When I first heard the phrase “safe sex” I thought I was being encouraged to go out and pomp a Swede. After all, no other nation is as concerned with safety as are our Scandinavian cousins. In fact, they’re so obsessed with living forever that they often seem to have forgotten how to enjoy themselves. But with the arrival of the new Volvo S60R that’s all changed. With near supercar performance the latest Volvo is more fun than a bucketful of ecstasy in a convent.
Apart from the racy 17′ wheels and sporty styling that gives away its no-nonsense character the Volvo sports a 220 kW / 400 Nm high-pressure turbocharged engine, all wheel drive, a crisp six speed manual gearbox, very sophisticated adjustable suspension and four piston aluminium Brembo brake calipers. Volvo claims a 0-100 time of 5,7 seconds and a top speed (limited) of 250 km/hr. Car & Driver magazine managed to get their test Volvo up to 60 mph (96 km/hr) in 5,5 seconds so the claims seem very realistic. In addition, the Americans ran the quarter mile in exactly 14 seconds, which is just 0,4 seconds slower than the R522 000 Mercedes-Benz C32 AMG and the new R508 00 V8 Audi S4. With the Volvo’s price set at R440 000 it’s just got to be a winner.
The S60R’s engine a modified version of the latest 147 kW 2.5-liter turbocharged in-line five cylinder unit that powers less sporty Volvo offerings. Modifications include a low-restriction intake, two intercoolers, reground camshafts, reinforced pistons, continuously variable valve timing on both inlet and exhaust sides, and a new cylinder head and exhaust manifold. The low-pressure Mitsubishi turbo is pensioned off in favour of a larger KKK unit offering boost of 1 bar – more than double that of the low-pressure unit. Output is elevated to 220 kW at 5500 rpm and 400 Nm of torque from 1950 to 5250 rpm. Acceleration is very, very good, and because of the healthy torque at low revs the engine feels like a strong four litre rather than a 2,5 litre offering with a blowdrier attached. The six speed gearbox is also brilliant, with well chosen ratios and crisp, clean changes between the cogs.
The suspension features a three-way-adjustable shock system developed jointly by Monroe and Ã-hlins, the racing-shock manufacturer. Rebound and compression damping are instantaneously adjusted based on input from seven accelerometers placed throughout the car, and a dash mounted switch enables the driver to choose between Comfort, Sport and Advanced Sport modes to suit the driver’s preferences and the circumstances. These settings can otherwise be interpreted as firm, hard and bloody hard. Select your mood, push the relevant button and the car changes personality right beneath you. Volvo calls this technology Four-C, or Continuously Controlled Chassis Concept. On the race track the car handled beautifully, with slight but not alarming understeer when driven on the limit.
Build quality is superb and spec levels are high, with dual climate control, power windows and mirrors with heating and memory, cruise control, heated front seats with the driver’s being electrically adjustable and a Premium Audio sound system incorporating 12 speakers, 4X75W amplifiers and Dolby Pro Logic. We won’t add to the reams of words that have been written about Volvo’s safety standards in the past, except to assure you that they’re all tucked away in the sportiest Volvo yet. A contender for Car of the Year? We think so.