Volvo V60 Labeled as a Lifestyle Wagon by Consumer Reports

The Volvo V60 Wagon looks very different from traditional boxy Volvo wagons, and Consumer Reports’ Tom Mutchler believes that’s a good thing from a styling point of view. However, when it comes to practicality, the V60 doesn’t live up to its predecessors. That’s why Consumer Reports see the V60 more as a lifestyle wagon.

Volvo Announces New Low Emission 181HP D4 Diesel and 306HP 2.0L Inline-Four Gasoline T6

Volvo’s five-cylinder D3 and D4 diesel engines were never the most efficient two-liter units on the market, but they did punch well above their capacity in terms of torque and, of course, they made a pleasant telltale thrum that accompanied each prod of the throttle.

Now, the Swedes have brought out a new Drive-E powertrain for use under the bonnet of the S60/V60, but it’s not based on the old D4, because this new 181 hp one loses one cylinder, and with it, a lot of charm.

Speaking of torque, Volvo omits to mention if the figure has changed or not, but the old 163 hp version had 400 Nm, which is close to what some mainstream V6 diesels make… What we can tell you without fear of misinforming is the Drive-E unit’s claimed fuel consumption, which sits at 3.8 l/100 km or 74.3 mpg UK. Then, there are also the very low CO2 emissions, which are a claimed 99 g/Km if buyers go for a six-speed stick.

“The Drive-E diesels feature world-first i-ART technology with pressure feedback from each fuel injector instead of using a traditional single pressure sensor in the common rail” – still won’t sound as good as before, though… “The combination of injection pressure at 2,500 bar and i-ART technology gives the customer an engine with high performance, improved fuel economy and considerably lower emissions. It is a breakthrough comparable to our invention of the lambda sensor for the catalytic converter in 1976,” according to Derek Crabb Vice President Powertrain Engineering at Volvo Car Group.

Next up, Volvo has another two-liter unit with the wrong number of cylinders for auditory pleasure in store, and it’s somewhat misleadingly named the T6. However, this one is fueled by gasoline, makes 306 hp and pushes the S60 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 5.9 seconds, benefiting from being both turbocharged and supercharged. However, it’s still touted as being efficiency-oriented too, using up just 6.4 l/100km (44.1 mpg UK/ 36.75 mpg US) and emitting an almost unbelievable 149 g/km CO2 – that’s very good for its power output. These figures are achieved in conjunction with a new eight-speed automatic gearbox that will become available throughout the range. The new T6 debuts next year, so if you want a six-pot, with the prettier facelifted body, you still have some time to pick one up.

By Andrei Nedelea

PHOTO GALLERY

Scoop: Volvo Caught Developing New V60 Polestar Performance Estate

If these spy shots are anything to go by, then it looks like Volvo's limited production run of the S60 Polestar Performance sedan for the Australian market may be followed up by a similar version of the V60 estate.

The lightly camouflaged prototype finished in Polestar's signature baby blue shade sports an array of visible upgrades, including the modified front bumper that incorporates a lip spoiler, a new rear bumper with a diffuser flanked by single pipes, a roof spoiler, big alloy wheels wrapped in low profile rubber and large Brembo brake calipers.

What we can't see, is what will (or won't…) really make this Volvo special. On the sedan model, Volvo's racing and performance tuning partner went for a modified version of the standard model's 3.0-liter six-cylinder unit fitted with a bigger turbo, intercooler, revised engine mapping and racing exhaust. The result of these upgrades is an output of 345hp (350PS) and more than 500Nm (369+lb-ft) of peak torque.

Whether this tester features the same engine linked to a revised 6-speed automatic and all-wheel drive as the S60 Polestar Performance model, is something that remains unknown at this point, while we're also not aware if Volvo plans to offer the V60 globally or limited to certain markets.

Photo Credits: CarPix for CarScoopS

PHOTO GALLERY

Volvo Sends 508hp S60 Polestar Performance Concept to Russia

For a car that has already been sold to an unidentified American buyer for the paltry sum of $300,000 or the equivalent of a BMW M5 ($89,000) sedan, a Porsche 991 Carrera Convertible ($93,700) and a Corvette ZR1 ($112,600), the one-off Volvo S60 Polestar Performance Concept is sure racking up a lot of miles.
On the other hand, the buyer had been informed by Volvo officials that he would receive the car only after Polestar finishes promoting it to the media and the public.

New Volvo S60 Coupe-Convertible Photo Real?

A supposedly leaked picture of a Volvo S60 Coupe-Convertible based on the new sedan model, said to have been shot during some sort of internal presentation, has been making the internet rounds this morning.

However, in this day and age of photoshop wizardry, you can't trust everything you see on the web. And judging from the picture of the standard S60 saloon that you can check out after the jump, we have serious doubts about its authenticity.

New Volvo V60 Sports Wagon: 2011 S60 gets Practical

Revealed ahead of its Paris Motor Show debut, the all-new Volvo V60 is the estate version of the recently launched 2011 S60 sedan. Aimed almost squarely at European buyers as Volvo projects that "no less than 90 percent" of the annual V60 production of 50,000 cars will find a home in Europe, the sporty-looking estate model will go on sale this fall.

Volvo describes the low slung V60 as a sports wagon with a coupe-like roofline. "The typical sports wagon customer is an S60 buyer who would like some extra space and flexibility, but without the slightest compromise on sporty design and exciting driving properties," says Volvo Cars President and CEO Stephen Odell.

However, Volvo's focus on looks come with a cost as the V60's boot space is a mere 430 liters with the rear seats up. That's compared to 460lt of the BMW 3-Series Touring, 485lt of the Mercedes C-Class Estate and 490lt of the Audi A4 Avant. The car will come equipped with a 40/20/40-split rear seat and the fold-flat front passenger seat.