The all-new Volvo S60, launched at Geneva Motor Show 2 March, 2010 has been sculpted to move you - both physically and emotionally.
It has an extrovert attitude never before seen in Volvo showrooms. It is also without a doubt the most dynamic car model Volvo has ever presented - and its Pedestrian Detection with full auto brake is a groundbreaking safety feature. City Safety is standard in VolvoS60.
In summing up the 2011 Volvo S60 it is tempting to play the safety card early. After all, the Volvo brand has become synonymous with safety, and the S60 offers one of the most innovative safety systems ever introduced. Pedestrian Detection with Full Auto Brake won't win many "catchiest name" contests, but it will save lives. Simply to dwell on the car's considerable safety initiatives, though, wouldn't do it justice. "Dynamic' and "emotional" are the key words Volvo engineers and designers use to describe their newest creation, and after driving it we can certainly understand why. Not only is the S60 the most attractive Volvo sedan ever, it is also much more fun to drive that the brand's safety reputation might suggest.
The all-new S60 is sportier and more dynamic than any previous Volvo. But it is still an unmistakeable representative of Scandinavian design at its best.
Virtually all the lines were penned to carve out the "coupe with four doors" profile.
The C-pillar stretches sensually all the way to the tail lamps - and the slim coupe-like roof line is accompanied by a new contour on the shoulders on either side of the lower body, creating a gentle yet poExterior styling kit
An exterior styling kit gives the customer an opportunity to further enhance the already sporty appearance. The styling kit comes as an accessory. It includes front and rear skid plates, a front deco frame, side scuff plates, exhaust tailpipe finishers and 18-inch alloy wheels.
werful double wave from the headlamps at the front to the tail lamps at the rear.
Exclusive quality inside
Volvo's designers obtained their inspiration from the racing track as they pursued the uncompromising sportiness inside the all-new S60. The graphic character of the racing track is clearly apparent in the instrument panel and in the doors. Every detail looks like it's in motion. The instruments and centre stack are angled towards the driver to create a sensation of focus and control. The new dynamic three-spoke steering wheel and new sports seats with extra side supports are standard.
The interior is lavish in terms of its driver-oriented details, but it is still a five-seater car offering comfortable space for all its occupants.
Beige and black are the main colours of the upholstery range, which is spiced up with the new highlight shade Beechwood Brown. The décor inlays are available in Charcoal, Shimmer Graphite aluminium or Urbane Wood.
New infotainment system
The S60 has an all-new infotainment system where information from the audio unit, navigation system, mobile phone and other functions is presented on a five-inch or seven-inch colour screen in the upper part of the centre console. The screen is installed high to make it easy for the driver to keep his or her eyes on the road.
The driver has access to all infotainment functions via controls in the steering wheel.
Enhanced audio system
The audio experience in the all-new S60 has been enhanced compared with previous models.
The most advanced system, Premium Sound, has a class-D digital 5x130W amplifier with circuits from Sweden's Anaview, Dolby Digital in combination with Dolby Pro Logic II Surround, the award-winning MultEQ from Audyssey Laboratories and 12 loudspeakers.
In addition to the top-of-the line Premium Sound, the all-new S60 is available with a choice of three other audio systems.
Chassis
The most dynamic Volvo ever
The all-new S60 is without a doubt the most dynamic car model Volvo has ever presented.
The sedan can be specified with a choice of two chassis. On the European market the newly developed dynamic chassis is standard, while most markets in North America and Asia will have the comfort chassis as standard with the sport variant available as an option.
The difference between the two chassis alternatives is to be found in the dampers and the front and rear sub frames. Here the comfort variant has a somewhat softer setting to give a smoother ride on poorer road surfaces.
Every detail refined
During the development process, the chassis team carved out a holistic solution featuring changes and refinements for virtually every single detail that influences a car's driving properties. This includes improved sModified All Wheel Drive system
The software in the AWD (All Wheel Drive) system has been modified to allow the four-wheel drive variants (four-wheel drive is standard in the T6 and optional with the D5) of the all-new Volvo S60 to exploit the sporty new chassis to the limit.
teering, stiffer springs and bushes as well as more damping than in any previous Volvo.
FOUR-C available on all variants
All variants of the new S60 can be specified with the advanced, self-adjusting FOUR-C active chassis. The FOUR-C active chassis has been modified and refined for better control and more comfortable feel compared to previous Volvos.
First sedan with Advanced Stability Control
The S60 is the first sedan model on the market with Advanced Stability Control. With a new roll angle sensor, it is possible to identify any skidding tendency at a very early stage. Advanced Stability Control is a great asset in dynamic driving involving considerable lateral forces, thus improving handling and rapid avoidance manoeuvres.
Corner Traction Control for tighter cornering
Corner Traction Control is a new feature that uses torque vectoring for smoother cornering. When cornering, the car's inner driven wheel is braked at the same time as more power is transmitted to the outer driven wheel. This allows cornering more tightly while reducing any tendency to understeer.
