While the wall calendar indicates late Spring, a smattering of 2015 model year products have snuck onto dealer lots, including Volvo’s technologically relevant S60 T6, a European-built, mid-luxury sedan battling better known entries from Germany’s opulent Big Three: Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi.
Volvo, Sweden’s automotive darling (with Saab all but a memory), is in the process of revamping its entire product lineup with a new family of four-cylinder, worldwide powertrains tweaked for specific markets.
Ford Motor Company took a decade-long controlling interest of the Gothenburg, Sweden-based Company from 1999 through 2009. After Ford disbanded its Premier Auto Group (Jaguar, Land Rover and Austin Martin) Volvo became part of Geely, one of China’s fastest-growing auto groups.;; From Latin, Volvo translates to “I Roll.”
Historically, Volvo’s safety reputation is well founded. During Ford’s tenure, exterior styling moved away from ‘box on wheels,’ opting instead for a nuanced approach. Now with an $11 billion investment from Geely, Volvo takes aim under the hood by doubling down on all fours (cylinders that is).
Globally, Volvo has room to grow. In 2013, worldwide sales reached 427,840 units. While the U.S. remains its largest market (with 61,233 vehicles sold in 2013), sales in China may outpace U.S. numbers in 2014. Although mid-sized, the S60 currently measures as the smallest sedan in Volvo’s U.S. lineup.
Volvo’s 2015 model line includes a smattering of sedans, wagons and crossovers. Unlocking the secrets to the alpha-numeric code is not difficult. Sedans are noted with an “S” prefix (the mid-size S60 and flagship S80) while crossovers sport XC branding (XC60, XC70 and XC90). Wagons utilize the ‘V’ prefix. The “T” indicates turbo.
Our tester this week, the S60 T6 with Volvo’s new-and-impressive four-cylinder ‘Drive-E’ architecture, combines both turbocharging and supercharging, two similar-sounding words with different jobs.
Both turbo and super charging utilize forced air, delivering greater volumes into the engine for increased power results. Utilizing both technologies together is commonly called ‘twin charging.’
Think of a supercharger as adding power early in the process with a turbocharger stoking up toward the end of the cycle. In Volvo’s case a belt connects a supercharger unit to the crankshaft, pushing more air into the engine as the supercharger unit spins. A supercharger is driven by the car’s engine itself. A turbocharger runs off of recycled exhaust gases spinning a pinwheel-inspired turbine to pump air into the engine. Turbochargers are not mated to an engine crankshaft.
When carefully listening, a perceptible high-pitched wheeze from the supercharger is audible when accelerating quickly.
Another fuel-saving technology incorporated is the engine’s ‘start-stop’ mode (part of the new ‘ECO- Plus’ feature) activated during prolonged idles. Often utilized in gas-electric hybrid vehicles, this system silences the engines at standstills. Once drivers step on the gas pedal, the engine summons back awake. No gas gets burned during idle stoppage.
With traditional gas-electric hybrids, a smaller electric motor kicks in at lower speeds to get the vehicle moving before the gas engine is needed. With this S60 T6 Drive-E, the gas engine awakens once engaging the accelerator, with a louder, more apparent kick.
During a trek from Chicago to Road American in Elkhart Lake Wisconsin, highway performance got put to the test and the mid-size S60 T6 aptly delivered. More than ample passing power remains in reserve between 40 and 70 miles per hour with launch-like attributes. Indeed, this engine gives the performance of a conventional six-cylinder when cruising and passing; all with enhanced fuel economy (24 mpg city and 35 mpg highway).
While the S60 T6 Drive-E utilizes 87-octane gas in the United State to fill its 17.8-gallon tank, the system also works with diesel fuel for over sees markets. Volvo constructed the four-cylinder Drive-E to adapt with plug-in hybrid and gas-electric hybrid technologies. In the not-so-distant future, all Volvo body styles worldwide will offer four-cylinder Drive-E, replacing current five and six-cylinder engines.
Front-wheel drive versions of the S60 T6 Drive-E are available now. All-wheel variants are expected in a couple years. In the meantime, S60 is available with Midwest-friendly all-wheel drive in carryover S60 powertrains from previous model years.
The 2015 S60 T6 R-Design with a six-cylinder, 325 horsepower turbo engine comes with all-wheel drive as does the S60 T5 powered by a inline, five-cylinder 2.5-liter turbo engine (neither sport supercharging attributes). Of the trio, Drive-E packs the most smiles for miles delivered and rates as the high-tech engine of choice.
In addition, S60 offers a T5 Drive-E in 2015, featuring many Drive-E four-cylinder architectural nuances but without the supercharger (the turbo remains, as does the ‘T’ Designate).
Volvo supplied a S60 T6 Drive-E with a $38,150 starting price. The long list of options includes a $3,150 Platinum Package (upgraded sound system, real-time traffic); $1,500 navigation enhancements (radar cruise control, collision and lane departure warning); $1,250 nineteen-inch sport wheels; $800 dual Xenon headlights (with washers); $900 blind spot/cross traffic alert; $550 metallic paint; $500 front heated seats and $925 destination charge brought the bottom line to $47,725.
Below the mid-center multi-use color monitor is a long, thin, concaved brushed-silver panel with four corner circular dials, two on each outside edge. The top two monitor volume and selection control for the interactive seven-inch color screen. The bottom two remain heat sensitive, controlling ventilation temperature and heating/cooling for front bucket seats. In between, a rectangular layout consists of a cell-phone-like tactile pad doubling as radio station pre-sets. The outside frame includes push-buttons for air conditioning and other functions. Ventilation functions are creatively housed within this frame. This center column gets skewed and tilted toward the driver.
The highly animated instrument panel includes a center circle speedometer settings along the outer edge. Inside, door-open and other warnings are displayed with color accents. Wing-like extensions on each side include a digital, bar-type fuel gauge on the far left and gear-shift indicator to the far right. Both trunk and fuel-door release buttons are up off the floor on the dash, left of the manual tilt-and-telescope three-spoke steering column. Push-button start comes standard.
Between tush-and-back-friendly front buckets is a floor-mounted shifter controlling the new, silky-smooth eight-speed automatic transmission, dual cup holders with sliding top and storage bin with auxiliary ports operating portable electronic devices. Amber blind spot alert icons illuminate inside the vehicle at the intersection of the A-pillar and driver side/passenger-side window.
Tight leg room in back when compared to rival mid-sizers leaves the back row best suited for two adults or three pre-tweens. An arm rest with dual beverage holders folds down between outboard positions.
The S60’s 12.0 cubic-foot trunk volume is slightly below average for this mid-size category. Release levers unlocking 60/40 split back seats and enlarging cargo-carrying options are near the cargo opening’s top frame. Goose-neck type hinges are nicely insulated with padding so as not to crumple cargo.
Exterior styling revisions carried over from 2014 include a large, long rear window flanked by narrow ‘C’ pillars and high, short deck lid. Side windows remain narrow too with door handles strap-like and body colored. It’s a low, lean stance, common in many sedans today. Dual, rectangular, inlaid exhaust tips add an aggressive look. The front snout includes Volvo’s circular logo, with arrowhead jetting out at approximately two ‘clock, an ancient chemical symbol for the element iron.
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2015 Volvo S60Price as tested: $47,725
Wheelbase: 109.3 inches
Length: 182.5 inches
Width: 73.4 inches
Height: 58.4 inches
Engine: 2.0-liter inline four cylinder
Horsepower: 302
Curb weight:;; 3,472 pounds
City/Highway economy: 24 mpg city/ 35 mpg highway
Assembly: Gothenburg, Sweden