Volvo's new V60 wagon
6th July, 2010
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The Volvo V60 will make its entry into the world's car
market with its sights firmly set on shaking up the premium sports wagon segment with its combination
of style, performance and safety.
"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, and adds: "The competition is
razor-sharp and the customers in this segment know exactly what they want. That is why we have further
boosted the interior's sense of exclusive quality and packed the car with safety- and comfort-related
technical innovations. The result is a truly unique sports wagon, in total harmony with its sporty
attitude."
Coupe-like rather than wagon-like
The pronounced wedge shape and the slim coupe-like roof line of the new V60 are accompanied by the
'shoulder' profile along the car's sides, providing a gentle yet powerful double wave from the
headlamps at the front to the tail lamps at the rear.
"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. 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,"
says Örjan Sterner, head of exterior design for the new Volvo V60. "The dip in the middle of the
double wave visually pushes the car down. This enhances the stance and makes the car look sleeker and
lower. The sculpted bonnet and the short overhangs front and rear also emphasise the sports car
feel," he added.
Uncompromising chassis approach
Volvo Cars' chassis experts have 'chiselled' out the driving experience in the new Volvo V60 with
the same passion and uncompromising approach that characterised the development of the all-new S60
sedan.
The result is an sports wagon with driving properties that do the sporty lines full justice.
"We've pushed the envelope to limits we've never previously approached. You simply have to
drive this car to appreciate how we've driven chassis development to its pinnacle. Take the car out
on a narrow, winding country road where every bend brings a new challenge and the new V60 will
demonstrate its agility with sparkling enthusiasm," says Stefan Sällqvist, who headed the
development of the chassis in the new V60.
Every single detail refined
"The spotlight was on giving the concept of comfort a whole new dimension. The dynamic chassis
has an alert, quick-responding 'character' that puts the focus on the driving experience, yet without
diluting ride comfort," explains Stefan Sällqvist.
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, which has been modified and
refined for better control and comfort compared with previous Volvos.
The software in the All Wheel Drive (AWD) system has been modified to allow the four-wheel drive
variants of the new V60 to exploit the sporty new chassis to the limit.
During the development process, the chassis team worked on the new Volvo V60 in parallel with the
all-new Volvo S60. The result is a solution that features changes and refinements to virtually every
single detail that influences a car's driving properties. This includes improved steering, stiffer
springs and bushes as well as more damping than in any previous Volvo.
Exclusive quality - with extra functionality
The interior of the V60 sports wagon is a clear example of how Volvo Cars' designers have added
excitement, contrast and a playful element to the traditional Scandinavian design cues of rational
simplicity and functionality.
"The interior has a decidedly extrovert attitude, but without losing any of its practical
Scandinavian roots. The new V60 brings us up to a whole new level when it comes to the integral
experience of colour, form, material and technology," says Volvo Cars' Design Director Peter
Horbury.
The interior is thus lavish in terms of its driver-oriented details, but it is still a five-seater
car offering comfortable space for all its occupants. Scandinavian functionality is prominent in the
new V60:
- The only 40/20/40-split rear seat in the segment combined with fold-flat front passenger seat make
it possible to combine passengers and load in a remarkably flexible way.
- Each backrest in the three-piece rear seat is folded with exceptional ease to provide an entirely
flat load floor. The rear seat head restraints can be folded electrically.
- The load area has been designed for maximum utilisation of each available millimetre. The 1,095
millimetre wide tailgate in combination with extra space behind the wheel housings and under the load
floor is an example of the systematic approach adopted to ensure generous load capacity.
- The rear seat features integrated child booster cushions in the two outer seats.
The most high-tech Volvo ever - with Pedestrian Detection
Like the all-new Volvo S60, the interior of the new V60 will offer the most advanced high-tech
environment ever available to a Volvo driver.
"The interior of the new V60 is all about innovative design in two areas: form and technology.
The design is characterised by sporty freshness down to the smallest detail. The technological aspect
includes all those smart solutions that contribute to a driving experience unlike that of any other
Volvo - from collision avoidance safety and comfort systems to infotainment and audio excellence of
absolute world class," says Tomas Ahlborg, Project Director for the new V60.
Pedestrian Detection with full auto brake can detect if a pedestrian steps out into the road in
front of the car. If the driver does not respond in time, the car can automatically activate the
brakes.
"Volvo has always led the way when it comes to protecting the occupants in our cars. In recent
years we have adopted groundbreaking initiatives that help the driver avoid collisions with other
vehicles. Now we are taking a giant stride forward with technology that can contribute to increased
safety for unprotected road users as well," says Thomas Broberg, Senior Safety Advisor at Volvo
Cars.
Can avoid collisions at speeds below 35 km/h
In an emergency situation the driver first receives an audible warning combined with a flashing
light in the windscreen's head-up display. In order to prompt an immediate, intuitive reaction this
warning resembles a brake light. 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 up to
35 km/h if the driver does not react in time. At higher speeds, the focus is on reducing the car's
speed as much as possible prior to impact. Speed can be reduced by up to 25 km/h.
Statistics reveal that the car's speed has considerable importance for the outcome of the
accident. A lower speed of impact means that the risk of serious injury is significantly reduced.
City Safety standard
Following in the footsteps of the Volvo XC60 and S60, the new Volvo V60 will also feature 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
km/h.
More powerful T6 powerplant
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 224 kW and no less than 440 Nm of
torque. Acceleration from 0-100 km/h takes 6.6 seconds and top speed is limited to 250 km/h.
At the same time, Volvo Cars' engine specialists have succeeded in cutting fuel consumption by
about 10 per cent to 10.2 l/100 km (EU Combined).
The engine's power is delivered to the wheels via Volvo's second-generation six-speed automatic
Geartronic transmission. New valves and lower friction mean faster gearchanges than before. All
Wheel Drive is standard on the T6.
Two five-cylinder turbodiesels
The engine range also includes two five-cylinder turbodiesels.
The D5 high-performance engine with twin turbos produces 151 kW and 420 Nm of torque. Acceleration
from 0-100 km/h takes 7.9 seconds (manual and automatic). Top speed is limited to 230 km/h.
In the most recent D5 version, which was introduced in 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.
The complementary properties of the two turbos are utilised optimally for a combination of high
performance and low fuel consumption of 5.4 l/100 km (EU Combined) putting this engine in the running
for best in class.
In addition there is the newly developed 2.0-litre diesel producing 121 kW and 400 Nm of torque.
Acceleration from 0-100 km/h takes 9.4 seconds (manual and automatic). Top speed is 220 km/h (manual)
and 215 km/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.
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Entirely new Infotainment system
The Volvo V60, like the all-new S60, benefits from a new, state-of-the-art 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.
"Our 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. All this creates an audio
experience of absolute world class," says Tomas Ahlborg.
The Volvo S60 and V60 are two of the first car models in the world to use the Audyssey Laboratories
MultEQ technology. MultEQ eliminates the distortion caused by the car cabin's acoustics, providing
crisp, clear sound with improved 'soundstage' for everyone in the car.
In addition to the top-of-the line Premium Sound, which comes with a 7-inch screen, there are
another three audio systems.
Availability
The new V60 is built at the Volvo Cars production plant in Torslanda, Sweden with an initial annual
target of 50,000 units. Europe is expected to make up 90 per cent of sales.
The Volvo V60 will make its debut at Paris Motor Show in September and will be on sale in Australia
in the first quarter of 2011. Final pricing and specification will be announced closed to the launch
date.
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