Elegant practicality defines newly unveiled 2019 Volvo V60 midsize premium wagon

Swedish carmaker Volvo Cars has taken the wraps off its latest creation – a new midsize premium wagon (estate) dubbed as the new 2019 Volvo V60. Volvo intended the V60 to be a family all-rounder, underscoring its position as a carmaker with the tradition of producing good-looking yet practical cars.

To strongly deliver the message that the new V60 is a family all-rounder, Volvo went for an unconventional yet persuasive manner of introduction. Instead of unveiling the new V60 at a motor show or at an auto-related event, the carmaker revealed the new premium wagon at the driveway of an up-market villa in the suburbs of Stockholm, Sweden. It was driven into the driveway – where it really belongs -- by Lex Kerssemakers, Volvo’s senior vice president for the Europe, Middle East, Asia region. This way, Volvo was able to send a clear message that the new V60 is designed to cater to the needs and wants of modern family.

As introduced, the new V60 is underpinned by Volvo’s Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform that also underpins the new XC60 and four top-of-the-line 90 Series cars. So far, the V60 is the smallest and lightest vehicle to be underpinned by this platform.

From this point on, designers worked to give the V60 a refined design that marries beautiful proportions and elegant stance with practicality and versatility. To this end, the new V60 is provided with a broad chrome grille which comes in a shape that is sharper than on the V90. Its air intake is steeply angle to give the premium wagon a lower and wider front end appearance.

While German wagon offerings are laden with sharp creases, the new Volvo V60 gets its premium look from flowing lines and a more sculpted physique. Its flanks even feature a “coke bottle” curve, especially apparent on the doors.

Furthermore, the new V60 boasts of a rear overhang longer than the V90, which translates to more room on the trunk, highlighting it practical character. It offers 529 liters of cargo space (plus 99 liters over the outgoing model), which could be expanded to 1,364 liters once the rear seats are folded flat. This means that the new V60 is more spacious than the Audi A4 Avant, BMW 3 Series Touring and Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate.

Power is provided for, depending on markets, by Volvo’s T5 and T6 gasoline engines, D3 and D4 diesel mills as well as two plug-in hybrid powertrains: new T6 Twin Engine AWD plug-in hybrid (340 hp) and the potent T8 Twin Engine AWD plug-in hybrid (390 hp).

Volvo is known around the world for its safety features, and the new V60 reinforces the carmaker’s status as a leader in this field. It is laden with a wide array of standard safety elements, including advanced driver support systems already fitted in 90 Series and XC60. For instance, the new V60 is equipped with City Safety with Autobrake technology that employs automatic braking and detection systems to help avoid potential collisions, including involving pedestrians, cyclists and even large animals.

The premium wagon also features an upgraded version of the Pilot Assist driver assistance system that provides support with steering, acceleration and braking on well-marked roads on speeds of up to 130km/h. Other standard systems include Oncoming Lane Mitigation, Run-off Road Mitigation, and other steering assistance systems. The optional Cross Traffic Alert with autobrake is also available.

Interested customers could avail of the new V60 through the Care by Volvo premium subscription service. Access is implemented, not through ownership, but through a monthly flat-fee subscription.

PRESS RELEASE

Volvo launches new V60 versatile family estate

Volvo Cars, the premium car maker, today revealed the new V60 five-door, mid-size premium estate, underlining the Swedish company’s position as a maker of cars that combine good looks with everyday practicality.

The car was launched in its natural habitat – the driveway of a family home in Stockholm – highlighting Volvo Cars’ pedigree in family estates and pinpointing how the V60’s versatile design caters to the diverse needs and realities of modern family life.

Few car makers can match Volvo Cars’ history and credibility in making well-designed, practical and versatile estate cars.

“The family estate driver is an important customer for our business and has been for generations,” said Håkan Samuelsson, president and CEO of Volvo Cars. “The new V60 honours that tradition, but also takes it much further.”

The new V60 shares Volvo Cars’ Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform with the award-winning new XC60 and four top-of-the-line 90 Series cars, which have been the collective force behind the company’s record-breaking global sales performance in recent years.

The SPA-based V60 introduces a new standard to the mid-size premium estate segment with a luxurious interior, increased levels of space, advanced connectivity, plus Volvo Cars’ latest driver support systems and other safety technology.

“The V60 really is the central point of the Volvo brand,” said Robin Page, Senior Vice President Design at Volvo Cars. “It’s refined, has a beautiful proportion and stance, yet delivers on practicality and versatility.”

In a first for the segment, customers can access the new V60 via Volvo Cars’ new premium subscription service Care by Volvo*, which offers car access via a monthly flat-fee subscription rather than ownership. Care by Volvo makes having a car as transparent, easy and hassle free as having a mobile phone.

Reflecting Volvo Cars’ industry-first announcement to electrify all new cars from 2019, the V60 comes with two plug-in hybrid powertrain options: the new T6 Twin Engine AWD petrol plug-in hybrid that generates a combined 340hp or the T8 Twin Engine AWD petrol plug-in hybrid that delivers 390hp.

The regular petrol choice offers T5 or T6 powertrains. Drivers who prefer diesel can select D3 or D4 engines.

The new V60 reinforces Volvo Cars’ standing as the industry leader in safety, with a comprehensive list of safety features that come as standard, including advanced driver support systems known from the 90 Series and XC60, making the new V60 one of the safest cars on the road.

The City Safety with Autobrake technology uses automatic braking and detection systems to assist the driver in avoiding potential collisions, and is the only system on the market to recognise pedestrians, cyclists and large animals. In a world first, City Safety now also engages autobraking to mitigate oncoming collisions.

The Pilot Assist system – which supports the driver with steering, acceleration and braking on well-marked roads up to 130km/h – has been upgraded with improved cornering performance. The V60 also includes Run-off Road Mitigation, Oncoming Lane Mitigation and other steering assistance systems. The optional Cross Traffic Alert with autobrake further improves safety for people inside and outside the car.

Volvo Cars’ Sensus infotainment system is fully compatible with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and 4G, and keeps drivers connected at all times. The system is control via an intuitive tablet-style touch screen that combines car functions, navigation, connected services and entertainment apps.