Volvo S60 Concept: The Scandinavian Sports Car

Motoring Channel Staff - 16/December/2008

Gothenburg, Sweden – Ford may be looking at selling off its controlling stake in Volvo in the near future, but this hasn't stopped the Swedish car maker from forging its own destiny.

Set to be unveiled for the first time publicly at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show in January, the new S60 Concept is a preview of the next generation S60 which is due to ship in2010.

The new concept car represents a seismic shift in the way Volvo designs cars, and is perhaps Volvo's hottest looking car to date.

Design

"The all-new S60 will be one of the strongest players in a segment where the competition is razor-sharp," says Volvo Cars President and CEO Stephen Odell.

"The sporty design gives visual promise of an enthusiastic drive and I can assure you here and now that the all-new S60 will live up to that promise.

"The driving properties are better than in any previous Volvo. The car's technology will help you to be a better and safer driver," adds Stephen Odell who is clearly pleased with the car's development.

While the penultimate S60, arriving in 2010, will look slightly different from what you see on this page (particularly the smaller details), but the coupe-like proportions will remain.

The coupe-inspired lines that gave the original S60 its characteristic stance are even more pronounced in the next generation.

There appears to be a slight resemblance to the highly-regarded Ford Mondeo, and Volvo says that Scandinavian inspiration permeates the entire design, seen in areas like the headlight design which are meant to create the image of two miniature Viking longboats.

"The concept car's exterior gives a clear indication of what customers can expect of the all-new S60," says Volvo Cars' design director Steve Mattin.

In addition to the Viking long boat LED headlamps, one of the Volvo S60 Concept's more striking design elements are the unique rear doors.

Volvo explains that the unique rear doors offer a spectacular show whenever they are opened and shut. You push of a button and doors begin to open normally then in the next phase, the forward section swings out and away from the car's body and the door glides parallel with the side of the car until it reaches its end position by the rear wheel.

The Swedish car maker claims that because this door system removes the need for a B-pillar between the front and rear seats, entry and exit access is improved greatly.

But will this high-tech door system make the transition to the production version S60? Along with the segmented glass roof, we're guessing not.

Other visual cues include the large 7-spoke 20-inch alloy wheels and bronze brake calipers that blend in with the vehicle's "Warm Liquid Copper" paintwork that draws inspiration from Sweden's copper mining history.

"In forthcoming models, you will see more and more of our "racetrack" design cues," says chief designer Steve Mattin.

"The car's lines do not end abruptly but instead forge a continuous flowing pattern inspired by the fast sweeps of the racing track. In the concept car, this is particularly visible at the rear," adds Mattin.

The brake light assemblies use coloured LED bulbs so that when switched off they form a clear, uncoloured design.

Another interesting design feature is the retractable rear diffuser that adjusts in accordance with the vehicle speed to deliver improved aerodynamic properties.

Engine

Nicknamed the GTDi, Volvo is pushing ahead with turbocharged petrol technology to enliven the next generation of Scandinavian prestige cars.

With a displacement of just 1.6-litres, the Gasoline Turbocharged Direct Injection (GTDi) engine outputs an impressive 134 kilowatts (180hp) but according to Volvo spits out just 119 grams of CO2 per kilometre.

Volvo claims the engine will deliver fuel economy figures of 5.0L/100km which on par with some hybrid cars. If such claims prove to be accurate, Volvo will be on a winner with the new GTDi technology.

"GTDi technology is an important CO2-cutting technology for petrol engines," says Derek Crabb, the powertrain chief at Volvo Cars.

"In the S60 Concept we have also added a number of other developments that further reduce fuel consumption. Several of these features will make their way into our production models in the coming years," said Crabb, who could be hinting at a hybrid version of the GTDi.

Like Audi FSI engines, the new Volvo engine (which will be first introduced in 2009) pressurises the fuel then injects it directly into the cylinder/combustion chamber, the result being higher power outputs and lower emissions.

Volvo says that when combined with turbo charging, the GTDi technology makes it possible to reduce engine displacement with maintained performance, but with about 20 per cent lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

The new 1.6-litre engine that will feature in the Volvo S60 Concept will also incorporate a start/stop functionality that switches off the engine when the car is at a standstill, such as at the traffic lights.

