Volvo debuted its latest XC60 Plug-in Hybrid Concept today at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Based on the road-going XC60 crossover, Volvo bills the concept as “an electric car, a highly economical hybrid and a powerful high-performance car all rolled into one.”
Borrowing the same general concept from Peugeot’s lineup of Hybrid4 vehicles, the XC60 Plug-in Hybrid Concept uses a small, gas engine to power its front wheels and an electric motor to drive its rear axle.
Although Volvo is best-known for its turbocharged six-cylinder engines, the Swedish automaker opted for a 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder for use in the XC60 Plug-in Hybrid Concept. Despite being down on cylinder count, the four-pot generates a healthy 280 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque. The vehicle’s electric motor adds another 70 horsepower, bringing total output to 350 horsepower. Volvo even tagged the concept with the T8 badge, indicating its power is on par with a conventional V8.
Power is shifted via a new eight-speed automatic transmission.
Adding to the XC60 Plug-in Hybrid Concept’s uniqueness, Volvo equipped the concept with three different driving modes – Pure, Hybrid or Power.
When Pure is selected via a button on the instrument panel, the XC60 operates in pure electric mode “as much as possible”. Volvo says the XC60 has been certified for an all-electric driving range of 28 miles.
Hybrid mode, as the name implies, essentially turns the plug-in into a conventional hybrid car. The gas engine works in tandem with the electric motor, resulting in fuel economy of over 100mpg and a total range of 600 miles.
Power mode turns the XC60 into a serious performer, with the car’s total power available to the driver. Volvo says the XC60 Plug-in Hybrid Concept is capable of accelerating from 0-60 in just 5.8 second while in Power mode.
“The technology in the XC60 Plug-in Hybrid Concept is as ingenious as it is unique,” says Stefan Jacoby, President and CEO of Volvo Car Corporation. “You can make really green progress on the road without compromising on any of the luxury car’s renowned properties. No other manufacturer has succeeded in delivering fuel economy and electrical range on this level in a capable, spacious performance car with 350 horsepower on tap.”
The XC60 plug-in uses a 12 kWh lithium-ion battery pack that can be charged in as little as 3.5 hours. Charging using a 110V outlet will require 7.5 hours for a full charge.
Volvo has yet to announce any production plans for the XC60 Plug-in Hybrid Concept, but the show car’s Volvo Environmental Architecture engine will eventually hit our shores in a road-going vehicle.
