VOLVO'S ALL NEW S60 TAKES COVER OFF IN GENEVA
2010-03-03 10:52:32 Author: admin Source:
The all-new Volvo S60 has its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show, making its entry into one of the automotive world's toughest segments backed by an extrovert attitude never before seen in Volvo showrooms. The first-generation Volvo S60 was launched in 2000. It soon became Volvo Cars' most popular model, enjoying worldwide acclaim and peak sales of 110,000 cars in 2002. All told, there are about 600,000 S60s on roads the world over today.
The all-new S60 has been sculpted to move you - both physically and emotionally. "The sporty design delivers a visual promise of enthusiastic driving characteristics and I can assure you that the all-new S60 truly lives up to that promise. Its driving properties are better than those of any previous Volvo. What is more, the car's innovative new technologies help you become both a better and a safer driver," says Volvo Cars President and CEO Stephen Odell.
With its all-new Volvo S60, Volvo Cars is advancing its position in one of the car world's most competitive segments: CD Premium.
The initial annual target for the all-new Volvo S60 is 90,000 cars and this time too, the car's customer base is spread unusually uniformly throughout the world. Europe (including Russia), North America, and the rest of the world will each account for about one-third of total sales. The five largest single markets will be the USA, China, Russia, Sweden and Great Britain.
The all-new S60 is built at the Volvo Cars factory in Ghent, Belgium. The first cars will be delivered to customers in early summer 2010.
The all-new S60 is a Volvo that embraces contrasts. Its clear driver orientation makes it the ideal companion for the keen driving enthusiast. At the same time, it integrates high-tech innovation that helps it protect one of the most vulnerable road-users in modern traffic: the pedestrian. Pedestrian Detection with full auto brake is a groundbreaking technological solution. It can detect pedestrians who walk into the road in front of the car, warn the driver - and automatically apply full braking power if the driver does not respond in time.
In simple terms, car buyers can be divided into two main categories: enthusiasts and pragmatists. For the enthusiast, the car is a high-priority conversation topic that can never be exhausted, while the pragmatist only shows interest in cars when it is time to replace his or her current vehicle with a new one every three or four years or so.
In a historical perspective, Volvo's brand has attracted more pragmatists than enthusiasts. However, as each successive generation of Volvo models became increasingly emotional, that picture has changed - and the all-new S60 is packed with all the ingredients from the enthusiast's favourite menu.
The all-new Volvo S60 is 463 cm long, with a wheelbase of 278 cm. The track is 159 cm both front and rear. The sedan can be specified with a choice of two chassis. On the European market the newly developed dynamic chassis is standard, while most markets in North America and Asia will have the comfort chassis as standard with the sport variant available as an option.
The difference between the two chassis alternatives is to be found in the dampers and the front and rear subframes. Here the comfort variant has a somewhat softer setting to give a smoother ride on poorer road surfaces.
During the development process, the chassis team carved out a holistic solution that features changes and refinements for virtually every single detail that influences a car's driving properties.
The steering gear ratio has been made 10 percent faster than in previous models to give enhanced steering feel and sharper response. The steering column's thicker tubing and stiffer bushes increased torsional rigidity by 100 percent. This also contributes to the increased feeling of direct contact with the wheels and the road.
The front spring struts have thicker piston rods compared with the sports chassis in the Volvo S80. The 47 percent increase of stiffness means that the structure is better able to take up lateral loads. The springs themselves are shorter and stiffer than before. The Eigen frequency has increased by 10 percent.
The bushes are generally stiffer than in Volvo's current sports chassis. At the front spring strut mountings, stiffness has increased by 50 percent. The subframe bushes front and rear are up to twice as stiff compared with previous models. The link arm bushings have also been optimised for sporty driving with full control.
The dampers offer more damping than in any previous Volvo model. The damper mountings at the rear are made of PUR (polyurethane) instead of rubber, a solution that provides better balance between comfort and dynamic control.
The software in the AWD (All Wheel Drive) system has been modified to allow the four-wheel drive variants (four-wheel drive is standard in the T6 and optional with the D5) of the all-new Volvo S60 to exploit the sporty new chassis to the limit.
All variants of the new S60 can be specified with the FOUR-C active chassis. The FOUR-C active chassis has been modified and refined for better control and comfort feel compared to previous Volvos. This is an advanced, self-adjusting chassis system that uses a number of sensors to continuously monitor the car's behaviour. In mere fractions of a second, the dampers are adjusted to suit the current driving situation.
With three alternative chassis settings, all it takes is for the driver to press a button to alter the car's character: Comfort, Sport or Advanced.
The S60 is the first sedan model on the market with Advanced Stability Control. With a new roll angle sensor, it is possible to identify any skidding tendency at a very early stage. This means that the anti-skid system can step in earlier and with greater precision. Advanced Stability Control is a great asset in dynamic driving involving considerable lateral forces, which improves handling and rapid avoiding manoeuvres. Trailer Stability Assist helps dampen the weaving or snaking action that may occur when towing a trailer or caravan. The car is stabilised by braking one or more wheels and by reducing torque.
Engine Drag Control prevents the wheels from locking during engine braking on a slippery surface. The DSTC system also has a sports setting that makes it possible to drive more actively. By disabling the anti-spin system, the car becomes more oversteered.