Volvo will also introduce the 'Powershift' gearbox, essentially a double clutch system similar to Volkswagen's DSG. Volvo is also working on the following features:

• DRIVe-Mode: gives the driver the possibility of reducing fuel consumption via an "economy mode" that limits the function of a number of selected electrical or mechanical systems.

• Grille shutter: a wind-deflecting panel that can be closed to reduce air drag when there is less need for cooling air.

The use of flat underbody panels and lightweight materials in the car body will also improve the next generation Volvo S60's fuel usage and carbon footprint.

"Several of these solutions can deliver significant CO2 reductions in the future since they can be used throughout large sections of the model range," revealed Magnus Jonsson, the Senior Vice President for R&D at Volvo Cars.

"When it comes to 'DRIVe-Mode', for instance, the driver can actively cut fuel consumption by reducing the function of certain comfort systems. The idea is that every owner can individually choose which systems he or she wants to limit," says Mr Jonsson.

Interior

Volvo is using very large words when describing the interior of the S60 Concept, which could also shift the way the market sees the brand. In essence, Volvo is proposing to create the most luxurious car in its class.

"You could say that we are showing the road we would like to take in the future. This interior is without doubt the most exclusive we have ever created," says Steve Mattin.

According to Volvo the interior expresses a typically Scandinavian feel that is fresh, light and airy. 

In the middle of the 4-seater car is a 'floating' centre stack crafted from handmade Orrefors crystal. It starts in the front of the car and stretches all the way to the rear seat backrest.

"It resembles a waterfall that flows down from the instrument panel and then courses along the middle of the car's interior," says Steve Mattin of the long control panel, which has hidden lights that can be tailored to the drivers mood which we're assuming will encompass happy, sad, calm and enraged moods.

Another interesting design feature of the interior is the instrument cluster, which features a round speedometer as the "body" flanked by two digital wings that provide all the relevant telemetry and information.

"The speedometer is designed as a three-dimensional glass spiral. The low numbers appear closest to the eye and the figures appear to be increasingly distant as you accelerate," explains Mattin. 

"The idea is that the speedometer should provide a visual reminder of the force of the forward motion," says Mr Mattin.

Safety

Volvo has a long history of creating ultra-safe cars, and this isn't likely to change with the next generation Volvo S60.

Pioneered on the S60 Concept and confirmed to be deployed on the production model Volvo S60 in 2010 is a new Collision Warning with full auto brake and pedestrian detection.

If a pedestrian walks out in front of the Volvo S60 Concept, the system will activate the car's full braking power if the driver does not respond to the danger, potentially reducing pedestrian casualties.

Along with a suite of airbags and stability safety aids, Volvo will introduce an upgraded version of the Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) system.

Volvo has revealed the radar-based Adaptive Cruise Control maintains the set time gap to the vehicle in front all the way down to standstill. 

Current versions of the ACC switch off and become inactive at speeds below 30km/h, but with the new ACC system the car is usable even in slow-moving queues with repeated starting and stopping, such as traffic jams.

The Sales Pitch

If Volvo can deliver an attractive and sporty new model along the lines of the S60 Concept, it could further change the way people view Volvo. The 'boring' label could be completely eradicated if Volvo gets this one right.

"Customers in this segment know exactly what they want," states Volvo Cars CEO Stephen Odell.

"The emphasis is on emotional appeal, sporty design and dynamic driving properties. Success in the segment will do a lot for the brand's image and we are convinced that the all-new Volvo S60 is going to be a particularly strong contender," adds Volvo's big chief.

"Irrespective of whether the customers are in the USA, Europe or Russia, they all prioritise the same things. 

"Now we are giving them an entirely new S60 packed with both emotional and rational appeal. A car designed to make a unique impact even among the most discerning buyers," concluded Mr Odell.

Related Links:
- Volvo XC60 (2008)
- Volvo ReCharge Concept (2007)
- Volvo V70 (2007)
- Volvo XC60 (concept)
- Volvo Bioethanol 'Flexifuel' Cars (2007)
- Volvo C30 - The Turbocharged Troika (2006)
- Volvo C30 (2007)
- Volvo S80 (2006)