Volvo Launches new V60 D6 Plug-In Hybrid

Following the presentation of the new V60 D6 Plug-in Hybrid at the Geneva Motor Show this past March, Volvo has released more information as well as pricing in certain countries including Britain where it will be available for order from the beginning of 2012, with first deliveries expected in November.

In the UK, the European market-only V60 D6 Plug-in Hybrid will cost between £45,000 and £50,000, not including the “Plug-in Car Grant” government subsidy.

Pegged as the world's first diesel-electric plug-in hybrid production model, V60 D6 features a 2.4-liter five-cylinder turbodiesel delivering 215HP and 440 Nm (324.5 lb-ft) of torque that drives the front wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission, and a 70HP electric motor, which draws energy from a 11.2 kWh lithium-ion battery, driving the rear axle.

The V60 D6 can operate three different modes. In hybrid mode, the diesel and the electric engine work in parallel, achieving a range of up to 621 miles (999 km) and emitting just 49g/km of CO2.

In “pure” mode, the car is powered by the electric motor as much as possible offering a range of 32 miles (52 km). For maximum performance the driver can select the “power” mode, in which both motors work together, producing 215HP+70HP and 440+200Nm (324.5+147.5 lb-ft) of torque respectively. In this case, the V60 D6 accelerates from 0 to 100km/h (62mph) in 6.2 seconds.

"Our plug-in hybrid has received considerable attention since it was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in 2011”, said Stefan Jacoby, President and CEO of Volvo. “Now we're taking the next step by presenting the production model, which is graced with a distinctive profile featuring a spectacular silver color, an exclusive interior and generous standard equipment.”

Volvo’s plug-in hybrid will be available from November 2012 in a limited run of just 1,000 cars. This initial batch will be launched in just one color (“Electric Silver”) with glossy black details in parts like the grille and the front spoiler.

Its standard specification includes 17-inch alloy wheels, integrated exhaust pipes and a chromed “Plug-in Hybrid” logo on the front wings and the tailgate.

The interior features leather upholstery with contrasting stitching and inlays of blue-grey wood, a gear lever knob with integrated indicator, speed-dependent power steering, electrically adjustable driver's seat, parking sensors front and rear, Bluetooth phone link and Volvo on Call. Also standard are a High Performance Multimedia DVD audio system with a 4x40W amplifier, eight loudspeakers and seven-inch screen.

After the initial 1,000 units of the 2013 MY, production will increase to 4,000-6,000 cars from the 2014 model year, with Volvo expecting 80% of sales to go to company cars.

About 30 per cent of the car’s production is allocated to Sweden and the other Nordic countries. Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, France, the Netherlands and the UK will each receive a share of between 5 and 15 per cent.

"We expect the order books to fill very quickly”, commented Jacoby. “The most discerning customers have many exclusive cars to choose between. But for anyone who truly wants to be in a league of their own behind the wheel of the most ingenious car in the world, there's only our V60 Plug-in Hybrid.”

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Volvo Designer Imagines a P1800 Coupe for the 21st Century

It's been 50 years since Volvo presented the P1800, and the Remedial car maker has selected to level the situation by publishing a few images of what a present day decryption of the athletics car would look like. Captain christopher Ben, primary developer with Volvo, just so happens to be a big fan of the P1800 and labored up the images as element of a Tweets talk with lovers of the organization. Useless to say, the images have designed a serious mix among the Volvo true, but the organization has created it clear there are no programs to deliver a refreshed P1800 to promote.

That's a actual waste, too. We can think about such a car would provide Mercedes A5 a serious run for its income based on ultimate driveline selections.

Unfortunately, Volvo is still too fast paced shoring up its primary items to fear about branching off into low-volume marketers, at least for when. If you like the look of Benjamin's images, go over to the Volvo Facebook or myspace web page to let him know.

Story References: Volvo/Facebook via Autoblog.com

 

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Volvo Introduces New Performance Enhancements For Polestar XC60, S60 And XC70 T6

Polestar Volvo has introduced a program running in the United States on November 7, but the Swedish automaker has expanded its offerings in the 2011-2012 Volvo XC60, S60 and XC70 models are equipped with a T6 engine.

T6 The new Polestar ECU upgrade kit boosts power from 300 horsepower to 325HP and peak torque of 324 lb-ft to 354 lb-ft of the three models. According to Volvo, the increased power does not affect the amount of consumption of the average fuel cars.

