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Basic Specs
| Base Price | $38,450 |
| Drivetrain | All Wheel Drive |
| Curb Weight (lbs) | 3812 |
| City (MPG) | 18 |
| Hwy (MPG) | 26 |
| Horsepower | 300@5600 |
| Torque (lb-ft) | 325@2100-4200 |
| Wheelbase | 109.3 |
| Length (in.) | 182.2 |
| Width (in.) | 73.4 |
| Height (in.) | 58.4 |
Volvo has long played it safe in terms of its styling and vehicle designs, deciding to chase safety-conscious families in need of upscale, but not quite luxury transportation for their families. Now, the Swedish automaker has gone back to the drawing board and started from scratch with an all-new S60 that is meant to be as sexy as it is safe.
The all-new S60 is offered as the entry-level S60 T5, mid-grade S60 T6 and the range-topping S60 R-Design, serving far more in the way of luxury and performance than ever before as it guns for more upscale – and more expensive – rivals from Germany. Though it clearly follows Volvo’s current design language, the S60 promises even more active and passive safety along with sporty performance.
In addition to a new design language, the new S60 seems to demonstrate Volvo’s desire to move toward more slender A- and C-pillars for increased visibility. Over the years, these structural supports have become much thicker on most vehicles for structural and styling purposes. Volvo seems to have kept the styling up to snuff, without sacrificing its iconic safety.
Volvo’s latest pedestrian-recognizing safety technology also made its debut on the S60. Capable of detecting when a collision with a pedestrian is imminent, the system automatically triggers the S60's brakes to prevent an impact. Volvo points out that more than 4,700 pedestrian fatalities occur in the United States annually and the feature really makes sense in Europe, where 14 percent of all car wrecks involve a pedestrian on the continent’s crowded, narrow streets.
S60 T5
Though it gives up 50 horsepower and 59 lb-ft to the T6, the S60 T5 still acquits itself well, performance-wise, against its German competitors. A 2.5-liter inline-five engine produces 250 horsepower and 266 lb-ft. of torque. The only available transmission is a six-speed “Geartronic” automatic with a manumatic function.
A few niceties are omitted from the S60 T5’s standard equipment list when compared to the T6, including Homelink remote control garage door opener and an automatically dimmed rear-view mirror with integrated compass.
Front-wheel-drive is standard on the T5, while all-wheel-drive is newly available as an option.
S60 T6
The U.S.-specification S60 T6 comes standard with a 300-horsepower, 325 lb-ft of torque turbocharged inline six-cylinder mated exclusively – for now – to a six-speed Geartronic automatic transmission. the T6 (as well as the R-Design) come exclusively with all-wheel drive, where as the base S60 T5 features front-wheel drive.
As a result, the S60 T6 returns 18 city, 26 highway miles per gallon - same as the R-Design - while the T5 returns 20 city, 30 highway mpg.
A sport suspension is standard, as will City Safety, which can automatically brake the S60 in the event of a pending low-speed impact.
Volvo’s innovative Pedestrian Detection technology comes in a package that also includes adaptive cruise control and lane departure warning.
The optional premium package adds a moonroof, power passenger seat and Xenon headlamps, while the climate package brings with it heated front seats, heated windshield washer nozzles, headlamp washers, rain-sensing windshield wipers and an interior air quality system. Buyers can also specify the multimedia package, which adds a Dolby Pro Logic II audio system by Audyssey, a rear parking camera and navigation.
Other available options include metallic paint, wood interior inlays, front and rear parking assist, blind spot information (BLIS) and an active chassis.
S60 R-Design
The S60 R-Design is the range-topping variant of Volvo’s S60 midsize sedan.
Boasting 325 horsepower and 354 lb-ft. of torque, the model offers a fairly substantial gain over the S60 T6’s 300 ponies and 325 lb-ft. of torque. Like the S60 T6, the R-Design uses Volvo's turbo straight six and all-wheel drive with the company's Corner Traction Control torque vectoring system.
Maximum torque comes on at just 3,000 rpm and, according to Volvo, is available through the rest of the rev range thanks to some careful retuning of the 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine. A six-speed automatic transmission will be the only available gear shift, although Volvo says that it has tightened up responsiveness of the Geartronic manu-matic mode.
A strut tower brace adds chassis stiffness, while monotube dampers at the rear improve the ride and handling responsiveness compared to the standard S60's twin tube setup. Shortened front springs tuck the S60 R-Design down about 15 mm up front. Stiffer bushings also tighten up the ride.
The S60 R-Design features a unique front fascia with a glossy piano black front grille, matte finish details, twin 90mm exhaust pipes and R-Design-exclusive 18-inch diamond cut alloy wheels. Volvo says it will initially launch the S60 R-Design in an exclusive Passion Red, although four other colors will also hit the market.
Inside, the sportiest S60 yet gains unique front seats with more bolstering, off black leather with contrasting stitching, a sport steering wheel with the R-Design logo and blue watch dial-style gauges.
Three option packages are available for the S60 R-design. The Climate Package consists of heated seats, heated windshield washer nozzles, rain sensing wipers, an interior air quality system and headlamp washers. The Technology Package adds a collision detection system, Volvo’s new collision warning system, active cruise control and a lane departure warning system.
Finally, the multimedia package adds a navigation system, a premium sound system, and a rear camera to assist in parking maneuvers.
Key Competitors
Volvo says that the S60 T6 is designed to compete against tier one rivals like the BMW 3-Series, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and the Audi A4.
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- General
- Body Style: Sedan
- Size: Midsize
- Market Segment: Near-Luxury
- Weight: 3812 lbs
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- Exterior
- Length: 182.2 in.
- Width: 73.4 in.
- Height: 58.4 in.
- Wheelbase: 109.3 in.
- Ground Clearance: 4.9 in.
- Front Track: 62.1 in.
- Rear Track: 62.0 in.
- Weight Distribution: TBD
- Drag Coefficient: 0.28
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- Interior - General
- Seats: 5
- Passenger Volume: TBD
- Cargo Volume: 12.0 cu. ft.
- Cargo Volume (Seats Folded): TBD
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- Interior - Front Row
- Volume: TBD
- Leg Room: 41.9 in.
- Head Room: 38.3 in.
- Shoulder Room: 57.0 in.
- Hip Room: 54.9 in.
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- Interior - Second Row
- Volume: TBD
- Leg Room: 33.5 in.
- Head Room: 37.4 in.
- Shoulder Room: 55.2 in.
- Hip Room: 53.5 in.
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- Propulsion
- Fuel Type: Gas
- Engine Type: 3.0L I6
- Power: 300 hp @ 5600 rpm
- Torque: 325 lb-ft @ 2100-4200 rpm
- Transmission: 6-Speed Automatic
- Highway Fuel Economy: 26 mpg
- City Fuel Economy: 18 mpg
- Forced Induction: Turbocharger
- Direct Injection: No
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- Chassis
- Layout: All Wheel Drive
- Front Suspension: Strut-Type
- Rear Suspension: Multi-Link
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- Wheels
- Front: 18" Aluminum
- Front Tires: TBD
- Rear: 18" Aluminum
- Rear Tires: TBD
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- Trailering & Hauling
- Trailer Weight: 3307 lbs
- Payload: N/A
- Tongue Weight: TBD
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