A “Made in USA” Volvo S60 sedan revealed
- The first Volvo built in America
- Two conventional petrol and two petrol-hybrid engines will be offered
- A ‘Polestar’ engineered performance version will also be available
Volvo has just revealed its all first “Made in USA” model with the S60 sedan. The Swedish luxury car brand is also making a statement of its support towards the environment by not introducing a diesel variant.
Exterior design elements are typical of the new design language from Volvo. Modern and sophisticated with its signature “Thor” hammer headlamps for starters. Overall resemblance to the very handsome S90 sedan makes it a very good looking car.
Interior similarities to the feature-rich XC60 can be observed. A large vertically placed 9-inch touchscreen dominates the dashboard alongside a 12.3-inch TFT display in place of the dials, powered seats, 4-zone climate control and a Bowers and Wilkins audio system.
Engine options available are two conventional petrol and two petrol-hybrid motors. The entry-level S60 engine is the 250hp, four-cylinder, 2.0-litre turbocharged T5 that drives the front wheels. There is also the T6 supercharged all-wheel-drive unit with 310hp, which will come with with a plug-in hybrid option. Every engine option sends power to the wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox. The plug-in hybrid engines include Volvo’s supercharged 2.0-litre T8 Twin Engine, which produces a combined 390hp, with the 303hp petrol engine driving the front wheels and the 65kW electric unit powering the rear axle. That model offers 640Nm and can achieve 0-100kph in 4.9secs on its way to a top speed of 250kph.
Alternatively, for those of you performance enthusiasts, an available ‘Polestar’ engineered version will also be available.
Safety technology includes City Safety with Autobrake, which helps the driver avoid potential collisions, and according to Volvo is the only system of its type on the market to recognise pedestrians, cyclists and large animals. In what the manufacturer claims is a world first for a mid-sized saloon, the system also engages automatic braking to mitigate oncoming collisions.
The optional Pilot Assist system - which supports the driver with steering, acceleration and braking on well-marked roads up to 80mph - has been upgraded with improved cornering performance. The new S60 also includes Run-off Road Mitigation, Oncoming Lane Mitigation and other steering-assistance systems, while Cross-Traffic Alert with automatic braking is also available as an option.
The newly revealed Volvo S60 is a breath of fresh air, with plenty of design upgrades and technology updates. If priced appropriately, the competition certainly will heat up in the ever popular premium D-segment.