"Just weeks after announcing the return package to select T5 models, which we have received many comments from our customers," said Chris Dauer, VP of customer service VCNA. "With Polestar, which can offer our customers concerned about the performance of the package they were looking for enhanced driver today through a variety of our carline" he said.

Volvo new software kit is priced at $ 1,495 in the U.S. installed and will be available to the national order on December 5.

After the last addition, the software package Polestar Performance is available on most new models powered Volvo T5 and T6 (see list below).

• XC60 T6 R-Design (MY2011-2012)


• C30 T5 (MY2008-2012)


• C70 T5 (MY2008-2012)


• S40 T5 (MY2008-2011)

 

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C&D Nabs Official 2014 Volvo XC90 Design Proposals

By the admission of Volvo, the XC90 is a "newcomer" in the luxury SUV market, and which began in 2002 - five years after Mercedes-Benz M-Class and three years later than the BMW X5.

However, Volvo says the XC90 has become the "most valuable export product of Sweden", record sales of 85 000 points in 2005 and will bring about 6.2 billion dollars by year's flagship. The United States has been the market leader in the XC90 38 800 units sold in 2004 and 36 200 in 2005.

But nine years is a very long time in the automotive industry, and even though Volvo SUV was updated at least three times in 2007, 2009 and 2011, the competition advanced. Meanwhile, the Swedish company has changed hands when it was sold by Ford to Geely, which is currently developing XC90 replacement.

While the second generation XC90 are linked to another "backwards" as it is in the early stages of development and is not intended to hit the market until 2014.

Car & Driver, visited Volvo's Design Studio in California just before the Los Angeles Auto Show, which the Swede has little to show other than the concept prototype.

There, the magazine has a vision of four drawings that describe the various design proposals for the new XC90. One of them is a blow to, and incorporates the new "face" in advance for that concept.

The other three images are three quarters behind sketches and although they are similar, they vary considerably in many details of the shape of the tail lamps of the size and angle of the pillar C.

The people at Volvo would not comment on which of the four is the closest to the green light, but they revealed that the new XC90 is the first model of the company to use the new architecture scalable platform - possibly with the system of kinetic energy recovery currently being tested by the manufacturer.

The leaders of the Swedish company has also told the magazine that the 2014 driver line-up XC90 is composed of four cylinders (probably turbo), according to the trend driven by the regulations more stringent emission reduction.

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New Volvo S60 and V60 R-Design

Volvo aims to increase the attractiveness of their models in the new 2011 S60 sedan and wagon V60 station with the launch of a new R-Design and management style will be available in fall 2010. The Swedish firm to take on BMW M sport kit and Audi S-Line sport combines visual enhancements inside and out, and a chassis tuned for sharper drive.

"These cars have been developed especially for buyers who want to put their own stamp on your car," says Magnus Jonsson, director of product development at Volvo Cars.

"And the R-Design, we need to attract younger audiences. We expect that 10 percent of all S60 and V60 customers choose the R-Design option in markets where it is available. We try to win more than one third of these customers to competing brands. "

Outside, adds R-Design treatment a grille painted gloss black piano, a front bumper more aggressive described in a matte black finish, a discreet boot lid spoiler (sedan) and roof spoiler (Estate ) and scored a diffuser at the rear which houses dual exhaust.

New and unique 18-inch alloy wheels in five sports tires shod round out the list of external changes.

Moving in interior design, includes a pair of sport seats in front of the body, special leather / fabric upholstery available in black-and-off light-ceramic or all black, the color, contrast stitching and R-Design steering wheel, gear lever, sports pedals and floor mats.

Under the sheet, engineers gave the Volvo S60 and V60 models, stiffer springs (15%) and shrubs (20%), a lowered ride height (-15mm), new mono-tube shock absorbers to back, and a strut tower brace under the hood.

Sällqvist Stefan, head of vehicle dynamics at Volvo Cars said: "The challenge was to increase the dynamics without feeling the rough frame if the frame is solid, even the asphalt slippery feel uneven We wanted a feeling yet clear Plush ... car now has a more solid, which in turn helps to make management more responsive with a distinctive touch with the road. "

The R-Design can be combined with all available engines ranging from 115 hp drive 1.6-liter diesel engine to a turbocharged 3.0-liter gasoline and six with 304 horsepower.

 

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