Auto-biographies Volvo S60
by Tim Barnes-Clay Motoring Writer at
www.carwriteups.co.uk
Volvo has never had the same appeal as its German executive cousins.
It has never
looked as aggressive as Audi, nor as brutal as BMW or as mean as Mercedes-Benz. But that is a good thing.
You see, the Swedish marque does things its own way and that’s at the very heart of why motorists opt for Volvo – even though they could, for the same money, aff ord something a little sexier.
Take the S60; it’s very much a thinking man’s car. And that’s not to say that German motors don’t attract intelligent people.
It off ers some of the most restful, supportive and sumptuous seats on the automotive market. Chairs you can imagine a college professor sinking into before lighting his pipe and mulling over the day’s events. It’s the kind of car he’ll then cruise back home in while listening to Classic FM. Do you see where I’m going here?
The S60 is by no means boring though; it can still satisfy your pleasure sensors. Let’s face it, Scandinavian design is generally pleasing. This is evident in the redesigned interior and exterior of the latest S60.
The car’s horizontal lines at both the front and rear have been emphasised. Together with details such as a wider grille, daylight running lights and LED tail lamps, they give the S60 a handsome, road-hugging presence. The Volvo saloon has a beauty that appears rooted in the natural world. The clean surfaces and contours give it a very classy feel.
Enhancements for the S60 include ‘Sensus’. This is the name Volvo uses for all its HMI (Human Machine Interface) functionality and the all-new Sensus Connected Touch accessory is the latest addition. It enables connectivity and Internet in the car and turns the seven-inch display into a state-of-the-art infrared, beam-scanned touch screen that can be used even when wearing gloves - a world fi rst in cars and handy in winter.
Step inside,
and materials, such as wood and leather and the easy-to-use controls, contribute to an ‘in-command’ driving experience. The overall eff ect is warm and cosy, like being in a Swedish house on a cold night. The car’s colour themes correspond beautifully with the backlit white controls in the dash and elsewhere in the vehicle.
On the outside, the S60’s road presence has been increased by a new front design. The more focused and determined-looking headlamps help create an expressive face.
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Connection is made either via a car-mounted 3G/4G dongle or your mobile phone. It allows you access to full Internet browsing (except when driving), Internet streaming of music, on-line Google Map and Search, weather information, an App Store for new functions and updates as well as a Volvo service locator. It is also possible to share a WiFi network with everyone in the car.
Volvo is certainly pushing at the technological boundaries now – and that’s including one very important area of motoring: fuel effi ciency. The fuel consumption of the S60 D2 diesel, on test here with a manual gearbox, has been improved to a class-leading 72.4 mpg, translating into CO2 emissions of only 103 g/km. With environmental credentials like these, any self-respecting, Volvo driving, college professor will have to put his pipe out now!
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the.wire@btinternet.com
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