|
|
New car lines
publication date: Aug 3, 2010
|
author/source: Robin Roberts
Volvo's new S60 might be a Swedish car, but it has a tartan touch.
It is the most dynamic Volvo ever thanks to the involvement of one the brand's Scottish dealers.
Former British Touring Car racer John Cleland, who runs a Volvo
dealership in Peebles, is behind a suspension set-up honed on a track in
Sweden and fine-tuned on the roads of Britain.
Inside the car, the leather seat trim is made by Scottish company Bridge
of Weir and the UK launch was held.....where else but Scotland. |  | Chris Wailes, Volvo's European product and pricing manager, sat alongside Cleland as they fettled the handling.
He told Headline Auto, "It was important to do the fine tuning on British roads as
they are not as well maintained as elsewhere in Europe. If the car
handles well here, it will be fine pretty much anywhere else."
All Wheel Drive is standard on the T6 3-litre petrol model to make the
handling even more sporty. The computer-controlled set-up automatically
sends torque to the wheels with most grip, ensuring maximum possible
traction and primary safety. The front-to-rear torque split changes
constantly - from zero to 100 per cent, front or rear.
Wailes and Cleland spent two years working on the suspension. He added,
"It was important that this car is fun to drive because this is what
buyers in this segment are looking for. We have to be up there with the
best such as the BMW 3 Series and Audi A4."
Volvo says it will also be ahead of its German rivals on price with the
base model costing £23,295 when customer deliveries start in September.
There is some more unique technology as the S60 will be the only model
in this segment with Volvo's City Safety collision warning system fitted
as standard.
An additional £1,250 adds pedestrian protection, the radar and camera
controlled system that will bring the car to an immediate halt at speeds
of 22mph and below if it detects a person in front of the car. At
higher speeds it will scrub off as much speed as possible to reduce the
risk of serious injury (see above).
Apart from the new Pedestrian Detection with Full Auto Brake, the Volvo
S60 has a suite of other advanced safety technology, including Driver
Alert Control to alert drivers who have become tired or distracted,
Blind Spot Information System which helps detect vehicles in the rear
blind spots on both sides of the car, Lane Departure Warning and active
Bi-Xenon lights that ‘see around corners'.
The cabin is full of useful, easy-to-use technology including an all-new
infotainment system, combining audio, navigation, mobile phone and
other functions, with a five- or seven-inch colour screen in the upper
part of the centre console.
Kevin Meeks, Volvo UK's network and business development manager, said
that 70 per cent of S60 sales will be to corporate fleets and the engine
line up reflects this.
The 2-litre D3 diesel emits 139 g/km of C02 and the 2.4-litre D5,
5-cylinder diesel, 147 g/km. From launch there will be one petrol
engine, the UK-built T6 3-litre six cylinder but three new
emissions-busting petrol units will be available later this year while a
65mpg 1.6-litre DRIVe version will be available next year.
| | | | | | |  | From October, buyers of Nissan's SUV X-TRAIL will benefit
from a series of extensive updates to maintain its position in the SUV
segment as one of the few, versatile and agile four-wheel drive vehicles
on the European market.
Already well regarded for its durability, comfort, practicality and
convenience, the changes refresh X-TRAIL's exterior styling; improve the
interior quality and functionality, as well as mechanical and
aerodynamic changes. | The most obvious changes have been made to the frontal aspect of X-TRAIL
which emphasise a feeling of integration to the car body, with a
completely redesigned grille, headlights and bumper assembly. Directly
from the front, the more sophisticated, technical appearance makes the
car look more dynamic. The grille is of higher quality and flows down
into the bumper assembly. The lower part of the bumper is angled
outwards, suggesting a wider track and more solid stance.
| | | |
Download the Wheels Within Wales toolbar for your quickest way to keep in touch with everything that's happening on Welsh roads and in showrooms or use our RSS feed for the headlines you will not want to miss
|
|
|
.gif){kind=small}