Volvo launches new S60 alongside first US manufacturing plant

Volvo has taken the wraps off its smart new S60 saloon – a sporty new offering and ‘one of the most exciting Volvo cars we’ve made’.

So says Hakan Samuelsson, CEO at the Swedish manufacturer. He continued: “It’s a true driver’s car that gives us a strong position in the US and China sedan markets, creating more growth opportunities.”

The new S60, perhaps unsurprisingly, shares most of its components with the V60 estate already available. However, unlike that car, it won’t be offered with a diesel engine, instead being available with two pure petrol and two petrol hybrid options.

The two hybrids are badged T6 and T8 Twin Engine. Both offer all-wheel drive through a combination of a 2.0-litre turbo- and super-charged petrol engine, and an electric motor. The lesser T6 Twin Engine offers a total of 335bhp, while the T8 delivers 395bhp.

They’re offered alongside two petrol engines – the T5, with 247bhp, and the 306bhp T6.

The S60 sits on the same SPA platform as the V60. That means it has access to Volvo’s full suite of safety technology – including the semi-autonomous Pilot Assist system alongside autonomous emergency braking that can recognise cars, pedestrians, cyclists and even large animals.

Styling-wise, the S60 is exactly as you might expect. It’s just like a booted V60, with a sculpted rear panel and distinctive LED taillights. Happily, it’s distinct from the S90, without the ‘cookie cutter’ effect of some premium brands.

The S60 will also be offered on the subscription-style ‘Care by Volvo’ scheme, under which a fixed monthly fee covers ‘ownership’ of the car as well as insurance, road fund licence and maintenance.

The S60 will be produced at the brand’s first US manufacturing facility in Charleston, South Carolina. The USA’s voracious appetite for saloons, or ‘sedans’, means the brand expects strong sales in the country as well as the emerging automotive market in China.