| 2002 Volvo All Wheel Drive Sneak Peak
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Volvo's
Movement Towards The Enjoyment of Life
First Drive:
Volvo S60 AWD
Compiled by: George
Achorn
Last edited: 08/29/01 - 09:00 AM
Rockport, ME -- As Volvo sees it, the Scandinavian brand has
three driving factors. First, Protect Life emphasizes their focus on
class leading safety and environmental protection. Long Life, the second
factor of the Volvo strategy, emphasizes their goals of quality and
longevity. The third, and newest facet, is Enjoy Life. This last one
hints at some new excitement from the often conservative Swedish
carmaker that promises to pump some newfound excitement into their
automotive line starting right now with the introduction of the S60 AWD.
Volvo chose a sleepy little resort town on the coast of Maine as the
geographical starting point of this new endeavor. While it may not be
well known as the vacation spot of vacation spots, New Englanders and
those familiar with it will tell you that those who spend their summers
on Maine's bountiful coastline are relative experts on the enjoyment of
life.
This last facet of Volvo's direction is a very interesting position for
the traditionally staid brand to be taking, as it is the first real hint
that they intend to play on the literally racier side of the European
automotive business. Cars like the new S60 AWD show a clear movement in
that direction that will most likely even result in a dusting off of the
R nameplate.
That aside, the car in the limelight today is the S60 AWD. Volvo has
chosen the 2.4T version of the highly successful S60 as the basis for
the AWD, and that makes some strategic sense. This is the model in the
Volvo line that will take all-wheel-drive to the highest number of new
and traditional Volvo owners.
This car is the spiritual successor to the S70 AWD, a car not known for
its high volume sales. However, the newer S60 has several things going
for it that the 70 did not. First, the current sedan is a much more
attractive choice for those shopping in the mainstream luxury segment
that includes such stalwarts as the BMW 3-series and Audi A4. Second,
unlike the S70 with its Viscous Coupling all-wheel-drive system, the S60
AWD has something completely new.
The S60 makes use of a totally different all-wheel-drive system, first
shown in the Volvo PCC concept car and also used in other road-going
cars like the Audi TT quattro. The system, developed by Swedish
manufacturer Haldex, makes use of an electronically controlled wet
multi-plate clutch and is particularly useful in tight packaging
confines such as the transversely mounted engines found in modern
Volvos.
The new Haldex system has two main strengths going for it. First, it is
electronically controlled so it is ultimately programmable and works
harmoniously with existing Volvo systems such as TRACS and more
importantly ESP, the latter of which Volvo engineers have been unable to
mate to the Viscous Coupling design.
Second, the new Haldex system is designed for prodigious power
allotments. From the start, it has been engineered for use with some
highly tuned engines, which makes it a perfect candidate for
high-performance models that Volvo will most certainly be focusing on in
the future.
Out on the road, the S60 AWD was subjected to several different types of
driving surface. Smooth pavement gave way to gravel unpaved Maine back
roads, where the car was subjected to standing full throttle launches
that it delivered with plenty of composure and little if any wheel spin.
Later, Volvo personnel set up a small test course that included an
emergency lane change followed by a slalom set up on wet grass in an
effort to show off the capabilities of the system. For those who knew
what they were doing, the car handled very well. As the car is not yet
fitted with ESP, there were those who attempted the lane change faster
than their abilities allowed, letting off of the gas in an effort to
coast back into the original lane and bleed off some speed. What this
resulted in was the car practically swapping ends. However, those
familiar with AWD cars had no problem as driving AWD in most situations
such as that is simply a matter of pointing the car and giving it
throttle.
The issue this does raise though is the typical untaught driver who
oversteps their bounds in an all-wheel-drive car. Typically seen in SUVs,
it happens in cars as well and even the well-thought-out S60 showed that
it could happen to the best of them. For this reason, Volvo is preparing
to add ESP to the car in the near future, a feature that will help the
car to correct itself in just such a spin. |
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On the grass and mud slalom the car was
a simple exercise in control. Driving hard around the cones, like on the
pavement it was not hard to kick the back out of the car by letting off
the throttle. As the tail would clear the cones and point the S60 in the
desired direction, one had simply to add throttle and go. The new Haldex
system is really quite flawless.
