Volvo V60 News

Australia's best new cars are now one step closer to being announced, with judges finalising the Top 10 models for each 2019 CarsGuide Car of the Year award.

New Swede mid-size S60 sedan and V60 wagon arrive to take aim at the Germans.

Volvo’s mid-size wagon has received an off-road makeover, with the Swedish brand today unveiling the V60 Cross Country.The Scandinavian answer to a Subaru Outback or a VW Golf Alltrack, the V60 Cross Country is no outright bush-basher. Instead, it’s aimed at property owners who might have to tackle some light off-roading in their daily travels. As a result, ground clearance has been raised by up to 75mm, thanks to chassis and suspension tweaks, and power is sent to all four wheels to help navigate slippery surfaces. Other Cross Country kit includes hill-descent control, corner-traction control and a new off-road driving mode."The V60 Cross Country is every bit as refined as the other 60 series cars based on our SPA platform," said Volvo's senior vice-president of research and development, Henrik Green. "The added versatility makes it at home in town and country, thanks to a higher seating position, increased ground clearance and dynamic all-wheel-drive capabilities." The Cross Country arrives with the best of Volvo's safety kit, too, including AEB that recognises pedestrians, cyclists and large animals (the latter of which is less relevant in Australia, where the mighty moose is less of an issue). The semi-autonomous 'Pilot Assist' system is standard fit, along with run-off mitigation and oncoming lane mitigation.While international specification is still being confirmed, the Cross Country will be offered in the UK with the brand's D4 diesel, along with mild hybrid and plug-in versions. 

Ahead of its public debut at the Geneva motor show next month, the Volvo V60 mid-size wagon has been revealed with new technology, overhauled styling and two new hybrid powertrains.

Volvo, Subaru, Land Rover, Citroen and GM have issued safety recalls for some vehicles due to defective manufacturing issues.

Californian regulators have reportedly ordered Uber to cancel its San Francisco autonomous vehicle trial on only the first day of testing after the fleet of Volvo XC90 SUVs ignored red lights.

The Swedish brand, which joined V8Supercars in 2014, is committed to running S60 sedans in the series until 2016.But with rule changes for 2017 allowing more variety in body styles and engines, Volvo is rumoured to be considering a switch to a racer based on its V60 wagon.An image obtained by CarsGuide shows how it would look ready to race.Volvo Car Australia refused to confirm the illustration’s authenticity. “We do not comment on future plans,” says spokesman Oliver Peagam.But the sensible Swedish company has raced wagons before, grabbing enduring publicity for the brand. Volvo ran two 850 Estates in the 1994 British Touring Car Championship, and one of the Tom Walkinshaw Racing-prepared wagons competed in the Australian Super Touring Championship the following year. Two decades later they’re still remembered.Current V8 Supercar rules mandate four-door sedans and V8 engines. Regulations for 2017 will open the sport to any body shape with at least four seats, while four- and six-cylinder turbo engines will be able to line up against traditional V8s.For Volvo, the switch to a V60 racer makes senseThe changes are designed to make Australia’s premier motorsport category relevant after longstanding rivals Ford and Holden shut down their Australian factories in 2016 and 2017.The “Gen2” rule book would allow these companies to compete with Mustang and Camaro coupes instead of Falcon and Commodore sedans as well as attracting more brands to the series.Hyundai and Lexus, for example, are both known to be interested in entering cars.For Volvo, the switch to a V60 racer makes sense, highlighting the brand’s practical wagon prowess, for one thing. And with the Swedish company dropping its big five-, six- and eight-cylinder engines, winning races with a high-power turbo four would convince customers that small doesn’t mean slow.A small turbo four brings racetrack advantagesLast year Volvo revealed it was working on a high-performance version of its new 2.0-litre Drive-E engine for road cars. Two regular turbos combined with an electric turbo compressor boost the four’s power to a V8-equalling 330kW.Volvo’s racing partner Polestar was involved in development of the concept engine. This experienced Swedish outfit, which engineered Volvo’s winning V8 Supercar engine, certainly will be able to extract even more power from a racing version of the 2.0-litre Drive-E.Its compact size improves weight distribution between the front and rear axle and lowers the centre of gravityA small turbo four brings racetrack advantages, as Volvo Polestar engine director Mattias Evensson explains when the triple-charged concept was revealed.“Its compact size improves weight distribution between the front and rear axle and lowers the centre of gravity — two factors that have a significant effect on the handling, whether it is a race car or a street car,” he says.The racer would have to adopt rear-drive as demanded by the Gen2 Supercar rules, unlike the showroom V60 which is front or all-wheel-drive.

Hard-hitting Polestar wagon lands in Australia along with revised S60 Polestar sedan.

Volvo's new, economical Drive-E engines have arrived in Australia.

Volvo has confirmed that it will unveil a third concept based on its new SPA platform at the Geneva motor show next month.Building on the Coupe and XC Coupe concepts shown over the past year, it’s unclear what body style the new concept will represent.The first two concepts showcased Volvo’s new look in coupe and two-door crossover forms, so the third concept could hint at the future S60 sedan or V60 wagon, with a new four door coupe shape also a possibility.The modular SPA platform will underpin Volvo’s entire next-generation lineup, and feature the brand’s new efficiency-focused Drive-E four cylinder petrol and diesel engines.This reporter is on Twitter: @Mal_Flynn