Volvo is ready to launch its most advanced car yet with the V60 plug-in hybrid, going on sale from November 2012.
This car has sych amazing economy figures that to be honest we didn’t think Volvo can pull it off in a production model, but they have. But before getting to that let’s see how much it will cost.
Volvo V60 plug-in hybrid is priced from 57,000 Euro in Europe and between £45,000 and £50,000 in the UK, minus any government subsidy for electric cars. That is a staggering price for a Volvo estate, but as mentioned earlier it is an extraordinary car.
The car comes in just one color Electric Silver, and one fully-loaded Pure Limited specification. Visually, it is distinguished by aero-designed 17-inch wheels, integrated exhaust tailpipes, and some gloss black accents. So all in all, a very ordinary-looking car with a big boot for your stuff and a nice and comfy ride.
Even inside the cabin it’s pretty normal with black leather upholstery with contrasting stitching and inlays of blue-grey wood. The list of standard equipment includes features such as speed-dependent power steering, electrically adjustable driver’s seat, parking sensors front and rear, Bluetooth phone link and Volvo on Call. Standard specification includes the High Performance Multimedia DVD audio system with its 4x40W amplifier, eight loudspeakers and seven-inch screen.
The reason this Volvo is so expensive is its powertrain. This diesel-electric system consists of a five-cylinder 2.4-litre turbo diesel producing 215 hp and maximum torque is 440 Nm that powers the front wheels through a six-speed automatic gearbox, and an electric motor producing 70 horsepower supplied with power from an 11.2 kWh lithium-ion battery pack for the rear wheels.
The four-wheel-drive V60 has a combined output of 285 hp and an enormous torque of 640 Nm. That means it does 0 to 100 km.h (62 mph) in 6.2 seconds. Fuel economy depends on what driving mode you choose: Pure, Hybrid or Power.
Pure mode runs solely on electricity and gives a range of 32 miles, Hybrid will engage the diesel unit as an generator giving a range of 620 miles with Co2 emissions of just 49 km/h, and Power mode utilizes all the power to make you go faster. It is yet to be confirmed, but in hybrid mode the car’s fuel economy is above 100 mpg.
This is a fantastic family car, spacious, powerful, comfortable, clean and economical. Well, if you don’t’ consider the price.
