Volvo S60 T6 R-Design (A) Review
27 Oct 2011|29,976 views
The Swede marque is one of the many brands in the automotive industry that has been expanding not in terms of its models, but variants. While the S60 T4 and T5 have the R-Design variant each, the T6 R-Design you see here has noticeable extra helpings of power, style and handling. From the first few variants of S60 that were launched in Singapore, Volvo transported what was expected of a compact sedan into another world.
From the everlasting looks of the S80, the non-interested parties may perceive Volvo to be a simple car brand hoping to sell cars to members of the old folks, as opposed to the younger and hippy crowd. But instead of leading "old" troops through a safe journey through the quiet roads, Volvo offers a place, much like Peter Pan's Neverland, where "we'll never grow old".
Exterior
And the S60 T6 R-Design proves just that. With the car's extensive badging, different details (front and rear) and lower stance, one can imagine the car being inspired by the stylings of contemporary artists, rather than tie dyed shirts and brown acid. The Swede brand that makes sun-kissed pop design with a psychedelic sheen like the S60 isn't afraid to bust out cheesy funkadelic car that sports sexy headlamps with rectangular fog lamps when the time is right - and totally pull it off! Its simple, grooving looks is almost perfect for a drive down a wide, flat, empty highway.
From the everlasting looks of the S80, the non-interested parties may perceive Volvo to be a simple car brand hoping to sell cars to members of the old folks, as opposed to the younger and hippy crowd. But instead of leading "old" troops through a safe journey through the quiet roads, Volvo offers a place, much like Peter Pan's Neverland, where "we'll never grow old".
Exterior
And the S60 T6 R-Design proves just that. With the car's extensive badging, different details (front and rear) and lower stance, one can imagine the car being inspired by the stylings of contemporary artists, rather than tie dyed shirts and brown acid. The Swede brand that makes sun-kissed pop design with a psychedelic sheen like the S60 isn't afraid to bust out cheesy funkadelic car that sports sexy headlamps with rectangular fog lamps when the time is right - and totally pull it off! Its simple, grooving looks is almost perfect for a drive down a wide, flat, empty highway.
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Up front, the edgier fascia differentiates itself from the rest of the S60 in its stable with the right amounts of meanness without appearing too offensive. Although such added drama are powerful driving forces throughout the R-Design branding, they're not overpowering to the extent that the car lacks variety.
Cosmetically, it's all sweet. The small but functional boot lid spoiler, bolder rear diffuser as well as thick twin tailpipes complement the lowered stance while the 18 inch sporty shoes complete the entire car's sporty package worthy of the R-Design badge.
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Interior
Swing open the doors of the top-of-the-line S60 and drivers will be greeted with a clean and uncluttered cabin that appears to be a nice place. The already excellent car gets a leather-clad steering wheel with the R-Design badge, sport pedals as well as blue-coloured instrument panels. The seats, upholstered in a mixture of leather, fabric as well as Flextech, get an enhancement of body-grabbing bolsters with white contrasting stitching.
The centre stack also gets an aluminium trim with soft plastics filling its place as buttons while materials all-round are tastefully finished as well, giving drivers a sense of luxury. But what really deserves a mention are the benches that provides occupants with the utmost comfort necessary to take them over long distance driving without feeling brokeback.
Swing open the doors of the top-of-the-line S60 and drivers will be greeted with a clean and uncluttered cabin that appears to be a nice place. The already excellent car gets a leather-clad steering wheel with the R-Design badge, sport pedals as well as blue-coloured instrument panels. The seats, upholstered in a mixture of leather, fabric as well as Flextech, get an enhancement of body-grabbing bolsters with white contrasting stitching.
The centre stack also gets an aluminium trim with soft plastics filling its place as buttons while materials all-round are tastefully finished as well, giving drivers a sense of luxury. But what really deserves a mention are the benches that provides occupants with the utmost comfort necessary to take them over long distance driving without feeling brokeback.
Additionally, space is ample all-round despite being a compact sedan - with rear head and legroom sufficient for three full-sized adults.
The hushed and slightly plushed interior of the S60 T6 R-Design lets the car sink its way into your skin, with an overall feline quality to it. If the car was a girl, it'll be a cool, slightly quirky chick at summer camp who randomly pulls out an acoustic guitar in the middle of a campfire, singing a gentle yet aggressive song.