The dynamic new chassis in the all-new Volvo S60 is backed up by a range of electronic systems that sharpen the sporty driving experience still further. Corner Traction Control is a new feature that uses torque vectoring so the car takes curves even more smoothly. This technology is a further refinement of the Dynamic Stability and Traction Control (DSTC).
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 curve more tightly while reducing any tendency to understeer.
A highly advanced braking system is an important part of the dynamic driving properties of the all-new S60. The sedan is equipped with a number of features that interact to provide the shortest possible stopping distance in all scenarios.
Ready Alert Brakes can predict when swift 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 thus 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. The all-new S60 is equipped with an Electronic Parking Brake as standard. Broad range of engines, led by an even more powerful T6 version
During its first year of production, the all-new Volvo S60 will be available with a variety of diesel and petrol engines spanning the range from an economical 115 horsepower DRIVe version to an eager high-performance turbocharged version producing 304 horsepower. All the engines have been developed to meet the highest demands on sporty, dynamic driving with competitive fuel consumption. The T6 petrol engine has a displacement of 3.0 litres and has been improved still further, primarily thanks to lower internal friction. It now pumps out 304 hp and no less than 440 Nm of torque. Maximum torque is achieved from just 1500 revs and remains available throughout the rev range. This promotes fast acceleration and smooth progress on the road. At the same time, Volvo Cars' engine specialists have succeeded in cutting fuel consumption by about 10 percent to 10,2 l/100 km (EU Combined, preliminary figure).
The engine's power is delivered to the wheels via Volvo's second-generation six-speed automatic Geartronic transmission. New valves and lower friction mean faster gearchanges than before. AWD (All Wheel Drive) is standard on the T6. The new four-cylinder 2.0T GTDi (Gasoline Turbocharged Direct Injection) engine has a displacement of two litres and produces a generous 203 hp, with 300 Nm of torque available from 1750 rpm.
New in-house-developed turbocharged technology, direct injection and twin variable camshafts produce a unique combination of low fuel consumption, low emissions and a high and broad performance range, all packaged in a very compact format. The Volvo S60 2.0 GTDi uses just 7.9 litres of fuel per 100 kilometres (EU Combined, preliminary figure).
The turbocharger is the market's smallest in relation to the engine's maximum power output. The turbo not only offers excellent performance, it also improves aftertreatment of the exhaust gases.
Another new feature is that the exhaust manifold and turbo are made of sheet steel rather than a heavier casting. Steel is lighter, easier to form and, above all, the system has lower heat radiation owing to the layer of extra insulation. This permits high temperature in the gas flow and thus more efficient combustion without noticeably raising the engine compartment temperature.
A manifold made of sheet steel is admittedly nothing particularly new but thus far it has only been used in combination with a cast turbo housing. The new fully integrated turbo system of sheet steel is a world innovation and has been patented by Volvo.
Later during the first year of production, the all-new S60 will also become available as a 2.0 GTDi variant producing 240 hp and torque of 320 Nm. Furthermore, there will be a 1.6-litre GTDi engine available in two versions: 180 hp and 150 hp with torque of 240 Nm.
All the GTDi engines will be available in combination with Volvo's automatic six-speed Powershift transmission or a six-speed manual gearbox. Powershift works in principle like two parallel manual gearboxes with separate clutches, giving lightning-quick and fuel-saving gearchanges.
The engine range also includes two five-cylinder turbodiesels. The D5 high-performance engine with twin turbos produces 205 horsepower and 420 Nm of torque. Acceleration from 0-100 km/h takes 7.8 seconds (manual and automatic). Top speed is 235 km/h (manual) and 230 km/h (automatic).
In the most recent D5 version, which was introduced in spring 2009, the performance and driveability requirements have been met by fitting two turbochargers of different sizes, one taking over from the other and providing added power within a broader rev range. The result is alert response and rapid acceleration at all speeds, with seamless transfers in the turbo rev range between the two turbochargers.
The complementary properties of the two turbos are utilised optimally for a combination of high performance and low fuel consumption of 5.9 l/100 km (EU Combined, preliminary figure) putting this engine in the running for best in class.
Advanced fuel injection technology using piezoelectric fuel valves gives exact distribution of fuel in the combustion chamber, with efficient combustion and low emissions as a result.
In addition, there is the newly developed two-litre D3 producing 163 hp and 400 Nm of torque. Acceleration from 0-100 km/h takes 9.2 seconds (manual and automatic). Top speed is 220 km/h (manual) and 215 km/h (automatic).
The new five-cylinder 2.0D is in principle the same engine as the present 2.4D, but cylinder capacity has been reduced with a shorter stroke to optimise fuel consumption. With a manual gearbox fuel consumption (EU Combined, preliminary figure) is now down to 5.2 l/100 km (138 g CO2/km).
The engine has been optimized with a view to low fuel consumption and the injection system has a different type of piezoelectrical fuel valve compared with the D5 engine. These valves keep fuel consumption to a minimum thanks to exceptionally fast and precise injection pulses under high pressure. This results in far more efficient combustion.
In order to give the car better driving properties, the turbocharger has been fine-tuned for high torque from low revs. A maintenance-free particulate filter that traps about 95 percent of the soot particles is fitted as standard in both engines, making them particularly environmentally suitable alternatives. Both turbodiesels are available with six-speed automatic transmissions or a six-speed manual gearbox. The D5 can also be specified with all-wheel drive.
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