Driveline
The firm action to cut CO2-emissions has resulted in lowered fuel consumption throughout the engine programme.
More powerful T6 version
The T6 petrol engine has a displacement of 3.0 litres and has been improved still further, primarily thanks to lower internal friction. It now pumps out 304 hp and no less than 440 Nm of torque. At the same time, Volvo Cars' engine specialists have succeeded in cutting fuel consumption by about 10 percent to 9.9 l/100 km (EU Combined, preliminary figure).
The engine's power is delivered to the wheels via Volvo's second-generation six-speed automatic Geartronic transmission.
New direct-injected engines
The new four-cylinder 2.0T (GTDi as in Gasoline Turbocharged Direct Injection) engine has a displacement of two litres and produces a generous 203 hp, with 300 Nm of torque available from 1750 rpm. Acceleration from 0-100 km/h takes 7.7 seconds with the manual gearbox and 8.2 seconds with the automatic. The Volvo S60 2.0T with manual gearbox uses just 7.9 litres of fuel per 100 kilometres (EU Combined, preliminary figure).
(Please check "Specifications" for the latest figures.)
The all-new S60 will also become available as a 2.0 GTDi variant (T5) producing 240 hp and torque of 320 Nm. Furthermore, there will be a 1.6-litre GTDi engine available in two versions: 180 hp (T4) and 150 hp (T3) with torque of 240 Nm.
All the GTDi engines will be available in combination with Volvo's automatic six-speed Power shift transmission or a six-speed manual gearbox.
Twin-turbo D5
The D5 high-performance engine with twin turbos produces 205 horsepower and 420 Nm of torque. Acceleration from 0-100 km/h takes 7.8 seconds (manual and automatic). Fuel consumption is 5.3 l/100 km (EU Combined, preliminary figure) with the manual gearbox, putting this engine in the running for best in class.
New 2-litre turbo diesel
The new five-cylinder D3 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. With a manual gearbox, fuel consumption (EU Combined, preliminary figure) is now down to 5.3 l/100 km with a manual gearbox. The D3 produces 160 hp and 400 Nm of torque.
Automatic or manual gearbox
Both turbo diesels are available with six-speed automatic transmissions or a six-speed manual gearbox. The D5 can also be specified with all-wheel drive.
DRIVe diesel below 115 g/km
During the course of the first year of production, a DRIVe version of the all-new S60 will also be introduced, featuring a 1.6-litre diesel engine. Fuel consumption is 4.3 l/100 km (EU Combined, preliminary figure), corresponding to CO2 emissions below 115 g/km. The engine produces 115 hp and 270 Nm of torque, and will only be available with a six-speed manual gearbox.
Safety and Support
Pedestrian Detection with full auto brake - a world first
Pedestrian Detection with full auto brake is a groundbreaking technological solution. It can detect pedestrians who walk into the road in front of the car, warn the driver - and automatically apply full braking power if the driver does not respond in time.
In an emergency situation the driver first receives an audible warning combined with a flashing light in the windscreen's head-up display. At the same time, the car's brakes are pre-charged. If the driver does not react to the warning and an accident is imminent, full braking power is automatically applied.
Pedestrian Detection with Full Auto Brake can avoid a collision with a pedestrian at speeds of up to 35 km/h if the driver does not react in time.
he 2011 Volvo S60 handles so well, we can't help wishing it offered more horsepower. But the S60 walks on the tightrope between green responsibility and pure driving hedonism. The in-line six-cylinder engine offers less than 3,000 cc of displacement, but with turbocharging, it whirs out 300 horsepower at a relatively steep 5,600 rpm. Happily, the 325 pound-feet of peak torque are available from 2,100 rpm all the way to 4,200 rpm. That means the S60 has sufficient low-end torque to accelerate briskly. A bonus is that the engine requires only "regular" grade gasoline, and the fuel economy (18 mpg city/26 mpg highway) is laudable in the luxury class.
City Safety standard
The all-new Volvo S60 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 30 kilometres an hour.
Driver Alert Control is a unique technology to detect and alert tired and distracted drivers.
Blind Spot Information System helps detect vehicles in the offset rear blind spot on both sides of the car.
Lane Departure Warning alerts the driver if the car runs across the lane markers without the turn indicator being used.
Adaptive Cruise Control also in slow queues
In the field of comfort, there are features such as the optional Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), which automatically maintains a set gap to the vehicle in front. What is new is that the Adaptive Cruise Control operates at speeds below 30 km/h, all the way down to standstill.
While the S60 offers styling and performance with great emotional appeal, it is still the cold, hard rational aspects of superior safety that make the 2011 Volvo S60 stand out among the crowd of mid-size luxury-brand sedans. With a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of just around $38,500, the S60 is priced under all-wheel-drive competitors like the BMW 3 Series and Lexus IS 350. The Audi A4 is less expensive than the Volvo, but it gives up nearly 90 horsepower to the S60. On the resale value front, though, the A4 offers better numbers, as does the 335i. Check our Fair Price to see what consumers are typically paying in your area.
