VOLVO REFRESHES S60, V60, XC60

In what can only be described as a product onslaught, Volvo South Africa has promised to introduce a new range of S60, V60 and XC60 models into the country around the fourth quarter this year. These are not all-new versions, but merely facelifts. I say merely with caution, because revisions are quite noticeable, even under the skin.

Let’s start with the exterior where Volvo has redesigned a number of items. The front grille is new, and wider, LED lights are evident at the rear end, and there are new integrated taillights. Volvo is really on a roll now, and it looks like they are making all the right moves.

Inside, there are upgrades such as new upholstery colours, new wood inlays, a new headliner, and the silk metal frames around the air vents and light controls.

Probably one of the coolest items on the list is something called Sensus which is Volvo’s iDrive/ MMI. It uses a 17.8cm touch-screen that can even be operated while wearing gloves. Apparently that’s a world first. I wouldn’t say, since I’ve never tried. Nevertheless it has things like in-car internet which turns the car into a WiFi hotspot through its own dongle or through your smart phone. You can then use the internet while the car is stationary or share it with passengers.

While there is no confirmation of exactly which engines will be kept or dropped from the local lineup, it’s interesting to learn that a D2 with 84kW exists, and is said to average around 4.1 litres per 100km of diesel for both S60 and V60. The 1.6 GTDi , a petrol, is also interesting in the T3 (110kW) and T4 (132kW).

The new facelift Volvo 60 range appears at the 2013 Geneva International Motor Show in the next couple of weeks.