Official: 2011 Volvo S60 uncovered
By Andrew C., 30 Aug, 2010. 0 Comments
2011_volvo_s60
For its new S60, Volvo wants to duplicate the success it has had with the original S60, which has sold more than a million units so far. Volvo aims for the new S60 to be the biggest-selling model in its range. Volvo design boss Peter Horbury describes the new car as a brakes-off vehicle. In an interview , Horbury said that the company is pushing its design themes harder and is incorporating a more typically Swedish look into its products. For the first year, Volvo has a target of selling 90,000 units, and it hopes to attain the lifetime best of 110,000 of the first S60. Volvo also claims that it has created the most dynamic car it has ever presented by working on the development of the chassis and suspension. The car has the extended Mondeo platform and there have also been S60-specific revisions. Two variants -- Dynamic and Comfort will be offered. These variants have different dampers and changes to the subframes. In Europe, Dynamic will be standard with Comfort as an option. However, in Asia and the US, the reverse applies. The new S60's steering is faster than the old S60. Furthermore, its suspension has been tuned to provide a firmer, sharper driving experience with stiffer bushes and mountings in the subframes and dampers. There will also be two petrol engines available: a 304bhp turbocharged 3.0-liter straight six and a 203bhp 2.0-liter turbo four. There will also be two five-cylinder diesels, with 205bhp and 163bhp. For the first year of production, four more engines, all four-cylinder units, will be added, including 240bhp 2.0-litre petrol unit and a 180bhp 1.6 petrol. All models will be offered with four-wheel drive as an option. The S60 is also available with Volvo's Pedestrian Detection system, which stops the car once an imminent collision with a pedestrian is detected. The brakes will also be used to avoid hitting the car in front. Horbury said that the S60 is representative of what it calls the completion of the modernization of Volvo design. Horbury added that considering that the company only has 1% of the world market, it has to make bigger steps to be recognized.
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