Volvo reveals the new V60

Volvo aims to increase its customer base with its new line of cars, and the V60 estate will be available with up to eight different engines as well as a sporty new look in a bid to attract up to 50,000 new customers to switch to the Swedish brand.

Five petrol and three diesel units are available for the V60, including two 1.6-litre inline four-cylinder powerplants that produce 150 or 180bhp, and 240Nm of torque. The other two petrol engines are 2.0-litre inline four-cylinder units with 203bhp and 300Nm of torque, or 240bhp and 320Nm of torque. The top-of-the-range petrol engine meanwhile, is a 3.0-litre powerplant that produces 304bhp and 440Nm of torque. This enables the V60 to go from 0-100km/h in 6.6 seconds, and reach an electronically-limited top speed of 250km/h.

Among the diesel engines available are a 1.6-litre inline four-cylinder unit with 115bhp and 270Nm of torque, and two inline five-cylinder engines, the first being a 2.0-litre with 163bhp and 400Nm of torque, and the other producing 205bhp and 420Nm of torque.

The V60 features a coupe-inspired roof, sculpted styling at the front, and a bulging "shoulder" to keep with Volvo's design language. "Many of the customers who had an advance look at the new V60 during the development process feel that its attitude is at least as sporty as that of the all-new S60," said Volvo Design Director Peter Horbury.

As with all Volvos, safety is paramount, and the new V60 comes with collision avoidance, pedestrian detection, all-wheel drive, tight steering, stability control, traction control in the corners, and an advanced brake system. The rear seats as well as the front passenger seat can be folded down flat for added practicality, and can thus accommodate long objects through the 1,095mm-wide tailgate. Total boot capacity with the seats up stands at 430 litres.