Volvo Car Corporation have revealed an all-road ready version of the S60 sedan: a first of the kind from the company.
The new S60 XC, set for its debut at the upcoming Detroit Auto Show, is basically a raised and better-protected version of the popular S60 sports-luxury sedan. Sharing its platform with the V60 XC, it has become the only crossover sedan on sale in the segment. The XC variants of their V50, V60 and V70 gained popularity over the years and a chunk of the company’s business comes from these models, with demand seeing a steady rise.
The decision was an easy one and the result is a higher off the ground S60 which can deal with rough roads and handle just as well on the open highway. The ground clearance is now 201mm, 65mm more than the standard car. The option of all-wheel drive is also on the cards. The S60 XC uses higher profile tyres for better wheel protection and reduced road noise. The additional styling tweaks, including front and rear skid plates and protective side skirts, also enhance its rugged image.
Powering the new S60 XC is the company’s new Drive-E D4, the 2.0-litre turbocharged four-pot with 190 PS and 400 Nm of torque, paired to the new 8-speed automatic transmission and front wheel drive only. The other option is the D4 AWD, which uses the 2.4-litre turbocharged five-cylinder motor, with 181 PS and 420 Nm of torque, paired to the intelligent all-wheel-drive system. The T5 turbo-petrol with 254 PS will be also offered in the US and European markets among some others. Deliveries for the new S60 Cross Country will begin in the first half of 2015.
If you think about, the S60 XC makes perfect sense for India. With the quality and vast non-existence of adequately-paved surfaces, an all-road sedan fits the bill just right. The question now is, will Volvo Auto India bring it here? And, will we also see an A4 Allroad Sedan, a C220 CDI 4MATIC crossover and a BMW 320d xDrive High? Maybe that’s not what they will be called, but you get the point…
Story: Jim Gorde