The hushed and slightly plushed interior of the S60 T6 R-Design lets the car sink its way into your skin, with an overall feline quality to it. If the car was a girl, it'll be a cool, slightly quirky chick at summer camp who randomly pulls out an acoustic guitar in the middle of a campfire, singing a gentle yet aggressive song.
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The Drive
And it's pretty much the same when the car is on the tarmac. It can be tastefully gentle when you take it for a relaxing pace but it can also be boldly aggressive when pushed to its limits. Powering the T6 R-Design is an in-line six with a twin-scroll turbo unit that churns out a maximum of 304 horses and 440Nm of torque. With such high figures at play, the compact sedan will proudly finish the century sprint in 6.5 seconds flat while hitting a top speed of 250km/h.
For a mild-mannered brand such as Volvo, one cannot deny that the S60 has pretty impressive dance moves on the tarmac. Thanks to the sportier chassis, shorter and stiffer springs as well as the strut brace under the bonnet - not only does the car exude a more pugnacious attitude on the roads, the S60 feels solid and stable, with a responsive steering wheel that will give drivers the feedback needed when hitting illegal speed limits. Still, despite the stiffer suspension upgrades, the car remains civilised over bumpy and uneven roads.
Other than feeling immediate and linear on the go, the test car was endowed with an array of safety systems. One of the many signature features of Volvo is the Pedestrian Detection with Full Auto Brake. When travelling at low speeds of 35km/h, the car will be able to detect pedestrians in front of the car, applying the needed brakes to avoid a collision should the driver's response is slow. It's only during an emergency situation when the car lets out a loud 'beep', accompanied by flashing red lights in the windscreen's heads-up display.
And it's pretty much the same when the car is on the tarmac. It can be tastefully gentle when you take it for a relaxing pace but it can also be boldly aggressive when pushed to its limits. Powering the T6 R-Design is an in-line six with a twin-scroll turbo unit that churns out a maximum of 304 horses and 440Nm of torque. With such high figures at play, the compact sedan will proudly finish the century sprint in 6.5 seconds flat while hitting a top speed of 250km/h.
For a mild-mannered brand such as Volvo, one cannot deny that the S60 has pretty impressive dance moves on the tarmac. Thanks to the sportier chassis, shorter and stiffer springs as well as the strut brace under the bonnet - not only does the car exude a more pugnacious attitude on the roads, the S60 feels solid and stable, with a responsive steering wheel that will give drivers the feedback needed when hitting illegal speed limits. Still, despite the stiffer suspension upgrades, the car remains civilised over bumpy and uneven roads.
Other than feeling immediate and linear on the go, the test car was endowed with an array of safety systems. One of the many signature features of Volvo is the Pedestrian Detection with Full Auto Brake. When travelling at low speeds of 35km/h, the car will be able to detect pedestrians in front of the car, applying the needed brakes to avoid a collision should the driver's response is slow. It's only during an emergency situation when the car lets out a loud 'beep', accompanied by flashing red lights in the windscreen's heads-up display.
The only complain that we could think of though, was the fact that the T6 R-Design didn't come equipped with paddle shifters. That said, this omission, while a tad disappointing, may still leave performance enthusiasts pleasantly surprise with its hyper engine that delivers satisfying power to the wheels via the Swede's second-generation six-speed automatic Geartronic transmission.
Conclusion
Although the Volvo S60 T6 R-Design can boast about its performance, safety remains to be the brand's forte. And while safety die-hard fans will find themselves appreciating what the car offers, buyer who are looking for a nice car with tons of power and sharp handling to go with it, the R-Design shouldn't have much problems luring them.
What do you think? Jot down your opinions at the comment box below.
Conclusion
Although the Volvo S60 T6 R-Design can boast about its performance, safety remains to be the brand's forte. And while safety die-hard fans will find themselves appreciating what the car offers, buyer who are looking for a nice car with tons of power and sharp handling to go with it, the R-Design shouldn't have much problems luring them.
What do you think? Jot down your opinions at the comment box below.
The Swede marque is one of the many brands in the automotive industry that has been expanding not in terms of its models, but variants. While the S60 T4 and T5 have the R-Design variant each, the T6 R-Design you see here has noticeable extra helpings of power, style and handling. From the first few variants of S60 that were launched in Singapore, Volvo transported what was expected of a compact sedan into another world.
