Volvo is making a big statement with the new S60 by saying its sportier and more distinct than, not just its previous model, but all previous Volvos. It makes its debut at the Geneva Motor Show next month and launches into one of the car world’s most competitive segments with a new coupé-like design and new pedestrian detection safety technology.
The new S60 range is available with a choice of two diesels and one petrol engine, including a 3.0-litre T6 petrol version with 304bhp, a 2.4-litre 205bhp D5 and a 2.0-litre 163bhp D3 powerplant. A DRIVe version powered by a 1.6-litre diesel engine with CO2 emissions of approximately 115g/km and fuel economy of up to 65.7mpg (combined cycle, preliminary figure) will join the range later in 2011.
Volvo says the S60’s athletic stance is accentuated by a sculpted bonnet and short overhangs front and rear, plus what Volvo’s design team calls the “racetrack” design which they say is because the car’s lines do not end abruptly but continue to flow. The exterior also incorporates front and rear skid plates, two frames in the lower valence, side scuff plates, exhaust tailpipe finishers and 18-inch alloy wheels.
Volvo’s designers have also used LED (Light Emitting Diode) technology to create signature lights at the front and rear that make the car clearly identifiable. And the steering gear ratio has been improved to try and give enhanced steering feel and sharper response.
The front spring struts have thicker pistons compared with the sports chassis in the Volvo S80. This means the body structure is better able to absorb lateral loads. The springs themselves are shorter and stiffer than before and at the front, spring strut mounting stiffness has been increased aiding more control.
Stefan Sällqvist, responsible for the S60 chassis development said the dampers had been road tested out in the English countryside. “We drove on old Roman roads that have only ever received a few layers of tarmac over the centuries – a perfect environment for finding the right damping qualities,” he said.
The S60 is the first saloon on the market with Volvo’s Advanced Stability Control. A new roll sensor means the risk of skidding can be detected at an early stage enabling the anti-skid system to kick in.
Corner traction control has also been added so the car can take corners more smoothly. When taking a curve, the car’s inner driven wheel is braked at the same time as more power is transmitted to the outer driven wheel. This allows the driver to take the corner more tightly while reducing any tendency to understeer.
The S60 also uses a new kind of braking system which has a number of features to provide the shortest possible stopping distance in all scenarios. Technology includes:
• ‘Ready Alert Brakes’ can predict when emergency braking is needed
• The brake callipers are applied lightly to the brake discs even before the driver presses the brake pedal
• Hydraulic brake assist helps the driver brake in the shortest possible distance. In an emergency situation where the driver does not press the brake pedal fast or hard enough, hydraulic brake assist can help utilise the ABS system optimally and therefore shorten the overall braking distance.
• Optimised hydraulic brakes is a system that amplifies braking ability during firm braking by using hydraulics to compensate for low vacuum pressure in the brake servo.
• Fading Brake Support uses the hydraulic system to gradually build up brake pressure during long, hard braking. This helps reduce the risk of brake fade and maintains pedal feel.
• Electronic parking brake as standard.
The car’s safety has also been boosted by the new ‘Pedestrian Detection’ system. This consists of a newly developed radar unit integrated into the car’s grille, a camera fitted in front of the interior rear-view mirror, and a central control unit. The radar’s task is to detect any object in front of the car and to determine the distance to it. The camera determines what type of object it is. The full auto brake part of the technology also responds to vehicles in front that are at a standstill or that are moving in the same direction as the car fitted with the system.
The newly developed dual-mode radar’s much wider field of vision ensures that pedestrians about to step into the roadway can be detected early on. The camera has higher resolution than the previous-generation auto brake which makes it possible to detect the pedestrian’s pattern of movement.
“The auto-brake system requires that the object is confirmed by both the radar and the camera. Thanks to the advanced sensor technology used, it is now possible to increase to full braking power,” said Thomas Broberg, Volvo’s senior safety advisor.
“Detecting pedestrians with sufficiently high reliability has been a complex challenge. Our innovative technology is programmed to trace a pedestrian’s pattern of movement and also to calculate whether he or she is likely to step into the road in front of the car. The system can detect pedestrians who are 80cm tall and upwards, so including children.”
In an emergency situation the driver first receives an audible warning combined with a flashing light in the windscreen’s head-up display. In order to generate an immediate, intuitive reaction, this warning resembles a brake light. At the same time, the car’s brakes are pre-charged. If the driver does not react to the warning and an accident is imminent, full braking power is automatically applied. However this technology has the same limitations as the human eye, and just like us it “sees” less well in the dark and in poor weather.
Volvo says the system can avoid a collision with a pedestrian at speeds of up to 21mph if the driver does not react in time. At higher speeds, the focus is on reducing the car’s speed as much as possible prior to the impact. The speed reduction is up to 21mph.
Drivers and passengers can experience the agile new chassis in complete comfort thanks to the spacious and refined cabin. The interior of the new S60 has been designed with driver-oriented details, but is still a five-seater car offering comfortable space for all its occupants. The sculpted outer rear seats give the passenger in the middle welcome side support. Knee space in the rear seat has increased by 30 mm compared with the previous-generation S60.
Easily accessible storage space is another important part of interior comfort and convenience. The all-new Volvo S60 has a storage compartment behind the centre stack and another in the centre console armrest, while in the door pockets there is space for books, maps, soft-drink bottles and cans. Both the front and rear seat occupants have seat pockets within easy reach. The rear seat splits 40/60 and the boot opening has been made 100mm wider than in the previous-generation S60.
The car also features an Infotainment system that integrates information from the audio unit, navigation system, mobile phone and other functions into a five- or seven-inch colour screen in the upper part of the centre console. The screen is in a high position to make it easy for the driver to keep their eyes on the road.
The S60 is being introduced in the fashionable metallic colours of Vibrant Copper and Electrum Gold.
