At the 2010 New York International Auto, Volvo showed off their new S60 sport sedan. It seems that Volvo is banking on the S60 to take them to the top of the sport sedan world: “There is no doubt the all-new S60 will be going head-to-head with the best sport sedans in the world,” said Doug Speck, VCNA President and CEO. “But with 300 horsepower, all-wheel drive and a very attractive starting price, I’m confident we’ll be popping up on many driving enthusiasts’ shopping lists.”
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The all-new S60 will be launched stateside with the T6 engine, an upgraded, more powerful version of the T6 engine currently offered in the XC60 premium crossover. All T6 models come standard with Volvo’s all- wheel-drive system. The turbocharged T6, displacing 3.0 liters, has been improved with lower internal friction and is the most powerful six-cylinder engine currently offered by Volvo. It now puts out 300 horsepower and a stout 325 lb.-ft. of torque. Maximum torque is achieved from just 2,100 rpm and remains available throughout the rev range. Power is transmitted to the wheels via Volvo’s second-generation six-speed automatic Geartronic transmission.
The S60 is the first sedan on the market equipped with Advanced Stability Control. A new roll angle sensor identifies any skidding tendency at a very early stage so the anti-skid system can step in earlier and with greater precision. Advanced Stability Control is a great asset in dynamic driving involving considerable lateral forces, which improves handling and rapid avoidance maneuvers.
Corner Traction Control is a new feature that uses torque vectoring for smoother cornering. This technology is a further refinement of the Dynamic Stability and Traction Control (DSTC). When cornering, the car’s inner driven wheel is braked while at the same time more power is transmitted to the outer driven wheel. This allows the driver to take the corner more tightly while reducing any tendency to understeer .
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And lastly, and perhaps most newsworthy, is the new Pedestrian Detection system. Pedestrian Detection with Full Auto Brake is a groundbreaking technological solution that actively helps the driver avoid accidents. Volvo’s radar and camera-based system can detect pedestrians in front of the car, warn the driver if anyone walks out into its path and then automatically activate the S60’s full braking power if the driver fails to respond in time. This world-first technology can help the driver avoid a collision with a pedestrian. Pedestrian Detection with Full Auto Brake consists of a newly developed radar unit integrated into the all-new S60’s grille, a camera fitted in front of the inside rearview mirror and a central control unit.