Volvo released teaser details today of its upcoming hybrid variant of the V60. Claims of carbon dioxide emissions below 50g/km and fuel consumption of 1.88 litres/100km (about 150mpg) give plenty of reason to pay close attention, even if the car looks little different to the regular one.
The recently launched Volvo V60 estate is first to feature the Swedish company's new hybrid drivetrain. The system consists of a 218hp five-cylinder 2.4-litre diesel engine turning the front wheels and a 71hp electric motor powering the rear axle. Volvo calls this ERAD (Electric Rear Axle Drive). The ERAD system gets its power from a 12kWh lithium-ion battery pack and gives the driver the possibility of driving up to 51 kilometres solely powered by electricity.
In effect, this means that the car will be four-wheel drive when both the D5 engine and ERAD system are running simultaneously. It also means that, under diesel power alone, the car will be front-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive when running purely on electricity.
Stefan Jacoby, President and CEO of Volvo Cars says, "In order to get true car enthusiasts to think green, you have to offer them the opportunity to drive with low carbon dioxide emissions without taking away the adrenaline rush that promotes genuine driving pleasure. The V60 Plug-in Hybrid has all the traditional properties of a genuine sports wagon. What we've done is to spice it up with spearhead technology"
Volvo's V60 Plug-In Hybrid will be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show this coming March.