The new Volvo S60 has been released and will debut at the 2010 Geneva motor show, ten years after the debut of the model it’s replacing. Plenty has changed in the interim, and this could be the very impressive swan song for the company about to change hands. The Volvo S60 has never been so good, with top-of-the-range quality, avantgarde technical solutions and a very good engine range.
The new S60 looks lovely, it must be said, taking its inspiration from the concept of the same name and with the coupé touch now so evident in this very competitive segment. Volvo has played a clever game with the S60, making it ‘longish’ at 463 cm, but nothing excessive with the Opel Insignia considerably longer at 483. However, interior space and boot capacity has not been sacrificed, with the latter measuring 380 litres.
The Volvo S60 has four engine options with the T family (petrol) and D (diesel). The entry level option is a 2.0-litre diesel engine with 163 hp and 400 Nm of torque, reaching 100 km/hr in 9.2 seconds and having 220 km/hr of top speed. The 2.0T from Ford origin has 203 hp and 300 Nm of torque, reaching 100 km/hr in 7.7 seconds. Its fuel economy measures 5.9 litres per 100 km.
The D5 2.4-litre diesel with turbocharger has 204 hp and 420 Nm of torque, while the top-of-the-range model is the T6 all wheel drive version. It is equipped with an in-line six cylinder turbo engine with 304 hp and 440 Nm. It reaches 100 km/hr in just 6.5 seconds and has a fuel consumption of 10.2 litres per 100 km. Other engines arriving in 2011 include the T3 1.6-litre with 150 hp, the T4 with 180hp, the T5 2.0-litre with 240 hp and the 1.6-litre DRIVe with 115 hp.
Other features of the Volvo S60 include Advanced Stability Control, DSTC (Dynamic Stability and Traction Control) and Corner Traction Control. Dynamic chassis elements manage handling and drive feel and there’s a pedestrian detection system with automatic braking. The new S60 will be available from this summer. Click on the gallery for more pics.
