Volvo XC60Volvo, a manufacturer synonymous with extraordinary safety, has just launched its first ever crossover vehicle - the XC60. Claiming to be the most safest and stylish Volvo yet, this unique car combines the sportiness of a coupe with the practicality and ability of an SUV or in Volvo’s case, XC that stands for ‘cross country’.Despite the Scandinavian genes, British designer Steve Mattin, whose brief was to combine all the Volvo’s attributes into one, has designed the XC60 from scratch. The result is a truly stunning looking car packed to the brim with safety features, lashings of storage spaces, high levels of standard equipment and great driving dynamics. Prices start from £24,750 rising to just under £34,000, which may see some potential buyers groan under the current economic strain, but wait till you see what you get for your money.The exterior styling will certainly woo customers away from the main competitors such as the BMW X5 or VW Tiguan. For while the front of the XC60 is unmistakably a Volvo with the long bonnet, wide air intakes and sleek looking light clusters, the rear is totally unique. The light clusters cascade down from the tall tailgate and large rear window to the main body then bulge outwards almost like a woman’s body.Step up into the interior and a host of equipment greets the driver in a stylish finish of Nordic Light Oak Trim. I was concentrating on the 2.4 litre diesel with the top of the range trim SE LUX that comes with full leather upholstery in a different yet pleasing two-tone colour. The seats are heated, electrically adjustable with memory settings and very comfortable. The leather steering wheel is also adjustable and home to the remote audio controls plus adaptive cruise control.The cabin is packed with numerous storage solutions that every busy family needs, with the added benefit that the rear seats fold flush with the floor line by simply lifting a tab which can be operated using one finger. The large luggage space has a secret compartment underneath for personal effects and cannot be accessed unless the boot is open, thereby deterring any thieves.The five-cylinder turbodiesel 2.4-litre engine at the heart of the XC60 is one of the cleanest and most advanced diesel engines in the world. Though bettering Euro IV emissions requirements by some way. performance has not been hindered. Top speed is 121 mph and 0-62 takes just 12.5 seconds. Fuel consumption is equally impressive -37.7 mpg on the combined cycle with CO2 emissions just 199g/km, putting the car into VED band F.All variants come with an advanced electronically controlled All-Wheel Drive with Instant Traction as standard that enhances on-road handling and keeps the XC60 firmly on track even through tight country lanes and bends. The Instant Traction further boosts grip when starting on slippery or loose surfaces, so no excuse not to get to work because of the ‘wrong type of leaves’.A six-speed manual transmission is standard or customers can opt for Geartronic transmission, which can be used as either a full automatic or as a clutchless manual.The XC60 comes with ABS that includes Emergency Brake Assist which helps drivers stop in the shortest possible distance under emergency situations, and Fading Brake Support which will be useful for long mountainous descents.Volvo actually has an ambitious plan that by 2012, no one will be killed whilst in one of its cars. Making its world debut is City Safety standard across the range. With most common accidents occurring below speeds of 19 mph, this device will effectively stop you colliding with the car in front by braking for you in case you are distracted. A laser sensor fitted behind the rear view mirror keeps an eye on the traffic that is either stationary or moving in the same direction as you are. If the car in front does not pull away and you think it has and start to go, the City Safety will kick in and simply stop the car. This works at speeds less than 9 mph so if you are travelling above that speed but below 19 mph City Safety will not be able to stop the car but will substantially reduce the severity of the accident. Of course that’s on top of the improved child safety two-stage booster seats, WHIPS, SIPS, crumple zones, pedestrian protection, active bending lights, collapsible steering column, numerous other airbags, Blind Spot Information system, lane changing warning and distance alert to the car in front.As Volvo quite rightly claims, this is the safest car it has have ever made and one step closer to its ambitious plan of completely wiping out road casualties whilst travelling in a Volvo.Jackie VioletDecember 2008
Volvo XC60
Volvo, a manufacturer synonymous with extraordinary
safety, has just launched its first ever crossover vehicle -
the XC60. Claiming to be the most safest and stylish
Volvo yet, this unique car combines the sportiness of a
coupe with the practicality and ability of an SUV or in
Volvo’s case, XC that stands for ‘cross country’.
