The best things come...
The best things come to those who wait! Brawn GP ace Rubens Barrichello took victory in last weekendð€™s European grand prix ð€“ five years after his last visit to the top step of the podium.
Meet the curvy compact...
Meet the curvy compact exec that aims to build on Volvoò€™s growing reputation for creating stylish, exciting cars. These are the first official pictures of the new S60, and while no image of the rear is available yet, drivers clearly have a great deal to look forward to.
Itò€™s inspired by the concept which debuted at the Detroit Motor Show in January, and features the same swooping coupé roofline and neatly rounded edges. Itò€™s even finished in the same copper paintjob! Inside, the cabin is set to be equally dramatic, with LED lights and a swooping dashboard, incorporating an LCD instrument panel.
Volvo has announced that the showroom-ready S60 will be unveiled at Marchò€™s Geneva expo ò€“ and that production will start early next summer at the firmò€™s plant in Ghent, Belgium. Bosses have also promised that the newcomer will be equipped with the innovative Pedestrian Detection system ò€“ a groundbreaking safety feature that can sense people in the road in front of the car, and apply the brakes automatically if the driver doesnò€™t react.
Although the engine line-up has yet to be confirmed, buyers are set to be offered an all-new 1.6-litre direct-injection EcoBoost petrol turbo unit, delivering 180bhp. A 1.6-litre diesel is also on the cards ò€“ this is likely to power an ultra-efficient DRIVe model.
Itò€™s uncertain whether a high-performance R version of the new S60 will be produced. Sources close to the project say they want to emphasise the carò€™s eco credentials instead. A hybrid is in the pipeline, though. This will be developed from experimental work Volvo carried out with an all-electric C30.
Prices for the newcomer have yet to be finalised, but itò€™s expected to cost less than the larger V70 estate. The range could start at around Ò£22,000.