Volvo Penta News & Specials

50th Anniversary - Aquamatic Sterndrive

January 27 2009

This year, the Aquamatic drive is celebrating it's 50th anniversary. Since its introduction in 1959, Volvo Penta has continued to develop the sterndrive concept - not least through the introduction in 1977 of the classic MD40 series of diesel engines. Until that time, the Aquamatic sterndrive was primarily combined with gasoline engines, but, with the MD40 series and new drives, Volvo Penta developed a powerful diesel package that took the boating world by storm.

Diesel power in combination with Aquamatic sterndrive created a totally new market on which Volvo Penta has been the undisputed leader since that time. In 1982 Volvo Penta introduced the Duoprop, an Aquamatic sterndrive with double, counter-rotating propellers. The duoprop represented a major development, with fantastic performance, sure grip in the water and improved steering. At the present time, Volvo Penta has the industry's most comprehensive engine programme for drives, comprising both diesel and gasoline engines.