Volvo has given its “60” family of cars a mid-life refresh.
The revised S60, V60 and XC60 models will go on display for the first time at the Geneva Motor Show in March this year. The S60 and XC60 are two of the most popular Volvo models in South Africa to date. The new 60 range will introduce new features and technology. The main changes are:
- New design focusing on quality and attention to detail.
- Fuel consumption down to a class-leading 4,0 L/100km and CO2 emissions of just 106 g/km in the Volvo S60.
- New sport seats.
- Sensus Connected Touch system with on-line possibilities.
- Permanent high beam.
Emphasised attention to detail
The buyer of a new S60, V60 or XC60 can now specify a new sport seat design that is claimed to retain traditional Volvo comfort. There are several other examples of the attention to detail in the new 60 cars. The previously visible washer nozzles have been relocated out of sight under the bonnet. The radar cover has been painted gloss black, which makes it almost invisible in the grille. The chrome frame around the grille has been removed and the new, bigger “ironmark” badge enhances the new cars’ look.
More alloys on offer
Customers can now specify their S60 or V60 with 19-inch wheels and keep the same profile height as 18-inch items, thereby not compromising comfort. The XC60 is available with 20-inch alloys while keeping the same tyre profile height and ride comfort as with 19-inch wheels.
The new Volvo S60
“We’ve really increased the S60’s road presence with a new front design. The more focused and determined-looking headlamps help create this new, expressive ‘face’. We were thinking of a wolf’s eyes when we designed them,” explains Fedde Talsma, head of exterior design. He adds: “We’ve emphasised the S60’s horizontal lines at both the front and rear. Together with details such as a wider grille, daylight running lights and a new LED light guide on the taillamps, they give the S60 a striking, squat presence. The car has a beauty that is rooted in the natural world. The clean surfaces and contours give it a very Scandinavian feel.”
Inside, there are upgrades such as new upholstery colours, new wood inlays, a new headliner and silk-metal frames around the air vents and light controls.
Electronic Chassis Control
The S60 buyer has a choice of four chassis types – Touring, Dynamic, Four-C (Continuously Controlled Chassis Concept) and Lower Sport Chassis, previously only available on the R-Design version.
The new V60
The V60 is claimed to deliver a dynamic driving experiences similar to its sister saloon and with the same chassis options and the same levels of customer preference – Touring, Dynamic, Four-C (Continuously Controlled Chassis Concept) and Lower Sport Chassis, previously only available on the R-Design version.
Practicality is a major part of the V60’s repertoire. The rear seats can be folded down in 40/20/40 segments, so that the rear 430 litres of load space can be supplemented quickly and easily. V60s also boast two-stage integrated booster cushions for children. With one simple movement, the booster cushions pop up from the seat base giving a comfortable and safe ride height for children from three years and upwards.
The new Volvo XC60
Volvo’s best-selling model, the XC60, gets a redesigned bonnet.
“We’ve taken away any black trim so the car is now all one body colour. The new headlamps look very focused and determined, and the horizontal lines on the grille with its chrome bars emphasise the car’s width,” said Talsma.
The XC60 also benefits from an interior upgrade. The new features include revised wood inlays, a new headliner, textile B-pillars and silk-metal frames around the air vents and light controls.
Corner Traction Control now comes as standard. This torque-vectoring system helps the driver avoid understeer by applying just the right amount of brake force to the inner wheels while powering the outer wheels when accelerating out of a corner.
With AWD, the XC60 becomes an extremely capable vehicle on any road, in any kind of weather. The optional Hill Descent Control boosts this capability by automatically controlling the car’s speed when driving down steep slopes.
Enhancements across the new S60, V60 and XC60 range
Sensus Connected Touch
Sensus is the name Volvo uses for all its HMI (Human Machine Interface) functionality and the all-new Sensus Connected Touch is the latest addition. It enables connectivity and Internet in the car and turns the 7-inch display into a infra-red, beam-scanned touch screen that can be used even when wearing gloves – a world first in cars and handy in winter. It is also possible to share a wi-fi network with everyone in the car.
Connection is made either via a car-mounted 3G/4G dongle or the driver’s mobile phone.
