Volvo's family plug-in hybrid car with a sporting edge
Volvo is launching a special R-design specification version of its diesel-electric-powered V60.
So that means plenty of space for all of the family plus the suitcases and a dog in the back and a more than impressive fuel economy of 1.8 l/100 km or 155.2 mpg (NEDC certification driving cycle for hybrids).
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However, it also means all-wheel drive. A five-cylinder, 215hp turbodiesel engine powers the front while a 70hp electric motor spins the rear wheels, and, when working in tandem, it adds up to over 280hp on tap, more than 600nm of torque and a 0-62mph (100km/h) time of 6.9 seconds.
Not bad for a diesel estate car.
It also looks and feels sporty even when driven in full electric mode (it can go over 30 miles with just the battery). The car sits on 18-inch Ixion wheels, features a more aggressive front bumper and grille and at the back there's even a diffuser.
Meanwhile the cabin has everything one would expect from a car carrying the R-Design designation. Sports seats, sports peddles and leather trim -- all in subtle black and grey tones.
Helping to squeeze as much performance or as much efficiency out of the car as possible is a six-speed automatic gearbox with a manual mode and a choice of three different pre-programmed 'temperaments' -- Pure, Hybrid or Power.
Pure is battery only, while the Hybrid mode runs both engines to offer CO2 emissions of just 48g/km, and Power brings everything together in order to have as much driving fun as possible...in a green diesel.
The Volvo V60 D6 AWD R-Design Lux Nav goes on sale in June, and Volvo hopes that by improving the car's sporting credentials it can tempt even more drivers over to hybrid technology.
