The all-new S60 T6 AWD is the sportiest Volvo ever produced. It’s rocket fast and delivers very crisp driving dynamics, along with a lot of innovative technology and safety advancements.
The S60 has been called “a Volvo with an attitude” because of its sleek design and coupe looks. It has a slim roofline accompanied by a distinctive contour on the lower body shoulders for a “double wave” that stretches from the headlights to the taillights. From the front, the S60 has a dramatically shaped grille flanked by V-shaped position lights and a large Volvo iron mark.
On the inside, sport front and rear seating is standard on the S60, along with a sport leather steering wheel, leather seating surfaces and Shimmer Graphite aluminum inlays. Optional veneer inlays are made from real wood that has been dyed and layered together.
Under the hood the S60 is powered by a standard 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder engine that delivers 300 hp and 325 pounds-feet of torque. Maximum torque is achieved from just 2,100 rpm and remains throughout the rev range, the same torque output as the 4.4-liter V-8 in other Volvo models. On the highway, response is instantaneous and impressive.
The turbo engine is mated to a standard six-speed “Geartronic” transmission that offers completely automatic shifts or allows manual shifting. Also standard is Volvo’s electronically controlled All-Wheel Drive with Instant Traction for improved grip on wet, slippery and even dry roads.
Driving dynamics have been fine-tuned on the S60 with a choice of three designs. The standard Dynamic Chassis focuses on optimizing control and agility without diluting the comfortable ride. Touring Chassis places the greatest emphasis on comfort and has been tuned to provide a smoother ride on poor road surfaces. Volvo’s optional FOUR-C (Continuously Controlled Chassis Concept) active chassis has been modified for improved control and comfort. The system employs sensors that continuously monitor the car’s behavior and adjusts the dampers in fractions of a second to suit the current driving situation. The driver can select from three different settings: Comfort, Sport and Advanced.
Among the other driver assistance systems offered on the S60 is the debut of Pedestrian Detection with Full Auto Brake. This world-first technology actively helps the driver avoid accidents. Volvo’s radar- and camera-based system can detect pedestrians in front of the car, warn the driver if anyone walks into its path, then automatically activate the S60’s full braking power if the driver fails to respond in time. The system can avoid a collision at speeds up to 22 mph. At higher speeds, the focus is on reducing the car’s speed as much as possible prior to the impact.
Ron Beasley is the automotive editor for Miami’s Community Newspapers. He may be contacted by calling 305-662-2277, ext. 261, or by addressing email correspondence to LetsTalkCars@aol.com.
