Volvo S60R - an alternative to BMW M3

300 hp / 295 lb-ft

Base Price: US$ 37K

Read the August issue European Car magazine for details.

http://www.europeancarweb.com

This latest version of the turbo five is, at the same time, the most civilized and the most powerful one Volvo has produced. Three hundred horsepower is no small amount from 2.5 litres, and that output has been attained through a combination of some traditional approaches - like a whopping big turbocharger - and the application of modern technology such as continuously variable valve timing and two intercoolers.

There is no shortage of torque, either, with 295 lb-ft of twist available on the six-speed manual-equipped model. (The five-speed automatic-equipped S60R has but 258 lb-ft. All figures quoted herein are for the manual transmission model.)

What is more impressive is that maximum torque is available as low as 1,950 rpm, right up to 5,250 rpm. That rev range certainly covers most of the everyday usage of the S60R, except of course the initial launch from rest. Assuming non-abusive low-rev use of the clutch, standing starts exhibit little of the dreaded turbo lag that plagues many other engines with one large turbo.

That six-speed box is a close-ratio unit that keeps the revs up into boosted territory. Top gear has about the same overdrive ratio as high gear in the previous five-speed box. Shifting feel is very linear and positive, a big improvement over previous manuals from Volvo, although a little wider lateral spacing in the shift gate would minimize incidents of shifting from 2nd to 5th and the like.

All that power could not possibly be applied through only the front wheels, so of course the S60R is equipped with on-demand all-wheel drive, affected through a Haldex hydraulic coupling. When the front wheels are detected to have rotated about one-quarter turn more than the rear wheels, up to 70% of the power is directed rearward. In enthusiastic driving, one might conclude that this is essentially a full-time all-wheel driver with the rear wheels getting most of the power - which is what a performance car should do.

AWD is but a small part of the overall chassis package, though. In addition to Dynamic Stability and Traction Control, which, as in other performance cars, controls all aspects of chassis dynamics as limits are approached, Volvo is trumpeting what they call FOUR-C, which stands for Continuously Controlled Chassis Concept.

It is the Four-C Technology's ability to collect large amounts of information on the movement of the car, and adjust the dampening of the shock absorbers extremely quickly, which makes the chassis on the Volvo S60R one of the most advanced on the market.

The system then very rapidly adjusts the damping on the shock absorbers and the electronic control of the AWD system.
Every other millisecond, i.e. 500 times per second, Four-C updates the setting on each shock absorber, on the basis of continuous information on the car's speed, the movement of the wheels and chassis, and the position of the steering wheel.

Four-C Technology is the result of a long-term collaboration with Öhlins Racing AB, one of the world's foremost developers of high-tech shock absorbers, and the shock absorber manufacturer Monroe.

This system also allows the driver to specify ride and handling settings. "Comfort" yields a reasonably compliant ride given the 235/45-17 Pirelli performance tires fitted, while "Sport" is as it says, with more concern for handling than ride.

And then there is the "Advanced" setting. Pushing this button should only be done on glass-smooth surfaces and at times when the driver is seeking to wring the last ounce of performance out of the car. This setting is probably not really so useful in normal day-to-day operation, and is more of a "because we can" approach on Volvo's part.

Completing the chassis package are what have become the almost ubiquitous Brembo brakes, with 330 mm rotors and four-piston calipers, along with speed sensitive power steering. Each of these systems displayed exemplary performance.

Volvo is confident enough in the capabilities of the S60R to have provided the opportunity to exercise the cars on a race track, and after that experience it must be said that the S60R should now be considered to be among the top rank of European sport sedans by most objective and subjective measures, no small achievement given the inherent constraints of its basic architecture.

For those into numbers, the zero-to-60 mph sprint is claimed by Volvo to take 5.4 seconds. Seat-of-the-pants impressions vary depending on how many of the electronic aids are engaged, but with everything turned off, the S60R will drift around corners with the best of them, with perhaps a bit of understeer at initial turn-in for a corner. It would take a very ham-fisted driver to upset the composure of the S60R with all possible electrons activated and doing their things.

The Volvo S60R has a completely new front, with larger air intakes and spoiler to provide effective cooling of the engine, and two intercoolers. The black eggcrate grill is a unique feature on the S60R. It has a matt silver edge, and this color theme is also picked up in the framing of the Bi-Xenon headlights.

The five-spoke wheel rims carry a discreet R logo and are available in 17" and 18", in both cases with Pirelli's P-Zero Rosso 235/45 or 235/40.

The Volvo design team has been considerably bolder in planning the interior. The first things to catch a driver's eye are the four clear blue, silver-framed instruments, a design reminiscent of an exclusive watch. The three-spoke leather-clad steering wheel has a slightly elliptical section to ensure an excellent grip. The leather details are stitched in blue, reflecting the color scheme of the instruments. The deep-contoured sports seats in the Volvo S60R are available in exclusive untreated aniline leather as an option, a natural leather which means that the interior, with time, takes on a completely individual patina.

2.5 L

300 hp

295 lb-ft @ 1,950 rpm

Sounds like a good replacement for displacement to me. :D

But that cabin is damned ugly.

And its a volvoford.

The European car of the year 2003

ISNT THE VOLVO!

The award your refering to is European car magazines '2003 european car Grand Prix Winner' which IS the Volvo 60r.

The European car of the year award, ( http://www.caroftheyear.org/ ) for 2003 went to the Renault Mégane!

So there. :P

Originally posted by Schneegz
2.5 L

300 hp

295 lb-ft @ 1,950 rpm

Sounds like a good replacement for displacement to me. :D


Looks like STI numbers to me! (one more cylinder right?)

Anyone know the curb weight and weight distribution ?

Originally posted by Supercharger
In enthusiastic driving, one might conclude that this is essentially a full-time all-wheel driver with the rear wheels getting most of the power

One might conclude that, but then one would be wrong.

Volvo's lame AWD is nothing more than part-time AWD on demand, which is lame and is definitely NOT the way to a good handling AWD vehicle like Audi's quattro or the Porsche 911's AWD systems. It will help in snow traction from a standstill, but otherwise it's major benefit is to Volvo's marketing department ("We have AWD!!")

Regards,
Gordon

Car&Driver test data

________ 5-60mph __ 70mph-0 __ Skidpad __ EPA hwy __ Engine


Volvo S60R_ 6.5 s _____ 168 ft ____ 0.88 g ___ 25 mpg ___ I5-T

Mazda RX8__7.5 s _____ 161 ft ____0.91 g ____23 mpg __ 2-rotor

Infiniti
G35 Coupe__6.2 s _____ 164 ft ____ 0.86 g ____27 mpg ___ V6

Mitsubishi
Lancer Evo__6.7 s _____157 ft ____ 0.90 g ____26 mpg ___I4-T

BMW M3 ___ 5.3 s _____ 161 ft ____0.87 g ____24 mpg ___ I6


S60R test report: August issue Car&Driver (p.71)