Volvo has announced plans to bring a “virtually production ready” V60 plug-in hybrid to the Geneva Motor Show this March, and if it makes it to market, it will be both the automaker’s first
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The V60 hybrid will essentially pack two separate drivetrains: a 215-horsepower turbodiesel 2.4-liter five-cylinder up front and a 70-hp electric motor mounted between the rear wheels. A 12 kWh lithium-ion battery pack feeds juice to the rear electric motor and Volvo claims that the V60 hybrid can be driven for up to 31 miles on electricity alone. Volvo CEO Stefan Jacoby is adamant that the V60 will be a sports wagon for the enthusiast, which we can hopefully confirm when sales begin in 2012.
At the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, Volvo Cars will be unveiling the V60 Plug-in Hybrid – a virtually production-ready car with carbon dioxide emissions below 50 g/km, which translates into fuel consumption at 1.9 l/100 km.
In 2012 Volvo Cars will be the first manufacturer on the market with this new breed of hybrid – which is the result of close cooperation with the Swedish energy supplier Vattenfall.
The V60 Plug-in Hybrid features the very best properties from three different car types in one, single attractive sports wagon. This includes a possibility for the driver to drive up to 50 kilometres on pure electricity.
“This second-generation hybrid is the perfect choice for the uncompromising buyer who wants a superbly carbon dioxide-lean car packed with driving pleasure,” says Stefan Jacoby, President and CEO of Volvo Cars.
D5 engine and Electric Rear Axle Drive
The front wheels of the V60 Plug-in Hybrid will be driven by a five-cylinder 2.4-litre D5 turbodiesel, which produces 215 horsepower and maximum torque of 440 Nm. The rear axle features ERAD (Electric Rear Axle Drive) in the form of an electric motor producing 70 horsepower, which receives its power from a 12 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. The car features a six-speed automatic transmission.
“In order to get true car enthusiasts to think green, you have to offer them the opportunity to drive with low carbon dioxide emissions without taking away the adrenaline rush that promotes genuine driving pleasure. The V60 Plug-in Hybrid has all the traditional properties of a genuine sports wagon. What we’ve done is to spice it up with spearhead technology,” says Stefan Jacoby.
The Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid will be revealed at a press conference in Geneva on March 1st 2011.
