First pics: Volvo V60

Volvo's V60 wagon has broken cover after a German enthusiast magazine published pics and information of the important new model nearly two months ahead of the press embargo. As a consequence, we can reveal that the new model will offer a selection of petrol and diesel engines covering the gamut from environmentally respectful to track ready.

Based on the S60 sedan, which the Carsales Network has already tested, the V60 will offer buyers additional load space -- up to 430 litres with the triple-split folding rear seats in place -- without forgoing the safety and convenience features of the four-door platform sibling.

The V60 is understandably close in size to the S60, with the wagon sharing the S60's wheelbase of 2776mm. In overall length the wagon stretches to 4628mm. The front track measures 1588mm, while at the rear it's 1585mm.

"The typical sports wagon customer is an S60 buyer who would like some extra space and flexibility, but without the slightest compromise on sporty design and exciting driving properties," Volvo Cars President and CEO Stephen Odell was reported as saying in press material issued by the company today.

The car's design has been an important element of the V60 project, concentrating much attention from Volvo's stylists, who have aimed to create a wedge shape coupled with a coupe-like roof line.

"From the design viewpoint, the focus was on making the car as close to a coupé as possible, while retaining that handy extra space at the rear," said Örjan Sterner, head of exterior design for the V60.

"Our sports wagon does not aim to compete with the traditional estate car. For the customer who wants a lot of load space, there is our V70 or XC70."

While Volvo Australia has not announced the range of engines to power the Aussie-spec V60, the T6 petrol engine looks a cert. A turbocharged 3.0-litre six, the engine propels the V60 to 100km/h from a standing start in 6.6 seconds and on to an electronically-limited top speed of 250km/h. Peak torque is 440Nm and maximum power is 227kW, with combined-cycle fuel consumption calculated to be 10.2L/100km. When the T6 engine is specified, the V60 also comes with an upgraded six-speed automatic, driving through to all four wheels.

Volvo has announced two GTDi petrol engines displacing 1.6 litres. The lower powered T3 version is only available with a manual transmission and is unlikely to reach Australian showrooms, but the 134kW T4 engine can be specified with either a manual or six-speed Getrag Powershift twin-clutch transmission. This variant is the most likely of the three to arrive here as part of the range. 240Nm of peak torque is available from 1500 to 5000rpm and in overboost mode, can reach as high as 270Nm.

The V60 is also available with three diesels, two of which are five-cylinder engines, but the low-powered D3 only displaces 2.0 litres, whereas the higher performance D5 is a 2.4-litre with twin-turbo induction. Fitted with the larger engine, the V60 produces 153kW of power and 420Nm of torque, for an acceleration time of 7.9 seconds from 0 to 100km/h. The third engine is the DRIVe diesel, a four-cylinder of 1.6-litre capacity. Generating 86kW of power and 270Nm of torque at its peak, the 1.6-litre engine will only be sold with a manual transmission.

Volvo also plans to introduce a four-cylinder GTDi T5 engine of 2.0-litre capacity after the initial release of the V60. This engine is good for 151kW of power and 320Nm of torque, but it's unclear whether we'll see it in the range for Australia.

We do know for sure that for Australia, like other non-European markets, locally-delivered V60 variants will ride on a touring chassis, providing a softer ride quality than the dynamic-chassis cars sold in Europe.

Volvo Australia is expected to offer the V60 with the option of FOUR-C (Continuously Controlled Chassis Concept) active chassis control. In the V60 application, this option has been upgraded for improved control and comfort. The stability control system shared with the S60 features a new roll-angle sensor to detect slip earlier. Volvo will also equip the V60 with Corner Traction Control, which is a torque vectoring system that brakes the inside front wheel, transferring more torque to the outside wheel in order to reduce the tendency to understeer.

Still on the safety front, the V60 will feature Pedestrian Detection with full auto brake. This feature, as the name indicates, brings the car to a complete stop without driver intervention in the event that a pedestrian steps out in front of the vehicle. The full auto brake facility also operates in the event of a predictable collision with objects other than pedestrians and alerts the driver initially through both an audible warning and a flashing light in the head-up display. Should the driver fail to respond, the vehicle will apply full braking. The full auto brake function is also an integral part of City Safety, Volvo's system to avoid nose-to-tail collisions in heavy traffic, or at least reduce the severity of the impact. Similarly, Adaptive Cruise Control maintains distance between the auto transmission-equipped V60 and the car in front all the way to standstill.

Other safety features available with the V60 include Driver Alert Control, Lane Departure Warning, Blind Sport Information System, Active xenon lights and Rollover Protection System.

As standard, the V60 will come equipped with seatbelt pre-tensioners for all seats, seatbelt load limiters, seat-mounted side-impact airbags, side-curtain airbags, Side Impact Protection System and Whiplash Protection System.

The V60 introduces new comfort and convenience features, including Audyssey Laboratories MultEQ technology, that compensates for noise distortion due to in-car acoustics.

Volvo plans to build 50,000 units of the V60 at the company's facility in Torslanda, Sweden in the first year and expects about 90 per cent of output to be sold in Europe.

The V60 is due to be revealed at the Paris motor show in September, but Volvo Australia is likely to soft-peddle the new car with the local launch of the S60 sedan so close by then. For the time being at least, the local focus remains fixed on the S60, preparing all the promotional and marketing rigmarole. With the V60 following a few months later -- during the first quarter of next year -- there's a challenge for another day.

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