Volvo has released these two images of the upcoming S60 sedan that it will reveal at the Geneva auto show next spring.
Keen to draw a connection between this production 2011 model and the concept car that previewed it earlier this year at the Detroit auto show, Volvo has chosen to at least paint the car the same coppery-orange color as the stunning concept. (Can we finally put to bed the old nonsense about boring Volvos? It's been more than a decade of attractiveness now).
Anyway, the new S60 brings an Audi A5-like undulating shoulderline to the party in place of the current S60's characteristic stiff-shouldered look. The nose of the S60 shares a strong family resemblance to the XC60 small crossover -- no surprise there.
The company isn't revealing much else about the vehicle, other than that it will be "sporty," that it will go into production in Ghent, Belgium early next summer and that it will be offered with a Pedestrian Detection system.
Wait, a what? In a bid to make the S60 as safe for those who happen to be in front of the car as those in it, Volvo has pioneered a system that detects the position of pedestrians in front the car and can commandeer the brakes if the driver doesn't in timely fashion. We would recommend turning this system off when driving the S60 in Manhattan unless you like just sitting at the same intersection all day.
inlinesix says:
11:53 AM, 11/10/09
I think Volvo has come a long way in exterior design. But for some reason its not enough for me to want to drive one.
redliner says:
01:10 PM, 11/10/09
Sorta reminds me of the Lexus GS/ MB E-class because of the separate headlights.
albook says:
01:49 PM, 11/10/09
does it compete with the 3 series or the 5? it's wierdly situated b/t the S40 and S60.
chavis10 says:
01:50 PM, 11/10/09
I like it- a very dynamic yet tasteful stance that clearly shows you don't need to emulate the 3 series to be a standout in the segment. Original yet you still know it's a Volvo. It nicely links their current theme with a fresh approach without going overboard. I think Volvo and Saab can really shine going forward since BMWs, MBs and Audis lack imaginative designs and are pretty much the same sterile designs we've seen decade after decade. Volvo needs to rely on their designs though instead of this pointless safety tech. Let the car speak for itself as opposed to the headline grabbing features.
roar02ram says:
02:05 PM, 11/10/09
+1, chavis.
To albook's point, I wonder what the dimensions are.
inlinesix says:
02:58 PM, 11/10/09
Volvo sold 31,285 CARS in the U.S. between January and October 2009.
VW-149,187
BMW- 130,803
MB- 101,306
Audi- 50,185
Mini-39,172
Saab- 5,383
This is all just cars
Volvo its time to attract more buyers.
altimadude00 says:
06:33 PM, 11/10/09
It looks too much like anything else on the road.