Volvo has released the first image of the S60 Concept that will be shown at the Detroit Motor Show in January.
The Swedish company clearly reckons that the new car will be better able to take on premium rivals like the Audi A4 and BMW 3-series. The new car shares clear similarities with the new XC60, with a familiar grille and angled headlights.
Volvo’s design director, Steve Mattin, says the S60 Concept will give a “clear indication of what customers can expect of the all-new S60.”
That can be politely regarded as designer shorthand for the fact the finished car will look near-identical. Only more eccentric elements, like the S60 Concept’s ‘hand-crafted crystal centre console’ won’t make production.
The new S60 will get a familiar range of Volvo-Ford engines, including a 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel and a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol motor. Production will start in 2010.
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Re: Volvo S60 revealed
V40 is the older one that I drive. This takes me back to an earlier point, that to my untrained eye the V40 seems bigger than the replacement V50 and more like a mondeo/3 series competitor. In fact it is smaller than the V50, which I see as being more like a Focus sized car. Its some form of optical illusion with the V50 appearing smaller than it is.
Re: Volvo S60 revealed
Sorry, meant S40 - the saloon version.
See, how confusing is that!
As for the pricing, how many people really look at that when considering what size car to drive. Personally, when I buy a car, I want a car of a certain size and will look like for like. I certainly wouldn't think "I have £20k to spend, what's the biggest car I can get for the money".
In reality, does it matter at what price the range starts? If I were looking at a 143bhp 3 series, then I would also be looking at the 145ps S40. It is from that point in I ( and I guess most people) would look at other factors, running costs etc.
Re: Volvo S60 revealed
In US and Canadian reviews, the V50 very much rivals - and often bests - the Audi A4 and BMW 3 Series tourers, but I guess they don't have as many compact tourers over there as we do in Europe.