Despite the Scandinavian genes, British designer Steve
Mattin, whose brief was to combine all the Volvo’s
attributes into one, has designed the XC60 from scratch.
The result is a truly stunning looking car packed to the
brim with safety features, lashings of storage spaces,
high levels of standard equipment and great driving
dynamics. Prices start from £24,750 rising to just under
£34,000, which may see some potential buyers groan
under the current economic
strain, but wait till you see
what you get for your
money.
The exterior styling will
certainly woo customers
away from the main
competitors such as the
BMW X5 or VW Tiguan. For
while the front of the XC60
is unmistakably a Volvo
with the long bonnet, wide
air intakes and sleek
looking light clusters, the
rear is totally unique. The
light clusters cascade down
from the tall tailgate and
large rear window to the main body then bulge outwards
almost like a woman’s body.
Step up into the interior and a host of equipment greets
the driver in a stylish finish of Nordic Light Oak Trim. I
was concentrating on the 2.4 litre diesel with the top of
the range trim SE LUX that comes with full leather
upholstery in a different yet pleasing two-tone colour.
The seats are heated, electrically adjustable with
memory settings and very comfortable. The leather
steering wheel is also adjustable and home to the
remote audio controls plus adaptive cruise control.
The cabin is packed with numerous storage solutions
that every busy family needs, with the added benefit that
the rear seats fold flush with the floor line by simply lifting
a tab which can be operated using one finger. The large
luggage space has a secret compartment underneath for
personal effects and cannot be accessed unless the boot
is open, thereby deterring any thieves.
The five-cylinder turbodiesel 2.4-litre engine at the heart
of the XC60 is one of the cleanest and most advanced
diesel engines in the world. Though bettering Euro IV
emissions requirements by some way. performance has
not been hindered. Top speed is 121 mph and 0-62 takes
just 12.5 seconds. Fuel consumption is equally
impressive -37.7 mpg on the combined cycle with CO2
emissions just 199g/km, putting the car into VED band F.
All variants come with an advanced electronically
controlled All-Wheel Drive with Instant Traction as
standard that enhances on-road handling and keeps the
XC60 firmly on track even through tight country lanes
and bends. The Instant Traction further boosts grip when
starting on slippery or loose surfaces, so no excuse not
to get to work because of the ‘wrong type of leaves’.
A six-speed manual transmission is standard or
customers can opt for Geartronic transmission, which
can be used as either a full automatic or as a clutchless
manual.
The XC60 comes with ABS that includes Emergency
Brake Assist which helps drivers stop in the shortest
possible distance under emergency situations, and
Fading Brake Support which will be useful for long
mountainous descents.
Volvo actually has an ambitious plan that by 2012, no
one will be killed whilst in one of its cars. Making its world
debut is City Safety standard across the range. With
most common accidents occurring below speeds of 19
mph, this device will effectively stop you colliding with the
car in front by braking
for you in case you are
distracted. A laser
sensor fitted behind the
rear view mirror keeps
an eye on the traffic
that is either stationary
or moving in the same
direction as you are. If
the car in front does not
pull away and you think
it has and start to go,
the City Safety will kick
in and simply stop the
car. This works at
speeds less than 9 mph
so if you are travelling above that speed but below 19
mph City Safety will not be able to stop the car but will
substantially reduce the severity of the accident. Of
course that’s on top of the improved child safety two-
stage booster seats, WHIPS, SIPS, crumple zones,
pedestrian protection, active bending lights, collapsible
steering column, numerous other airbags, Blind Spot
Information system, lane changing warning and distance
alert to the car in front.
As Volvo quite rightly claims, this is the safest car it has
have ever made and one step closer to its ambitious plan
of completely wiping out road casualties whilst travelling
in a Volvo.
Jackie Violet
December 2008
l
l
l
l
Home
New Models
Industry
Green News
Odds n’Ends
