Car News

2019 Volvo S60 Revealed…XC40 to be first all-electric product

21 Jun 2018

Isaac Bober 1

The 2019 Volvo S60 has been revealed at the company’s first US-based factory in Charleston, South Carolina, along with confirmation the XC40 would be the brand’s first all-electric vehicle.

VOLVO HAS unveiled its all-new S60 at the opening of its first factory in the US – the S60 will be the first Volvo to be built in the US.

“The new S60 is one of the most exciting Volvo cars we’ve ever made,” said Håkan Samuelsson, president and chief executive of Volvo Cars. “It is a true driver’s car that gives us a strong position in the US and China sedan markets, creating more growth opportunities for Volvo Cars.”

With Volvo recently announcing a move away from diesel powertrains, the S60 was announced as the first new Volvo to be available without a diesel option. More than this, the move away from diesel, according to Volvo, is further proof of its march towards electrification of its range from 2019, a commitment it announced in 2017.

And, speaking with journalists at the reveal of the S60 and opening of its factory, Volvo confirmed its baby SUV, the XC40, would be its first all-electric vehicle and that it would launch after the Polestar 2 and that the next-generation XC90 would be the next electric Volvo.

The S60 will offer two turbo-charged and super-charged plug-in hybrid petrol engines, but its T5 and T6 petrol engines will be the first engines available. The new S60 shares Volvo Cars’ Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform, safety technology and infotainment system with the 90 Series and XC60.

“The active chassis and drive modes deliver excellent control and an engaged performance that makes this a driver’s car,” said Henrik Green, senior vice president for research and development at Volvo Cars. “It also brings the acclaimed technology from our 90 Series and other 60 Series cars into this segment, making it one of the best sports sedans on the market.”

Electrified versions of the new S60 also offer a performance handling upgrade called Polestar Engineered – developed by Volvo Cars’ electric performance arm, Polestar. Polestar Engineered is available exclusively on the T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid and is a complete offer that upgrades the car’s wheels, brakes, suspension and engine control unit boosting the engine’s output.

In a first for the segment, customers in the US will be able to access the new S60 via “Volvo Cars’ new premium subscription service Care by Volvo, which offers car access with no down payment via a monthly flat-fee subscription rather than ownership. Care by Volvo makes having a car as transparent, easy and hassle free as having a phone,” Volvo said.

No pricing has been revealed for the S60 and there’s been no local announcement by Volvo Australia, but we expect the new S60 to make its way Down Under next year.