The new stylish Volvo V60 sports wagon is on the way. Its coupé-like design has a pronounced wedge shape with a slim roof line, while the sporty rear does not sacrifice functionality, with a load capacity of 430 litres with the rear seats in place.
Volvo believes the typical sports wagon customer is an S60 buyer who would like some extra space and flexibility, but without compromising on sporty design and exciting driving properties.
During its first year of production, the new Volvo V60 will be available with a variety of diesel and petrol engines. The focused drive to cut CO2 emissions has lowered fuel consumption throughout the engine range.
There will be a new 1.6-litre GTDi engine with 180 horsepower called the T4. It will offer maximum torque of 240Nm from 1500rpm all the way up to 5000rpm. During short-term overboost, it provides an impressive 270Nm of torque. This gives excellent flexibility throughout the speed range.
The T4 is available in combination with Volvo's automatic six-speed powershift transmission or a six-speed manual gearbox.
The engine range also includes two five-cylinder turbodiesels. In the most recent D5 version, which was introduced in spring 2009, performance and driveability requirements have been met by fitting two turbochargers of different sizes, one taking over from the other and providing added power across a broader rev range. Volvo says the complementary properties of the two turbos are utilised optimally for a combination of high performance and low fuel consumption of 52.5mpg (EU combined ).
In addition there is the newly-developed two-litre D3, producing 163bhp and 400Nm of torque. Acceleration from 0-100km/h takes 9.4 seconds (manual and automatic ). Top speed is 220km/h (manual ) and 215km/h (automatic ).
The new five-cylinder 2.0D is, in principle, the same engine as the present 2.4D, but cylinder capacity has been reduced with a shorter stroke to optimise fuel consumption. Both turbodiesels are available with a six-speed Geartronic transmission or six-speed manual gearbox.
During the first year of production, a DRIVe version of the new V60 will also be introduced, featuring a 1.6-litre diesel engine. The engine produces 115bhp and 270Nm of torque, and will only be available with a six-speed manual gearbox.
Later, the new V60 will also become available in a T5 petrol variant, producing 240bhp and 320Nm of torque.
Volvo says the new V60 is packed with high-tech solutions that actively help the driver avoid accidents - and help protect the occupants if an accident is unavoidable.
For example, the new Volvo V60 also features City Safety as standard. With City Safety, the car automatically brakes if the driver fails to react in time when the vehicle in front slows down or stops - or if he or she is driving too fast towards a stationary object. The system can lessen or even entirely avoid low-speed rear-end impacts at speeds up to 30km/h.
The interior of the V60 sports wagon is a clear example of how Volvo’s designers have added excitement and contrast to the Scandinavian design tradition's rational simplicity and functionality. The V60 is a five-seater car offering comfortable space for all its occupants.
The new V60, like the new S60, gets a new infotainment system where information is presented on a five-inch or seven-inch colour screen in the instrument panel. The screen has a high position to make it easy for the driver to keep his or her eyes on the road.
The new V60 SW combines style, hi-tech safety features, performance and dynamic driving characteristics. Volvo continues to push forward.
