Volvo has always been a nameplate synonymous with safety, and that won't change. However, if this brand wants to be more of a player in the import luxury sedan market, it recognizes it needs to step up its performance image.
The 2012 Volvo S60 T6 R-Design is an important step in that direction. It's a dynamic, fun-to-drive sport sedan that will surprise with its performance capabilities.
To help mould its image, Volvo has turned to Swedish racing and performance company Polestar.
Its engineers have worked their magic on the S60 T6, resulting in the hottest production sedan the company has ever built.
The heart of the R-Design is the same 3.0-litre in-line six-cylinder engine that powers the all-wheeldrive S60 T6, but tweaks to the tuning, including more boost, advanced spark timing and throttle recalibration result in 325 horsepower between 5,600 and 6,500 rpm and 354 pound-feet of torque that kicks in at 3,000 rpm.
That's an increase of 8% in the ponies department and 9% more grunt. On the track, the steppedup response chips 0.3 seconds off the standard S60 T6 acceleration time, making the sprint to 100 kilometres an hour in just 5.5 seconds.
If you're concerned that there's a price to be paid at the pum
ps for this added performance, there's no need to worry.
Fuel consumption rates for the R-Design are the same as the standard S60 T6 - 11.3 litres per 100 km in city driving and 7.7 L/100 km on the highway.
The enhancements don't stop in the engine bay. The transmission is a second-generation, quicker-shifting six-speed Geartronic automatic that includes a Sport mode. Nudge the shifter lever to the right and the driver has the choice of choosing gears manually or letting the tranny make the selection. The Sport mode remaps the shift points, holding the gear longer and deeper into the torque curve.
This engine/tranny package works well together, although the availability of a manual gearbox would boost the car's sporting appeal. During a drive with the automatic box through some wonderful, twisty roads in the Napa region, I found myself reaching behind the steering wheel for paddle shifters, which don't exist. What a pity.
A portion of the drive was spent doing laps at Thunderhill Raceway Park, a challenging 4.8km, 15-turn road course. It served as an ideal venue for demonstrating the car's dynamic prowess.
The R-Design's chassis has been stiffened 15%, with a strut brace between the front shock towers, and the standard twintube shocks have been replaced with monotube units that have a different compression and return dampening system that speeds up fluid flow, generating quicker response. The springs front and rear have been shortened 15 millimetres, lowering the car and giving it a more aggressive stance. The spring rate is also 15% stiffer, though the ride over rough patches remains compliant - firm but pleasingly forgiving.
Stiffer rear bushings have been added, including the front tieblade unit, which is 400% stiffer. These modifications counteract wheel hop and shaking.
This well-balanced sport sedan is listed at a base price of $50,325, which puts it below such competitive models as the 212-horsepower Audi A4 Premium Plus S-Line ($50,900), the 333-hp Audi S4 ($53,000) and BMW 335i xDrive with the M Sport Package ($55,200), rated at 300 hp
The 2012 Volvo S60 T6 R-Design is an important step in that direction. It's a dynamic, fun-to-drive sport sedan that will surprise with its performance capabilities.
To help mould its image, Volvo has turned to Swedish racing and performance company Polestar.
Its engineers have worked their magic on the S60 T6, resulting in the hottest production sedan the company has ever built.
The heart of the R-Design is the same 3.0-litre in-line six-cylinder engine that powers the all-wheeldrive S60 T6, but tweaks to the tuning, including more boost, advanced spark timing and throttle recalibration result in 325 horsepower between 5,600 and 6,500 rpm and 354 pound-feet of torque that kicks in at 3,000 rpm.
That's an increase of 8% in the ponies department and 9% more grunt. On the track, the steppedup response chips 0.3 seconds off the standard S60 T6 acceleration time, making the sprint to 100 kilometres an hour in just 5.5 seconds.
If you're concerned that there's a price to be paid at the pum
ps for this added performance, there's no need to worry.
Fuel consumption rates for the R-Design are the same as the standard S60 T6 - 11.3 litres per 100 km in city driving and 7.7 L/100 km on the highway.
The enhancements don't stop in the engine bay. The transmission is a second-generation, quicker-shifting six-speed Geartronic automatic that includes a Sport mode. Nudge the shifter lever to the right and the driver has the choice of choosing gears manually or letting the tranny make the selection. The Sport mode remaps the shift points, holding the gear longer and deeper into the torque curve.
This engine/tranny package works well together, although the availability of a manual gearbox would boost the car's sporting appeal. During a drive with the automatic box through some wonderful, twisty roads in the Napa region, I found myself reaching behind the steering wheel for paddle shifters, which don't exist. What a pity.
A portion of the drive was spent doing laps at Thunderhill Raceway Park, a challenging 4.8km, 15-turn road course. It served as an ideal venue for demonstrating the car's dynamic prowess.
The R-Design's chassis has been stiffened 15%, with a strut brace between the front shock towers, and the standard twintube shocks have been replaced with monotube units that have a different compression and return dampening system that speeds up fluid flow, generating quicker response. The springs front and rear have been shortened 15 millimetres, lowering the car and giving it a more aggressive stance. The spring rate is also 15% stiffer, though the ride over rough patches remains compliant - firm but pleasingly forgiving.
Stiffer rear bushings have been added, including the front tieblade unit, which is 400% stiffer. These modifications counteract wheel hop and shaking.
This well-balanced sport sedan is listed at a base price of $50,325, which puts it below such competitive models as the 212-horsepower Audi A4 Premium Plus S-Line ($50,900), the 333-hp Audi S4 ($53,000) and BMW 335i xDrive with the M Sport Package ($55,200), rated at 300 hp
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