Test drive Volvo XC60
Thus, the presentation of the new Volvo took place mainly in terms of safety. Things are very different today than they were ten years ago. Today, in principle, we could write that the new XC60 is a typical Volvo in terms of design and technology, with some progress in form and technology, but with the brand's previously established principles; that the XC60 is a "small XC90" and all that follows from that statement.
And there is nothing wrong with that. At least not from afar. Basically, the XC60 is a competitor in the class started by the Beemvee X3, so it's a bland SUV of the lower class in the more upmarket car division. To date, several have accumulated (first of all, of course, GLK and Q5), but in one way or another, everyone agrees with the predictions about good prospects for this class in the near future.
Gothenburg wanted to create a car that was fun to drive and easy to drive. The technical base is based on the large Volvo family, which also includes the XC70, but, of course, most of the components are adapted to: smaller (external) dimensions, higher ground clearance (230 millimeters - a record for this class), more dynamism. behind the wheel and - what they emphasize - the emotional perception of the car.
Thus, the notorious cold Swedes fall into a warm area. Namely, they want the appearance to attract the buyer to such an extent as to convince him of the purchase. Therefore, the XC60 at first glance is a small XC90, which was also the goal of the designers. They wanted to give the new product a clear brand affiliation, but give it a more solid feel - also with some new design tricks, such as new thin LEDs on the sides of the hood with a groove under the bottom line of the side window, with roof rails connected to the roof, or with rear LED taillights that wrap around and underline the dynamic look of the rear.
But as said, security. The XC60 comes standard with a new statistic-based system that says 75 percent of road accidents occur at speeds up to 30 kilometers per hour. Up to this speed, the new City Safety system is active, and its eye is a laser camera mounted behind the interior rearview mirror and, of course, directed forward.
The camera is capable of detecting (larger) objects up to 10 meters in front of the car's front bumper, and the data is transmitted to the electronics, which performs 50 calculations per second. If he calculates that there is a possibility of a collision, he sets the pressure in the braking system, and if the driver does not react, he brakes the car itself and at the same time turns on the brake lights. If the difference in speed between this vehicle and the vehicle in front is less than 15 kilometers per hour, it is able to prevent a collision or at least reduce possible injuries to passengers and damage to vehicles. During a test drive, our XC60 managed to stop in front of the balloon car, despite the fact that the speed was 25 kilometers per hour on the gauge.
Since the system is based on an optical sensor, it has its limitations; the driver must ensure that the windshield is always clean, which means that he must turn on the wipers when necessary - in fog, snowfall or heavy rain. City Safety is permanently connected to the PRS (Pre-Prepared Safety) system, which monitors the readiness and operation of the airbags and seat belt pretensioners. Also introduced for the first time in the XC60, PRS is the link between the prevention and protection systems and is also active at speeds above 30 kilometers per hour.
The XC60, which may or may have (depending on the market) most other safety systems as standard, is considered the safest Volvo of all time. But it is also very attractive, especially its interior. Their design DNA, which they interpret as "Don't Refuse" (or "Refuse" refers to recent successful design decisions) or even as "Dramatic New Approach", also brings novelty inward.
The typically thin center console now faces the driver slightly, with (slightly) more room for knick-knacks behind it, and a multi-function display at the top. The materials chosen and some of the touches reflect the feel of modern technology, while the seat shapes and (much more varied) color combinations are also new. There is even a shade of lemon green.
In addition to high-quality audio systems (up to 12 Dynaudio speakers), the XC60 also offers a two-piece panoramic roof (the front also opens) and a Clean Zone Interior system recommended for convenience by the Swedish Asthma and Allergy Agency. Association. But no matter how you turn it, at the end (or at the beginning) the machine is a technique. Therefore, it should be noted that the self-supporting body is very torsionally rigid, and the chassis is sporty (more rigid hinges), so the front is classic (spring leg) and the rear multi-link XC60 is dynamic behind the wheel.
It has been dedicated to two turbo diesel engines that will meet most of the wishes and requirements of customers with performance in at least Europe, and one turbocharged gasoline engine that will satisfy even the smallest person. The latter is developed on the basis of a 3-liter six-cylinder engine, but due to the smaller diameter and stroke, it has a slightly smaller volume and an additional turbocharger with Twin-Scroll technology. Next year they will offer a super-clean version with a 2-liter turbodiesel (2 "horsepower") and front-wheel drive only to pollute every kilometer with just 4 grams of carbon dioxide. Apart from this, all XC175s drive all four wheels via an electronically controlled 170th generation Haldex clutch, which means, above all, faster system response.
The link between the mechanics and the safety section here is also the DSTC stabilization system (according to local ESP), which for the XC60 has been upgraded with a new sensor that detects rotation around the longitudinal axis (for example, when the driver suddenly removes gas and revs); thanks to the new sensor, it can respond faster than usual. The system can now act faster in the event of a rollover. Thanks to this type of electronics, the XC60 can also have a Hill Descent Control (HDC) system.
Options within the mechanics package include the 'Four-C', electronically controlled chassis with three presets, speed-dependent power steering (also with three presets) and automatic (6) transmissions for both turbo diesels.
Such a "assembled" XC60 will soon "attack" the roads of Europe, the USA and Asia, including China and Russia, which will become very important sales markets for it. The word "road" in the above sentence is not a mistake, as the XC60 has been prepared without hiding, mostly for more or less well-groomed roads, although they promise they won't be intimidated even by soft terrain.
The XC60 seems to be the safest Volvo right now, but it also certainly points to new developments in electronic safety. Don't forget - at Volvo they say safety first!
Slovenia
Sellers are already taking orders and the XC60 will arrive at our showrooms at the end of October. Equipment packages are known (Base, Kinetic, Momentum, Summum), which, in combination with engines, give eleven versions with a price of up to 51.750 2.4 euros. Out of curiosity: from 5D to D800 only 5 euros. From here to T6.300, the step is much larger: about XNUMX euros.
Vinko Kernc, photo: Vinko Kernc
