Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid detailed ahead of Geneva debut [w/video]

Filed under: Hybrid, Wagon, Geneva Motor Show, Volvo, Diesel

Volvo V60 Plug-In Hybrid

Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid – Click above for high-res image

While hypermilers debate the various advantages and drawbacks of diesels versus hybrids, Volvo is here to ask, “Why not have both?” As promised, the Swedish automaker is rolling into Geneva with what it’s calling “the world’s first diesel plug-in hybrid”.

Packaged into the svelte V60 wagon, the diesel hybrid packs two distinct drivetrains that can operate separately or in conjunction with one another. Up front is a 2.4-liter five-cylinder turbodiesel with 215 horsepower and 324 pound-feet of torque, while a 70-horsepower electric motor with a 12-kWh lithium-ion battery pack twists the Electric Rear Axle Drive (ERAD).

At the touch of a button, the V60 hybrid can operate in Pure mode as an EV with a 32-mile range on electric power alone. In Hybrid mode, it emits less than 50 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer with a 746-mile range, and in Power mode, the powerplant acts as a boosted torque monster with a combined output at 472 lb-ft of twist for a 6.9-second sprint to 62 miles per hour. That may not seem too quick, but for a diesel wagon schlepping around that much Duracell, it’s relatively rapid.

The V60 Plug-In Hybrid is set to debut at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show, but if you want to see a brief video and delve further into the specs now, feel free to check out the full press brief after the jump.

[Source: Volvo]

Continue reading Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid detailed ahead of Geneva debut [w/video]

Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid detailed ahead of Geneva debut [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Feb 2011 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Volvo bringing all-wheel-drive V60 plug-in hybrid to Geneva

Filed under: Concept Cars, Hybrid, Wagon, Geneva Motor Show, Volvo

2011 Volvo V60

2011 Volvo V60 – Click above for high-res image gallery

Volvo has announced plans to bring a “virtually production ready” V60 plug-in hybrid to the Geneva Motor Show this March, and if it makes it to market, it will be both the automaker’s first gasdiesel-electric production model and the first all-wheel-drive plug-in hybrid to be sold in the States.

The V60 hybrid will essentially pack two separate drivetrains: a 215-horsepower turbodiesel 2.4-liter five-cylinder up front and a 70-hp electric motor mounted between the rear wheels. A 12 kWh lithium-ion battery pack feeds juice to the rear electric motor and Volvo claims that the V60 hybrid can be driven for up to 31 miles on electricity alone. Volvo CEO Stefan Jacoby is adamant that the V60 will be a sports wagon for the enthusiast, which we can hopefully confirm when sales begin in 2012.

Gallery: 2011 Volvo V60

[Source: Volvo]

Continue reading Volvo bringing all-wheel-drive V60 plug-in hybrid to Geneva

Volvo bringing all-wheel-drive V60 plug-in hybrid to Geneva originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Jan 2011 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Volvo reveals S60 and V60 R-Design models ahead of Paris debut

Filed under: Sedan, Wagon, Europe, Paris Motor Show, Volvo, Luxury

2011 Volvo S60 R-Design

2011 Volvo S60 R-Design – Click above for high-res image galery

Volvo has been so kind as to give us an inkling of what to expect from the company when it arrives at this year’s Paris Motor Show. The Swedish carmaker will display new R-Design versions of both the S60 sedan and the V60 wagon. According to the press release, both cars will receive the usual go-fast treatment, starting with a few aesthetic changes outside. The R-Design cars will wear a more aggressive fascia up front, unique 18-inch alloys, revised sports seats inside and a few suspension tweaks to help everything stay planted through the twisties.

That means firmer bushings all the way around, a strut-tower brace up front and lower, stiffer coils on all four corners. The icing on the cake is a new corner traction control system that uses a torque-vectoring system to make for smoother cornering, a compelling feature that we just tested on the plain-jane S60 T6 all-wheel drive. Don’t look for any extra horsepower under the hood, though. Volvo has left the usual array of engines completely untouched. Both the R-Design S60 and V60 will debut at the 2010 Paris Motor Show next month. Hit the jump for the full press release.

Gallery: 2011 Volvo S60 R-Design

[Source: Volvo]

Continue reading Volvo reveals S60 and V60 R-Design models ahead of Paris debut

Volvo reveals S60 and V60 R-Design models ahead of Paris debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Sep 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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