VOLVO V60 HYBRID IS SIMPLY AMAZING!

Volvo South Africa is considering selling the new V60 Hybrid, a plug-in type that runs on both batteries and diesel fuel. But by the look of things, it may not happen at all. See, prices have been announced for the UK and Europe, and indications are this car will be priced out of the Mzansi market even before it lands here.

Around Europe the car will have a R620 000 price tag, which in Mzansi terms makes it even more expensive than cars like the Range RoverEvoque, and about the same as BMW’s mid-range 5 Series and Audi’s A6.

However, price may not be the only thing prospective buyers look at. The most attractive prospect is probably its fuel consumption, which is the lowest claimed we’ve ever come across. How does 1.9 litres per 100km strike you? That’s phenomenal by anyone’s standard. It basically means you can travel for 100km at a time but use only 2 litres of diesel each time! Of course these figures are based mostly on test labs. Regardless, even 3 litres per 100km is simply astonishing.

And considering that it runs a 5-cylinder 2.4-litre turbo diesel engine with 158kW and 440Nm, these fuel consumption figures should be much higher. The kicker then, is the rechargeable lithium-ion battery system that sits under the floor, with a power output of 51kW and 200Nm on its own. It can be charged using the normal electric power socket that’s in your home or office.

Volvo plans to only sell 1000 units in 2012 and hopefully sell about 6000 a year by 2014. Maybe then the price will be much more accessible, otherwise this will be one of those cars Mzansi fans look at from afar. What a pity that would be.