Next Volvo S60 to lead diesel-free charge – report

Volvo is heading towards a future of fully electrified vehicles, and the upcoming S60 sedan will be launched without a diesel option, according to Autocar. Set for its official unveiling soon, the S60 will be made available with a selection of four-cylinder petrol engines as well as two plug-in hybrid versions, along with mild hybrid variants set to arrive in 2019.

“Our future is electric and we will no longer develop a new generation of diesel engines. We will phase out cars with only an internal combustion engine, with petrol hybrid versions as a transitional option as we move towards full electrification. The new S60 represents the next step in that commitment,” said Volvo chief Håkan Samuelsson.

The forthcoming S60 will join the V60 and the XC60 in Volvo’s 60 Series line-up, and will most likely mirror the engine range offered in the V60, save for the aforementioned omitted diesels. In the station wagon, these will be the 2.0 litre turbocharged and supercharged T8 Twin Engine producing a total system output of 390 hp and 640 Nm, a T6 Twin Engine with 340 hp and 590 Nm, and a T6 AWD petrol with 310 hp and 400 Nm.

New Volvo V60 exterior

The internal combustion engine in the V60 T6 Twin Engine omits the supercharger, producing 253 hp at 5,500 rpm and 350 Nm of torque from 1,700 rpm to 5,000 rpm. Its hybrid powertrain features the same electric drive componentry as those in the T8 Twin Engine. The strictly-petrol T6 AWD in the V60 uses the same ICE as the T8 Twin Engine, albeit producing 310 hp in T6 guise compared to 303 hp from the T8 hybrid’s ICE alone.

The decision to offer the next S60 without the option of diesel engines is part of the Swedish automaker’s aim to lower emissions, starting with its discontinuation of any internal combustion engine displacing more than 2.0 litres. Last year, Volvo decided to stop development of new diesel engines. Its current range of Drive-E diesels will continue to be developed, and will likely remain in production until 2023.

Volvo’s first fully electric vehicle is also set to arrive in 2019, with outputs of up to 450 kW (603 hp). Power will be provided by battery packs of up to 100 kWh, and will reportedly offer up to 482 km in range. This can be installed in the company’s Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) and Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platforms in order to meet different product needs.

GALLERY: 2018 Volvo V60

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