Volvo Launches Safest Vehicle Ever – The XC60
Kuala Lumpur, 26 June 2009 – Many of the cars out there today may have some of the safety features found in Volvos, but the Volvo XC60 is one vehicle that has it all – these are the words that echo the launch of the new Volvo XC60 by Volvo Car Malaysia. Mooted as the safest car in the world, the XC 60 puts a new benchmark on safety for others to follow. All of the Volvo safety features, starting from the time Volvo invented the safety belt in 1937 are incorporated into the XC60 – it even stops itself, should one get distracted in city traffic.
Presented as a mid-sized SUV, the 5 –seater XC60 is a cross-over vehicle that is perfect for the safety-conscious road user who has ‘precious’ cargo to carry. It is still large by any standards, but is slightly smaller than the Xc90, which has been the top selling SUV in this country since its introduction a few years ago.
With a refreshing new shape, the XC60 is set to appeal to a wider spectrum of customers here. Safety does not have to equate to slow, because the XC60 is not a slow vehicle; with a 3.0 litre turbocharged straight six producing 285 horsepower at 5,600 rpm, and producing a massive 400 Nm of torque that already peaks from as low as 1,500 rpm and maintains it all the way to 4,800 rpm, the XC60 means business if you require to get to any place fast. With a 6-speed automatic transmission with Geartronic 9manual shift option), it scoots from zero to 100 km/h in 7.5 seconds flat, and achieves an electronically limited speed of 235 km/h.
The XC60 has all the key safety features found in other Volvo vehicles. These include ROPS (Roll-Over Protection System), SIPS (Side Impact Protection System), DSTC (Dynamic Stability & Traction Control), ABS, and enough airbags and side curtains to ensure that you are protected in the event of a collision or a roll-over. Top of all these, there are some new features, some of which are new, while some have been adapted from other premium models in the range. From the flagship S80 model comes BLIS (Blind spot Indication System) that warns the driver of other vehicles in the blind spots. Adaptive Cruise control will slow the XC60 down to the speed of the vehicle it is approaching, and brake or accelerate as necessary to maintain a set distance between itself and the vehicle in front. Unique is the City Safety feature that helps to mitigate collision damage with a vehicle in front at normal driving speeds. At speeds below 15 km/h, like for instance, in city traffic, it even brakes and stops the vehicle if the distance closes up and the vehicle senses that the driver is not taking evasive action. In addition, there is yet another system that senses if the driving pattern is erratic, and an audible buzzer warns the driver to pay attention to the road, while a prompt suggests that the driver stop for a break. Lane Departure warning also monitors the lines on the road, and the system gives an audible warning if the driver crosses the line.
Immediately after the launch ceremony held at the Club at the Saujana on Friday evening, AW was privileged to be the first to take the Xc60 onto the road for a test over the weekend, and I got close and personal with it on a trip to Port Dickson and back.
On the road, the XC60 is a truly refined vehicle, and is very easy to drive. Silent, safe and powerful, it can be driven sedately; if you are in a hurry, it can and will leave other cars for dead. With full time 4WD, it also tackles even the toughest corners with ease, and remains sure-footed at all times. Fuel consumption is claimed at 11.9 litres per 100 kilometres; my exuberant driving style with many jackrabbit take-offs and high speed driving gave us 15.8 litres per 100 kilometres on an average, making it about 28.4 sen a kilometre, not bad, considering that this is a vehicle that weighs a little over two tons.
There are two variants available; both share the same body, and the price difference is due to specification differences. The LE model retails atRM360k while the SE model retails at RM330k (Price on-the-road without insurance).