The user has access to full Internet browsing (except when driving), Internet streaming of music, Internet radio (TuneIn and Orange Live Radio) with thousands of channels from all over the world, online (Google) Map and Search, Embedded Connected 3D navigation with online traffic info and dangerous zone warnings, Free Parking locator, weather information, a number of native and web applications, App Store for new functions and updates as well as a Volvo service locator.
You can find the track you want just by saying its name. The voice-activated system works on all music sources connected to the Sensus Connected Touch. TripInfo, meanwhile, can read out Wikipedia information about interesting points along the route via the audio system.
Adaptive Digital Display
The Adaptive Digital Display, which debuted in the all-new V40, is now available in the new S60, V60 and XC60. This active TFT (Thin Film Transistor) crystal display always shows the most important information in any given situation.
The driver can choose between three graphic themes, elegance, eco and performance.
Lower fuel consumption
The fuel consumption of the 84 kW, four-cylinder D2 diesel in the S60 with a manual gearbox has been improved to 4,0 L/100 km, producing CO2 emissions of only 106 g/km. The corresponding figures with the automatic gearbox are 4,1 l/100 km and 107 g/km.
The new Volvo V60 D2, also boasts reduced fuel consumption of 4,1 L/100 km (109 g/km) with the manual and 4,2 L/100 km (110 g/km) with the automatic gearbox.
These values are all EU combined cycle preliminary figures.
The automatic D3 and D4 versions of the S60 and V60 now come with CO2 emissions of 129 g/km (4,9 L/100 km).
The new Volvo XC60 has also been improved, with both the D5 and the D4 versions with a manual gearbox and AWD, delivering a combined fuel consumption of 5,3 L/100 km (139 g/km).
There are improvements with petrol power, too, with the S60 with the 1,6-litre GTDi (Gasoline Turbocharged Direct Injection) engine T4 (132 kW) or T3 (110 kW) and automatic gearbox now offering fuel consumption at 6,8 L/100 km (159 g/km). The corresponding figure for the V60 T4 and T3 is 7,2 L/100 km (167 g/km).
The three-spoke steering wheels can now be accompanied with paddle shifters for cars specified with automatic transmissions, allowing for driver controlled shifts with both hands on the wheel.
Permanent high beam with ground-breaking technology
The new Active High Beam Control eliminates the need to switch between low and high beam. Instead, Active High Beam Control makes it possible keep the headlights on full beam continuously.
When another car approaches from the opposite direction, the system helps to prevent dazzling of the oncoming driver by shading out only as much of the beam as necessary. This is done by a projector module mechanism integrated into the headlamp. The same benefit applies to drivers in preceding cars.
Cornering Light for better visibility
Another innovative option for driving in the dark is the low-speed Cornering Light feature. As an extension of the current Active Bending Light system, it lights up the area the driver is steering towards for safer manoeuvring – for instance, when turning into a small road or driving through a narrow gateway at night.
Heated windscreen
Cars equipped with a rain sensor can now benefit from an electrically heated windscreen for rapid de-icing on cold winter days.
The S60, V60 and XC60 are also available with outer rear view mirrors with auto dim. Using chromatic glass, the mirrors automatically dim to avoid glare from other traffic, just like the inner rear view mirror.
IntelliSafe systems supporting the driver
IntelliSafe is Volvo’s blanket name for all active safety systems, and Volvo’s world-first City Safety technology plays an important part. Fitted as standard, this advanced safety system works at speeds of up to 50 km/h. All models can also get Pedestrian Detection with full auto brake, which watches out for people walking into the car’s path.
The S60, V60 and XC60 can also be specified with the enhanced Blind Sport Information System (BLIS), which is now radar-based. The technology can also monitor and alert the driver to rapidly approaching vehicles up to 70 m behind the car, while still informing the driver about vehicles in the blind spots on both sides of the car.
Cross Traffic Alert uses the radar sensors at the rear end of the car to alert the driver to crossing traffic from the sides when reversing out of a parking space. This is especially helpful in tight and crowded areas where the side view may be restricted.
Expected arrival South Africa
Local Volvo fans can expect the entire refreshed range of the “60” line-up of models in the final quarter of 2013. Not all the features described may be available on local models.
