released to critical acclaim last year, which your boatsales crew has tested extensively on several Whittley boats in 200/240hp guise.

The new V6-280 will drive Whittley’s sporty new XS24 at it’s Melbourne Boat Show debut.

A genuine alternative to old V8 workhorses, like the small-block 5.0L and the old 5.7L cast iron units, the compact 4.3L Next Generation engine produces its rated horsepower at a 5500rpm and revs out to 6200rpm.

Indeed, the new engine will supplant the old-tech 5.0L V8 as the standard
offering in Whittley’s flagship CR2800 without the boatbuilder says, sacrificing performance.

The V6-280 will be coupled to Volvo Penta’s Duoprop twin-prop drive spinning a pair of stainless K-series props for "urgency unmatched by any outboard."

Whittley enthuses that the V6-280 delivers class-leading acceleration, prodigious torque and unrivalled economy.

Enhanced range and a more refined boating experience are added bonuses, Whittley adds.

Other models such as the SL22 and CR2380 have been beefed up and re-rated to accommodate the additional horsepower.

NEW V8-300 COMMANDS RESPECT
Volvo Penta’s new V8-300 makes its Australian Boat Show debut in Whittley’s flagship CR2800 Cruiser. The compact 5.3L V8 is the newest member of Volvo Penta’s Next Generation sterndrive family to employ proven automotive technology.

Re-engineered from a GM block for dedicated marine applications, the new motor effectively bridges the gap between the 4.3L V6 series and larger 6.0L V8.

Variable Valve Timing (VVT), Direct Fuel Injection, self-tensioning belts and alloy construction are highlights, while closed-loop cooling maximises efficiency and minimises emissions.

Volvo Penta’s Front Engine Accessory Drive, which positions all service and maintenance access points conveniently on one easily accessed assembly at the front of the engine, is yet another key component. The V8 and V6s are backed by a 2+3 Year Warranty.

ELECTRONIC INTEGRATION
Power-assisted steering and mechanical throttle are standard fitment on the new engine, but Volvo Penta’s EVC (Electronic Vessel Control) with digital throttle is available as an upgrade, along with hydraulic steering, as well as Whittley Vision or Volvo Penta’s Glass Cockpit system.

"My grandfather, Jim Whittley, built the business on a foundation of sterndrive installations and we’ll continue to pioneer game-changing engines such as Volvo Penta’s Next Generation series," says Alan Whittley, Whittley Marine Group’s director of Sales and Marketing.

"We’re proud to build the only locally produced sterndrive-powered fibreglass boats with a freshwater-cooled alloy engine as our standard offering."

"With 85 Next-Generation-Volvo-Penta-powered Whittleys already plying Australian waters, and a full order book, we think we’re onto a winner," adds Whittley.

Whittley will display its new rigs on stand D4 at the Melbourne Boat Show. More on the show at www.melbourneinternationalboatshow.com.au.