Volvo to Show Next Generation of Products
Volvo will be showing the next generation of products soon, along with the recently-launched XC90 SUV. One product – the Volvo Safety Concept Car (SCC) – provides a glimpse of safety technologies to come while another, the S60R, shows that Volvos can be real ‘hot’ when it comes to performance. The third product is the S80 T6 Executive which is to be officially launched later in the year.
The SCC has set the benchmark for safety innovations for the future. It is equipped with Active Safety features which can prevent accidents from happening, as well as Passive Safety features that minimize injuries when accidents cannot be avoided.
One example of Active Safety in the SCC is the unique enhanced all-round visibility that is possible with a see-through A-pillar and modified B-pillar, as well as integrated cameras which work together to minimise blind-spots effectively.
Technologically advanced features include a sensor that captures the position of the eye, automatically adjusting the seats, mirrors and steering wheel to suit the driver.
As for the S60R, this is claimed to be the most technically advanced chassis and is the most powerful production car yet by Volvo. The S60R, a fast, clean-lined sedan, reborn from the Performance Concept Car, is an improbable combination of a strikingly spirited performance car and a functional family car.
The engine of the S60R is a 2.5-litre 5-cylinder unit which puts out a hefty 221 kW/300 bhp and 400 Nm of torque, thanks to a large turbocharger with a high boost pressure. The power get to the road through all four wheels.
The suspension setup comes in three modes. Sport (by default), Comfort, and Active Sport, the latter for ‘serious driving business’.
The S60R also comes equipped with the Continuously Controlled Chassis Concept (FOUR-C) technology. This active control suspension and specialized braking control makes it difficult for the car to get out of line and offers the driver exceptionally high levels of driving dynamics.
The S80 T6 Executive also has the advanced FOUR-C technology but in the case of this executive saloon, the technology has been adapted for front-wheel drive and is exploited primarily to enhance comfort.
The active chassis technology makes for an extremely comfortable ride, particularly on poor road surfaces. Damping is adjusted continuously in response to road surface quality so it almost feels as though the car is floating across the road. When the time comes to press on, for instance on an inviting stretch of twisting country road, all that is required is a light touch on the FOUR-C button and the chassis settings are immediately transformed to suit a more enthusiastic driving style.
Though looking like the current S80, the design of the S80 T6 Executive that will be on display is actually an enhanced version which has a number of new details. The exterior has a more elegant stance with an entirely new front and rear section. Inside the car, the emphasis is on heightening the aura of exclusiveness, with features such as new door panels and instruments inspired by the recently unveiled R concept.