All S60 AWDs, at least in the beginning, will be available only with the
5-speed Geartronic automatic transmission. While not the hardcore
manual, the Geartronic offers the best of both worlds with a smooth
working automatic that allows manual shifting through controls in the
gear selector positioning.
With all of this talk regarding getting power to the ground, it is
important to not lose site of the power source itself. Like the
short-lived S70 AWD, the S60 AWD makes use of Volvo's 2.4-liter I-5
engine with a light pressure turbo system. This system, while a notch
below the more highly-tuned T-5, is no slacker with 197-hp. While that
may not seem like the highest figure in its class, the sweetness is in
the peak torque delivery of 210 lb-ft. of torque at a very low 1800-rpm
making the motor feel as strong as a 6-cylinder though with
class-leading frugality in fuel consumption.
Outwardly, there are few subtle ways to discern an S60 AWD from a
standard 2.4T. The "2.4T" badge itself is dropped and replaced
with one that reads "AWD". Differing wheel design and a very
slightly raised suspension are the only other outward clues as to the
nature of the car.
Like many fine European manufacturers, Volvo spends a lot of time in
designing their wheels and making them exude the Volvoness of the car as
much as any grill or uniquely styled fender might. The basic wheels on
the car are a 16-inch design called "Orbit", and they bear
more than a passing resemblance to those found on the highly successful
Cross Country model that is a benchmark in consumer's perceived
correlation between Volvo and all-wheel-drive. The second offering, a
17-inch design named "Thor", is a direct evolution of the
anthracite "Volans" equipped on the 850R models and also
similar to those also packaged on the last Cross Country SE to be built
on the first V70 platform.
North American cars riding on the 16-inch wheels will come equipped with
Michelin MXV4s in 205 65 16 sizing, while tires on the 17-inch wheels
have yet to be announced. The all-season Michelins will not be sold on
the car in Europe, which will come with a full summer tire as snow tires
are mandated in some markets on the other side of the pond. |
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The suspension on the S60 AWD is raised
.6 inches in the front and 1.4 inches in the rear. The raise isn't very
obvious to the casual observer, though a sharp eye will spot it. From a
driving perspective, the suspension is typical of the newer Volvos. It
manages to suck in many of the bumps and thumps of poorer roads, but
remains quite firm in the turns, providing a well rounded package.
For consumers who aren't happy with the higher ride height, Volvo Cars
North America will be selling a sport suspension package for the car
that will dial it down to the standard S60 ride height in the front and
only 1/2-inch higher in the rear. This should also firm up the ride for
those of a more sporting mindset.
With all of this in mind, Volvo expects the S60 AWD with Geartronic as
standard to sell at a $1750 premium over the S60 2.4T. While not the
lowest price for AWD in its class, the combination of the Haldex system
with Geartronic make the package a real value. To further emphasize
that, Volvo dealers in North America will be offering the Winter Package
free on the S60 AWD from their introduction through March.
Production of the cars is said to begin this week. The 2002 S60 AWD will
debut in its home market of Sweden shortly, and begin to show up in
North American dealers by October.
Once the cars begin to hit our shores, Volvo Cars of North America
expects to sell 1,000 nationwide before the end of the year and another
5,000 to 6,000 in the 2002 calendar year.
If the S60 AWD is a glimpse of what is to come, let Volvo's enjoyment of
life begin. This new Haldex system has plenty of potential for fitment
in Volvo's whole range of cars if they so choose. In this particular
case, the S60 is truly capable and from the not so subtle hints of those
at Volvo, it is just a hint at things to come. |
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| Specs:
Volvo S60 2.4T |
| Engine |
2.4-liter
5-cylinder |
0-60mph |
N/A |
| Maximum
Power |
197-hp@6000rpm |
60-0mph |
N/A |
| Maximum
Torque |
210
lb-ft.@1800rpm |
Fuel
Economy |
N/A |
| Transmission |
5-speed
Automatic |
Base
Price |
N/A |
| Drive
Type |
all-wheel-drive |
Price
As Tested |
N/A |
Figures showing N/A are due to the fact
that Swedespeed has not yet had the chance to fully test the S60 AWD. |
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