Geneva Motor Show Special: Volvo launched the XC60

Volvo Cars unveiled the new second-generation XC60 premium SUV at Geneva Motor Show, nine years after the company launched the first-gen model in Europe.

The new XC60 sits on the company’s SPA platform, which is said to underpin all of the firm’s 60 and 90 models. The move to the new platform has allowed Volvo to make the new SUV longer, lower and wider than its predecessor, without adding weight.

Under the hood, the second-gen XC60 will be offered with five engine options which include – an 187bhp D4 diesel engine, a 232bhp D5 diesel motor, plus a 251bhp T5 petrol engine and the 316bhp T6, with both, turbochargers and superchargers attached. The XC60 will also get the T8 petrol plug-in hybrid, which is capable of delivering 401bhp and can accelerate from 0-100kmph in just 5.3 seconds.

The new XC60 comes packed with a host of new safety and driver assist features. Steer Assist has been added to the company’s City Safety system. This feature is active between 50-100kmph and supports steering direction changes in case the auto braking fails to avoid collision. Volvo has also added a feature called Oncoming lane Mitigation, which basically uses Steer Assist to help avoid a head-on collision up to a certain extent. Apart from that, there is also Volvo’s Blind Spot Indication System (BLIS), which also uses Steer Assist to reduce the risk of lane-changing collisions. The new XC60 also features the Pilot Assist system – Volvo’s advanced semi-autonomous driver-assistance system, which automatically takes care of steering, acceleration and braking at speeds up to 130kmph.

Thomas Ingenlath, Senior Vice President, Design at Volvo Car Group, said “The XC60 is an SUV not designed to look down on others but to drive. The exterior has an athletic sculpture with a subtle, timeless quality. The interior is a masterful composition of well-resolved architecture, beautiful materials and the very latest technology – all perfectly blended together. The XC60 provides a true Scandinavian experience, which will make our customers feel special.”