From the everlasting looks of the S80, the non-interested parties may perceive Volvo to be a simple car brand hoping to sell cars to members of the old folks, as opposed to the younger and hippy crowd. But instead of leading "old" troops through a safe journey through the quiet roads, Volvo offers a place, much like Peter Pan's Neverland, where "we'll never grow old".
Exterior
And the S60 T6 R-Design proves just that. With the car's extensive badging, different details (front and rear) and lower stance, one can imagine the car being inspired by the stylings of contemporary artists, rather than tie dyed shirts and brown acid. The Swede brand that makes sun-kissed pop design with a psychedelic sheen like the S60 isn't afraid to bust out cheesy funkadelic car that sports sexy headlamps with rectangular fog lamps when the time is right - and totally pull it off! Its simple, grooving looks is almost perfect for a drive down a wide, flat, empty highway.
From the everlasting looks of the S80, the non-interested parties may perceive Volvo to be a simple car brand hoping to sell cars to members of the old folks, as opposed to the younger and hippy crowd. But instead of leading "old" troops through a safe journey through the quiet roads, Volvo offers a place, much like Peter Pan's Neverland, where "we'll never grow old".
Exterior
And the S60 T6 R-Design proves just that. With the car's extensive badging, different details (front and rear) and lower stance, one can imagine the car being inspired by the stylings of contemporary artists, rather than tie dyed shirts and brown acid. The Swede brand that makes sun-kissed pop design with a psychedelic sheen like the S60 isn't afraid to bust out cheesy funkadelic car that sports sexy headlamps with rectangular fog lamps when the time is right - and totally pull it off! Its simple, grooving looks is almost perfect for a drive down a wide, flat, empty highway.
|
Up front, the edgier fascia differentiates itself from the rest of the S60 in its stable with the right amounts of meanness without appearing too offensive. Although such added drama are powerful driving forces throughout the R-Design branding, they're not overpowering to the extent that the car lacks variety.
Cosmetically, it's all sweet. The small but functional boot lid spoiler, bolder rear diffuser as well as thick twin tailpipes complement the lowered stance while the 18 inch sporty shoes complete the entire car's sporty package worthy of the R-Design badge.
|
Interior
Swing open the doors of the top-of-the-line S60 and drivers will be greeted with a clean and uncluttered cabin that appears to be a nice place. The already excellent car gets a leather-clad steering wheel with the R-Design badge, sport pedals as well as blue-coloured instrument panels. The seats, upholstered in a mixture of leather, fabric as well as Flextech, get an enhancement of body-grabbing bolsters with white contrasting stitching.
The centre stack also gets an aluminium trim with soft plastics filling its place as buttons while materials all-round are tastefully finished as well, giving drivers a sense of luxury. But what really deserves a mention are the benches that provides occupants with the utmost comfort necessary to take them over long distance driving without feeling brokeback.
Swing open the doors of the top-of-the-line S60 and drivers will be greeted with a clean and uncluttered cabin that appears to be a nice place. The already excellent car gets a leather-clad steering wheel with the R-Design badge, sport pedals as well as blue-coloured instrument panels. The seats, upholstered in a mixture of leather, fabric as well as Flextech, get an enhancement of body-grabbing bolsters with white contrasting stitching.
The centre stack also gets an aluminium trim with soft plastics filling its place as buttons while materials all-round are tastefully finished as well, giving drivers a sense of luxury. But what really deserves a mention are the benches that provides occupants with the utmost comfort necessary to take them over long distance driving without feeling brokeback.
Additionally, space is ample all-round despite being a compact sedan - with rear head and legroom sufficient for three full-sized adults.
The hushed and slightly plushed interior of the S60 T6 R-Design lets the car sink its way into your skin, with an overall feline quality to it. If the car was a girl, it'll be a cool, slightly quirky chick at summer camp who randomly pulls out an acoustic guitar in the middle of a campfire, singing a gentle yet aggressive song.
