FOR the past few years, the only Volvos to sell here in decent numbers are SUVs such as the XC60 and XC90.
The Swedish car-maker wants to change all of that with the second generation of its relatively affordable mid-sized prestige sedan, the S60, which is aimed at the BMW 3-Series and Mercedes-Benz C-class, but Volvo has placed more emphasis on comfort and safety, as you may expect.
Three engines will be available by the start of 2011, but until the turbo four-cylinder petrol unit arrives the choice is between a 151kW/420Nm five-cylinder turbo diesel and a 224kW/440Nm six-cylinder turbo petrol.
Both engines feed their power through a constant all-wheel-drive system.
The S60 is also choc-full of safety gear, becoming the first car with Volvo’s new pedestrian detection and avoidance radar and camera system that automatically brakes for wayward pedestrians.
S60
Released: January 2001
Ended: March 2009
Family Tree: S60THE S60 was built to take on the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-class and Audi A4 and inject some youthful appeal into the Volvo brand. It arrived in Australia in 2001 and sold strongly to start off with.It had a dramatic design for the time came with two naturally aspirated and turbocharged five-cylinder petrol engines including the entry level 2.4-litre and the boosted 2.5-litre.Volvo increased its appeal by adding an all-wheel drive version as well as a red-hot 220kW 2.5-litre turbo R model soon after the launch.The range was given an upgrade in 2006 with a range of equipment and suspension revisions aimed at improving the handling. By 2008, sales had slowed and Volvo Australia dropped the S60 from its line-up.
Get the full story: Volvo's S60 was the sedan version of the V70 wagon
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