Revealed ahead of its Paris Motor Show debut, the all-new Volvo V60 is the estate version of the recently launched 2011 S60 sedan. Aimed almost squarely at European buyers as Volvo projects that "no less than 90 percent" of the annual V60 production of 50,000 cars will find a home in Europe, the sporty-looking estate model will go on sale this fall.
Volvo describes the low slung V60 as a sports wagon with a coupe-like roofline. "The typical sports wagon customer is an S60 buyer who would like some extra space and flexibility, but without the slightest compromise on sporty design and exciting driving properties," says Volvo Cars President and CEO Stephen Odell.
However, Volvo's focus on looks come with a cost as the V60's boot space is a mere 430 liters with the rear seats up. That's compared to 460lt of the BMW 3-Series Touring, 485lt of the Mercedes C-Class Estate and 490lt of the Audi A4 Avant. The car will come equipped with a 40/20/40-split rear seat and the fold-flat front passenger seat.
Volvo has no problem admitting that the V60 isn't going to satisfy traditional estate buyers.
"From the design viewpoint the focus was on making the car as close to a coupe as possible, while retaining that handy extra space at the rear," say Örjan Sterner, head of exterior design for the new Volvo V60. "Our sports wagon does not aim to compete with the traditional estate car. For the customer who wants a lot of load space, there is our V70 or XC70."
Being a "sports wagon", Volvo claims the V60's handling and dynamics match those of the S60. The estate model will be offered with a choice of two chassis set ups, the standard in Europe dynamic chassis and the touring chassis. The difference between the two chassis concerns the dampers and the front and rear subframes, with the touring variant featuring a somewhat softer setting.
In addition to the two standard chassis, all variants of the V60 can be specified with the optional FOUR-C (Continuously Controlled Chassis Concept) active chassis, while there are also AWD versions of the V60.
The V60's engine lineup mirrors that in the S60 sedan and includes a variety of petrol and diesel units. There are five gasoline units, spanning from the 150HP 1.6-liter turbo to the flagship 304HP 3.0-liter turbocharged straight-six that propels the V60 to 100 km/h (62mph) in 6.6 seconds while returning a combined fuel consumption of 10.2lt/100km (23mpg US or 27.7mpg UK).
The diesel lineup includes three engines, a 1.6-liter with 115HP, a 2.0-liter with 163HP and a 2.4-liter with 205-horsepower.
The new V60 will come equipped with a raft of safety features such as Advanced Stability Control, a new Corner Traction Control, which is a further refinement of the Dynamic Stability and Traction Control (DSTC) system and Pedestrian Detection system.
Engine range
Petrol engines
Displacement
Configuration
Output
Torque
T6
3.0
6-cyl in-line
304 bhp
440 Nm
2.0T
2.0
4-cyl in-line
203 bhp
300 Nm
T5
2.0
4-cyl in-line
240 bhp
320 Nm
T4
1.6
4 cyl in-line
180 bhp
240 Nm
T3
1.6
4-cyl in-line
150 bhp
240 Nm
Diesel engines
Displacement
Configuration
Output
Torque
D5
2.4
5-cyl in-line
205 bhp
420 Nm
D3
2.0
5-cyl in-line
163 bhp
400 Nm
1.6 D DRIVe
1.6
4-cyl in-line
115 bhp
270 Nm
11 Comments:
Thats one sexy wagon! :D
It's quite nice, but until they offer a proper "R" sports addition, I'll stick with my German wagons.
I don't agree. I think it's uglyback rather than sexyback.
Good looking motor.
I don't understand why Volvo thinks that it won't appeal to non-Europeans. Any ideas?
T4 is 180 HP and T3 is 150 HP but their torque is same? Interesting..
Stunning. Possibly the nicest-looking estate ever O____O *____*
*Waits for lovers of over-priced German cars to come and brag about a car they will never have and how it is so much better than this beauty...makes a cup of tea and reclines in sofa...waiting patiently*
The old Volvo wagons look better. The "high beltline" styling is getting old. Rather have good visibility than swoopy styling. Just my opinion anyways....
No one seems to have mentioned the Opel / Vauxhall Insignia of which this is a clear clone - and I thought the Chinese hadn't even completed the takeover yet?! Start as you mean to go on, I say!
Its not so bad... But the name holds it back.
stunning! volvo is back!
Volvo should have edited the front end a little with this model, to differentiate it a little from the S60. Don't really like the idea of 2 models having the exact same front design, and they should have lengthened the back a little because I can understand the smaller capacity would be a huge turn-off. Also can see they've done away with the ugly fake-looking wood design on the centre console seen in S60 photos.
Other than that, the back of the car looks amazing, and I really like the rim design, very Volvo-ish.
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