At a press conference at the 2012 Paris Motor Show on Thursday, Volvo Car Corporation announced that the first batch of the Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid is sold out before the car has reached the showrooms – and the order books for next year’s cars are already filling up.
The first 1,000 units of the Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid are only available in a “Pure Limited” edition with Electric Silver livery. The diesel-electric car is also distinguished by aero-designed 17-inch wheels, integrated exhaust tailpipes and a number of bodywork features in glossy black.
After this initial batch of 1,000 cars for model year 2013, production of the V60 Plug-in Hybrid will increase to 5,000 cars as of model year 2014.
The Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid is the synthesis of close cooperation between Volvo Car Corporation and Swedish electricity supplier Vattenfall. The two companies have financed the development project jointly.
The front wheels of the Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid are powered by a five-cylinder 2.4-liter turbo diesel producing 215 hp and maximum torque is 440 Nm, while the rear axle is powered by an electric motor producing 70 horsepower, all while only producing 49g/km of CO2 on the combined cycle.
The driver of the V60 Plug-in Hybrid is putting an end to compromise via three driving mode buttons on the dashboard: Pure, Hybrid and Power.
– In Pure mode the car is powered solely by its electric motor as much as possible. If the battery pack has been recharged with electricity from renewable sources, its range is up to 50km (31 miles) with no carbon dioxide emissions from the tailpipe. The electric range varies with terrain, climate and driving style.
– Hybrid is the standard setting whenever the car is started. The diesel engine and electric motor cooperate to ensure optimal balance between driving pleasure and environmental footprint. CO2 emissions (NEDC, mixed driving cycle for certification) are just 49g/km and it has a total range of up to 621 miles. Fuel consumption is 1.8 l/100 km (131 mpg US in Hybrid mode.
– In Power mode the technology is optimized to give the car the maximum possible power. The diesel engine and electric motor have a total power output of 215+70 horsepower and maximum torque of 440+200Nm. The electric motor’s lightning-quick torque delivery contributes to the car’s acceleration from (0-100km/h) 0 to 62mph in 6.1 seconds.
