Volvo S60L PPHEV concept is the complete package

It may not look all that special, but this car, the Volvo S60L PPHEV (Petrol Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle) concept, absolutely is. Volvo claims that it’s a zero-emission electric vehicle, an efficient hybrid and a high-performance car. Yup, all three in one tidy looking Volvo S60L.

The S60L PPHEV uses the same plug-in hybrid technology showcased in Detroit 2012’s XC60 Plug-in Hybrid concept, and this time it will reach production next year. It will join the existing diesel-powered V60 Plug-in Hybrid in Volvo’s fast-expanding ultra-efficient lineup.

Under the hood is a 2.0 litre turbocharged petrol engine that makes 238 hp and 350 Nm of torque on its own. The Drive-E engine powers the front wheels through an eight-speed auto’box, while an electric motor sends another 68 hp and 200 Nm to the rear tyres for instant trough-the-road all-wheel drive.

Volvo’s “most technologically advanced powertrain ever” offers three driving modes: Pure, Hybrid and Power. Pure gives a 50 km all-electric range, Hybrid uses as little as 2.0 litres of fuel per 100 km (50 km per litre) and Power offers a 0-100 km/h time of just 5.5 seconds. Now this is a three-in-one cocktail you won’t mind having every day.

Total range is said to be around 1,000 km in the default Hybrid mode, and a full recharge of the boot floor-mounted 11.2 kWh lithium-ion battery pack takes between 4.5 to 4.0 hours, depending on the power outlet’s amperage. There’s no need for a dedicated charging station; a regular power socket will suffice.

Unique to the concept are its matte white crystal pearl colour with contrasting black/blue details, wind-cheating 17-inch wheels and subtle plug-in hybrid badges. Inside, the S60L is further glitzed-up with a hazel-brown leather interior and matching bespoke wood trim pieces. Who says one can’t have it all?

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