New 2019 Volvo S60 Is A Sleek, American Made BMW 3-Series Fighter

Volvo’s third generation S60 model was unveiled at the automaker’s first U.S. manufacturing plant in Charleston, South Carolina, which was also officially inaugurated yesterday.

The all-new S60 is the Volvo’s first model to be sold without a diesel unit within its engine range, in turn signaling the company’s commitment to electrification. The Swedish automaker has previously stated that come 2019, all of their new models will be electrified.

“The new S60 is one of the most exciting Volvo cars we’ve ever made,” stated Volvo boss Hakan Samuelsson. “It is a true driver’s car that gives us a strong position in the US and China sedan markets, creating more growth opportunities for Volvo Cars.”

Buyers will be able to choose between two turbocharged and supercharged plug-in hybrid petrol engines. Opt for the T6 Twin Engine AWD PHEV spec and you’ll end up with 340 HP, whereas the US-spec T8 version will deliver 400 HP. The automaker’s proven T5 and T6 petrol engines will be available at launch.

As for how well the new S60 will drive, this is what R&D exec Henrik Green had to say: “The active chassis and drive modes deliver excellent control and an engaged performance that makes this a driver’s car. It also brings the acclaimed technology from our 90 Series and other 60 Series cars into this segment, making it one of the best sports sedans on the market.”

You can also purchase electrified versions of the new S60 with a performance handling upgrade called Polestar Engineered – available exclusively on the T8 Twin Engine PHEV model. It offers upgraded wheels, brakes, suspension and engine control unit, boosting output to 415 HP.

The new S60 shares its SPA platform, safety tech and infotainment system with the V60, XC60 and the flagship 90 series models, which in turn should help it become one of the safest cars on the road.

Helping it in that department are systems such as City Safety with Autobrake, which assists the driver in avoiding potential collisions. Volvo says this is the only system on the market calibrated to recognize pedestrians, cyclists and large animals. Also, as a segment-first, City Safety now also engages auto braking in order to mitigate oncoming collisions.

Meanwhile, options such as the Pilot Assist system, which can steer, accelerate and brake the car on well-marked roads at speeds of up to 130 km/h (80 mph), has been upgraded to deliver better cornering performance. The all-new S60 also comes with Run-off Road Mitigation, Oncoming Lane Mitigation and the optional Cross Traffic Alert with autobrake.

Another segment first is marked by the automaker’s premium subscription service Care by Volvo, which allows customers to now access the new S60 through a monthly flat-fee subscription with no down payment. Tech-savvy buyers/subscribers will also be happy to know that the Sensus Connect infotainment system which is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, is available.

As for how the all-new S60 looks, well, it hasn’t exactly been the world’s best kept secret, especially with the V60 having already been unveiled. Still, if you like the larger S90’s appearance, odds are you’ll enjoy looking at the S60 too, especially since it does have a few extra design lines coursing through its body, making it look a little more sporty than its flagship sibling.

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