Details of the new additions to Volvo Australia’s showroom in 2014.
Volvo S60, V60, XC60 (April)
Volvo will introduce two all-new 2.0-litre four-cylinder engines to its S60, V60 and XC60 line-ups from April. Volvo Car Australia managing director Matt Braid told CarAdvice the local division would ideally launch both a petrol and a diesel engine from its all-new ‘Drive-E’ family simultaneously in its premium mid-sized sedan, wagon and SUV models, but is still deciding on the initial launch line-up and dealing with production availability. The first turbo diesel engine tipped for our market is the 135kW/400Nm D4. The new motor produces 15kW more than the current 2.0-litre five-cylinder D4, is roughly 2.5 seconds quicker from 0-100km/h (down to approximately 7.5-8.0secs across the three models), and is more than 30 per cent more fuel efficient (consuming a claimed 4.1-4.6L/100km on the combined cycle). The turbocharged 182kW/350Nm T5 is also a chance to replace the current 177kW/320Nm unit. It is more than a second quicker to 100km/h (under 6.5 seconds in the S60), and promises to reduce fuel consumption to high-5s/low-6s. European demand for front-wheel-drive models means new engines coupled with all-wheel drive – such as the twin-charged 228kW/400Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder T6 – will suffer a delayed production start date, and won’t arrive locally until the following year.
Volvo XC90
Launching 12 years after the original, it’s somewhat of an understatement to call the second-generation Volvo XC90 ‘long-awaited’. The Swedish brand’s large luxury SUV will debut at September’s Paris motor show before reaching Australian showrooms in early 2015. Teased in a handful of sketches, the XC90 will debut a new design language inspired by the striking Concept Coupe. The XC90 will also become the first model built on the car maker’s versatile Scalable Product Architecture, which features a high percentage of aluminium, promising reduced vehicle weight, increased fuel economy and enhanced performance characteristics. It will also embrace the company’s new Drive-E family of four-cylinder engines. A host of advanced safety technologies will also debut in the new SUV, including two claimed world firsts: a pedestrian detection and avoidance system that operates effectively at night, and a road edge and barrier detection and avoidance system. Combining adaptive cruise control with steer assist, the XC90 also promises to be able to drive autonomously at speeds up to around 50km/h.
