Volvo has decided that the new Volvo S60 will be a conventionally sized rival to established compact executive cars such as the Audi A4 and the Mercedes C-class, and not awkwardly sized half a class above like the last-generation model.
It will be previewed by this, the Volvo S60 Concept at next month’s Detroit motor show. You can watch the video below.
Although the production car will not be as dramatic as the Volvo S60 Concept, it will retain the same proportions, low roofline and XC60-style front end. The Volvo S60 is the second model to get the firm’s new look (after the Volvo XC60), which is meant to make the cars clearly recognisable as a Volvo at 100 yards.
The concept’s most striking features, such as the rear-hinged rear doors and the lack of a B-pillar, will not make it into production. And despite what Volvo describes as coupe-style looks, the Volvo S60 is actually a saloon with a conventional boot lid.
The rear doors are mounted on parallelogram hinges; they pop out from the car’s body and then slide backwards towards the rear wheel arch.
The absence of a B-pillar helps to improve access. Inside, Volvo has replicated the floating console in its production cars in Swedish crystal glass, with the controls for the audio and climate control set directly into the glass.
The dashboard takes the shapes used in the XC60 and updates them with a split instrument pod featuring a large central speedometer. The wildest concept car touch is in the headlight clusters, where two miniature Viking longboats illuminate when the lights are switched on.
The concept also has a new safety feature, claimed as a world first by Volvo, that will be fitted to the production car. It can detect pedestrians in the path of the car and can fully apply the brakes if an accident is impending.
Dan Stevens
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Re: New Volvo S60 unveiled
I think that this looks superb and it bodes well that the production XC60 differs little from last year's concept releases. Indeed I think that the XC60 looks even better in the flesh than pictures, so the S60 in the flesh could well be a real jaw-dropper.
I recently sat in on a friend's test drive of an XC60 and both of us were pleasantly surprised at how stylish and resolved the exterior was, even in an unusual shade of green, and how much more comfortable and well-thought out the interior seemed compared to rivals he was considering. The only, but big, issue was the poor engine choice and disregarding the barmy T6, he drove the D5, the most powerful diesel available, which was too unrefined and not particularly quick off the mark. This was a real shame given the rest of the car, so when I see this new S60 I'm thinking that it's gorgeous, but its success is so dependent on Volvo offering a fast and torquey turbocharged petrol and a couple of new diesels.
Re: New Volvo S60 unveiled
In 2001 the S60 was a bit bigger than 3 series, c-class, a4 etc - surely now it's small compared to the opposition? Especially with brutes like the new ford mondeo (bigger than the 97 e-class isn't it?)
Re: New Volvo S60 unveiled
design wise its a pretty much mixed bag
first impressions are jaguar xf, ford mondeo
if you take the badge off
from 150 yards you couldnt tell if its an audi a5 also!
the colour is brave, although look like a clay, chocolate, hence the melted stance
and the front face appears very soft and rounded, not a hard chisled edge volvo representing strength, more peugeot wide mouth happy frog face...
interior is out of this world tho,
looks like a completely different car