Volvo the Swedish car maker famous for it's safety features has been keen to emphasize – surprise – the safety of its plug-in vehicles at recent auto shows. At the Detroit Auto Show, Volvo has shown off the XC60 Plug-In Gasoline Hybrid Concept.
Because this concept is headed to the U.S. and Chinese markets – in a different guise and with a lot of changes – within "a couple of years." Likely to mean something like 2014-2015. Volvo's first PHEV here could be an XC60 model, or perhaps an S60, said Volvo CEO and President Stefan Jacoby.
Here are the numbers: a 35-mile all-electric range, a recharging time of just 3.5 hours from a 220V outlet (7.5 hours from a more common 110V). Volvo estimates U.S. fuel economy of 105 MPGe and 50 mpg when the battery runs dry. 0-60 is reached in 5.8 seconds on the way to a 130-mph top speed. Oh, and there is an eight speed auto transmission.
Gasoline is burned in a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that is turbocharged and direct-injected and has stop-start technology. This 280-horsepower powerplant moves the front wheels, and a 70-hp electric motor propels the back wheels (this is known as a through-the-road hybrid). The XC60 PHEV has a 12-kWh lithium-ion battery, but just 66 percent of that (8 kWh) is used. The driver can select three modes – Pure, Hybrid and Power – depending on which type of fuel economy and performance is desired. Details of this technology can be found after the jump, and images of the XC60 test bed are available in our galleries.
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