Volvo was THE eye-catcher at 2011 Ahram Formula Motor Show

Whenever the name Volvo appears in any discussion, people immediately associate the Swedish noble car maker with superior active and passive safety features. Along the 84 years of their company history, the Swedish car manufacturer has introduced numerous standard safety equipments to their cars, e.g. SIPS – Side Impact Protection System, WHIPS – Whiplash Protection System, Pedestrian Detection with auto brake etc.

Another aspect which made their cars famous and thought after by many families, especially their station models, was the practical box-shape trunk, which was very beneficial in terms of volume and made transporting large items an enjoyable experience.

Among their famous station car models were the 240 GLT, 740 Turbo Intercooler and 960 to name a few.
The front-wheel era on the other hand, which started in the late 80s witnessed the launch of the radically designed Volvo 480 Turbo, the Volvo 850 R, and the convertible Volvo C70.

In Egypt however, Volvo cars suffered from a horrible reputation in terms of service, disproportionate spare part prices, and high depreciation values in comparison to their competitors. These factors made seeing Volvo in Egypt a rarity and the expected success failed to appear.

However, after this long dormant period in the growing Egyptian market, and leaving the leading role in the respective competitive classes to their counterparts coming from Stuttgart, Munich and elsewhere, Volvo astonished spectators at the Formula Motor-show held from 12th of January to the 16th of January 2011 with their head-turning line-up.

The eye-catcher of the Volvo booth was the S60 model equipped with the 1.6-litre Turbo-charged engine, producing 180 bhp and transmitting its power via a 6 gear automatic gearbox to the front wheels. This customs friendly car was launched in the Egyptian market at a very critical time, as the direct competitors coming from Mercedes and BMW have only stump weapons to hold against the Swedish intruder.

The face-lifted Mercedes C-Class which was launched contemporaneously in Detroit, is now outfitted with a direct-injected 1.8-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder producing 156-hp, instead of the former 1.6 liter supercharged producing the same number of horsepower. Raising the engine displacement by those 200 cubic centimeters will definitely transform the protagonist role of the market-leading car into an underdog role, as it will shift the C180 into a new customs category, thus raising its price tag even more.

On the other hand, the brand new BMW 3 series (codenamed F30), will be launched in the first quarter 2012, and will be oriented in terms of design and safety features to the current 5 and 7 series. This leaves the current 5 years old 3-series facing the brand new Volvo S60 with engines that range from 1.6- 2.0 and 106 hp till 170 hp, which will be a quite difficult mission.

With 240 Nm of torque, which are produced between 1600 and 5000 rpm, the Volvo S60 accelerates from standstill to 100 km/h in 9.0 seconds with the 6 gear automatic transmission. At 225 km/h the engine power and aerodynamic resistance get even.

Being a leading automotive carmaker in providing pioneering active and passive safety features for their buyers, this car model does not deviate from the safety-oriented philosophy of the Swedish car company.

Available safety features include ABS, traction control, antiskid system, curtain-side airbags, and front-side airbags. Blind-spot alert and lane-departure warning are available. Volvo's City Safety accident-avoidance system is standard. It automatically activates the brakes at low speeds to avoid or reduce the severity of an imminent collision.

Newly available on the 2011 Volvo S60 is Pedestrian Detection with Full Auto Brake. This accident-avoidance feature uses sensors to detect pedestrians who might step in front of the vehicle. If this happens, the system can apply full braking force at speeds up to 22 mph.

If the new safety features and engine choices are not enough to pique interest, perhaps the new design will. Volvo engineers kept the same basic idea as the Volvo S60 Concept, significantly toning down the futuristic look. The front of the car has been rounded off more, integrating a new grille, new headlight and daytime running light design. The bumper is also less boxy than the 2009 model, which now includes air inlets to cool the brakes.

Wheel arches are more pronounced, and side panels are more sculpted, matching the look up front. However, instead of throwing out the squared look in the rear, it was simply toned down. The rear diffuser may be fitted with a dual-tailpipe exhaust system. Taillights comprised of LEDs now extend to the boot lid, wrapping less around the sides than the outgoing model.

From the design lines, the all-new S60 is sportier and more dynamic than any previous Volvo. Virtually all the lines were penned to carve out the dynamic profile. The C-pillar of the all-new S60 stretches sensually all the way to the tail lamps - and the slim coupe-like roof line is accompanied by a new contour on the shoulders on either side of the lower body, creating a gentle yet powerful double wave from the headlamps at the front to the tail lamps at the rear.

The dip in the middle of the double wave visually pushes the car down. This enhances the stance and makes the car look sleeker and lower. The sculpted bonnet and the short overhangs front and rear also emphasize the sports car feel.

The all-new S60 is exceptional also from the keen driver's perspective. It is without a doubt the most dynamic car model Volvo has ever presented.

During the development process, the chassis team carved out a holistic solution featuring changes and refinements for virtually every single detail that influences a car's driving properties. This includes improved steering, stiffer springs and bushes as well as more damping than in any previous Volvo.

All variants of the new S60 can be specified with the advanced, self-adjusting FOUR-C active chassis. The FOUR-C active chassis has been modified and refined for better control and more comfortable feel compared to previous Volvos.

Hopefully in the Egyptian market, the Volvo S60 will be offered with the safety and comfort features available in the leading markets worldwide. Furthermore, the availability of the R-design line, which resembles the M-specs of BMW and AMG specs of Mercedes, will also add to the sporty character of the Volvo S60 and give it a more individual touch.

Stay tuned for the detailed driving impression of the 304 hp Ward’s 10 Best Engines award winning strong Volvo S60 soon here on autoarabia.org.

AE