The hushed and slightly plushed interior of the S60 T6 R-Design lets the car sink its way into your skin, with an overall feline quality to it. If the car was a girl, it'll be a cool, slightly quirky chick at summer camp who randomly pulls out an acoustic guitar in the middle of a campfire, singing a gentle yet aggressive song.
|
The Drive
And it's pretty much the same when the car is on the tarmac. It can be tastefully gentle when you take it for a relaxing pace but it can also be boldly aggressive when pushed to its limits. Powering the T6 R-Design is an in-line six with a twin-scroll turbo unit that churns out a maximum of 304 horses and 440Nm of torque. With such high figures at play, the compact sedan will proudly finish the century sprint in 6.5 seconds flat while hitting a top speed of 250km/h.
For a mild-mannered brand such as Volvo, one cannot deny that the S60 has pretty impressive dance moves on the tarmac. Thanks to the sportier chassis, shorter and stiffer springs as well as the strut brace under the bonnet - not only does the car exude a more pugnacious attitude on the roads, the S60 feels solid and stable, with a responsive steering wheel that will give drivers the feedback needed when hitting illegal speed limits. Still, despite the stiffer suspension upgrades, the car remains civilised over bumpy and uneven roads.
Other than feeling immediate and linear on the go, the test car was endowed with an array of safety systems. One of the many signature features of Volvo is the Pedestrian Detection with Full Auto Brake. When travelling at low speeds of 35km/h, the car will be able to detect pedestrians in front of the car, applying the needed brakes to avoid a collision should the driver's response is slow. It's only during an emergency situation when the car lets out a loud 'beep', accompanied by flashing red lights in the windscreen's heads-up display.
And it's pretty much the same when the car is on the tarmac. It can be tastefully gentle when you take it for a relaxing pace but it can also be boldly aggressive when pushed to its limits. Powering the T6 R-Design is an in-line six with a twin-scroll turbo unit that churns out a maximum of 304 horses and 440Nm of torque. With such high figures at play, the compact sedan will proudly finish the century sprint in 6.5 seconds flat while hitting a top speed of 250km/h.
For a mild-mannered brand such as Volvo, one cannot deny that the S60 has pretty impressive dance moves on the tarmac. Thanks to the sportier chassis, shorter and stiffer springs as well as the strut brace under the bonnet - not only does the car exude a more pugnacious attitude on the roads, the S60 feels solid and stable, with a responsive steering wheel that will give drivers the feedback needed when hitting illegal speed limits. Still, despite the stiffer suspension upgrades, the car remains civilised over bumpy and uneven roads.
Other than feeling immediate and linear on the go, the test car was endowed with an array of safety systems. One of the many signature features of Volvo is the Pedestrian Detection with Full Auto Brake. When travelling at low speeds of 35km/h, the car will be able to detect pedestrians in front of the car, applying the needed brakes to avoid a collision should the driver's response is slow. It's only during an emergency situation when the car lets out a loud 'beep', accompanied by flashing red lights in the windscreen's heads-up display.
The only complain that we could think of though, was the fact that the T6 R-Design didn't come equipped with paddle shifters. That said, this omission, while a tad disappointing, may still leave performance enthusiasts pleasantly surprise with its hyper engine that delivers satisfying power to the wheels via the Swede's second-generation six-speed automatic Geartronic transmission.
Conclusion
Although the Volvo S60 T6 R-Design can boast about its performance, safety remains to be the brand's forte. And while safety die-hard fans will find themselves appreciating what the car offers, buyer who are looking for a nice car with tons of power and sharp handling to go with it, the R-Design shouldn't have much problems luring them.
What do you think? Jot down your opinions at the comment box below.
Conclusion
Although the Volvo S60 T6 R-Design can boast about its performance, safety remains to be the brand's forte. And while safety die-hard fans will find themselves appreciating what the car offers, buyer who are looking for a nice car with tons of power and sharp handling to go with it, the R-Design shouldn't have much problems luring them.
What do you think? Jot down your opinions at the comment box below.
Photos by Julian Kho
Also read our comparison article on:
BMW 316i Sport (A) vs Mercedes-Benz C180 1.6 (A) vs Volvo S60 T4 (A)
Car Information
Volvo S60 T6 R-Design (A)
CAT B|Petrol|10.1km/L
Horsepower
227kW (304 bhp)
Torque
440 Nm
Acceleration
6.5sec (0-100km /hr)
This model is no longer being sold by local distributor
All Used Volvo S60
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