Volvo S60 a modest return to high performance

Pros:

• Gutsy turbocharged V6


• Well-balanced ride


• High quality interior


• Good fuel efficiency

Cons:

• Outdated 6-speed automatic transmission


• Handling is a bit soft for a high performance sports sedan

Ask any car enthusiast what they think of Volvo, and most will probably comment on the unique boxy exterior design, or the brand’s extensive focus on safety, or the practicality of a wagon with more trunk space than most SUVs. Discussions of performance or driving excitement probably won’t enter the picture.

This might change, however, if you happen to talk to someone who used to own an 850R wagon or 950R sedan. I can still remember lining up next to a Volvo wagon at a freeway on-ramp, thinking I would easily scoot by, only to be left in the dust when the light turned green. These turbo-charged, sport tuned Volvos were the ultimate sheep in wolfs clothing, offering a high level of performance, while still being safe and practical.
Unfortunately, Volvo all but abandoned the idea of high performance over the years, and even the exterior design, while still unique, has become more soft and conforming. Luckily, it appears the suits in Gothenburg have taken notice, as 2012 marks the return of a legitimate Volvo sports sedan in the form of the S60 R-Design.

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Volvo Concept You - Auto Shows

Volvo wants a better idea of ​​what luxury buyers want in a D-segment sedan, and is testing the waters by building concepts for measuring the reactions in major markets. The concept of the universe, shown earlier this year in Shanghai and is used to survey consumers there, was the first of these efforts, and the concept that debuted at the Frankfurt Auto Show is the next crack of the brand new flagship design.

An assumption that the Swedish brand has made about luxury buyers do not appreciate a great engine with a configuration of V. In the future, Volvo says that maintain accounts of their engines' a four-cylinder. Large vehicles such as the flagship S80, which replaces the four-cylinder will be assisted by a hybrid system, either a traditional or a battery with flywheel kinetic energy storage. We can safely assume that these turbo engines as well. Volvo promises of greater efficiency four-cylinder with four legs that current and power than her partner of six.

Reduce the burden on small engines of its future, Volvo promises a reduction of weight in the neighborhood of 220 to 330 pounds for his next big sedan. The concept is based on the new architecture of scalable platform Volvo (SPA), which will strengthen future medium and large cars and provide 40 percent of common parts between different size classes.

In terms of appearance, Volvo is using its power to decide what surveys elements of this concept and the concept of Universe combine to make the car new and important. The more successful bell-shaped strip of the Volvo Amazon of the 50 and 60, but loses us in the consumption of lower brightness. We like the look of four-door coupe, as well as the treatment of the back, modern, and they can be. The silhouette is apparently testing well in China, and of course has been successful here and in Europe.

Interestingly, Volvo is making no effort to conceal their ownership of China, with the president and CEO Stefan Jacoby to the chase and say that the car is being designed with the Chinese market in mind as much as the U.S. or Europe. That's where the growth is, after all, and if we are going to make their sales goal of 800,000 cars in 2020, will need all the growth can be achieved.

Source : Caranddriver.com
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