Tuesday 10th November 2009

Official Images: New Volvo S60

All-new S60 saloon shrinks to become a 'proper' compact exec

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The new S60 - order it in any colour but this

These are the first official images of the new Volvo S60, the car that Volvo hopes will tackle the BMW 3-series and Mercedes C-class head-on.

Unlike the previous Volvo S60, which was sized between a 3-series and a 5-series, the new S60 has been machine-washed on a hot cycle to bring it down to true compact exec dimensions (that would explain the oddly melted look to the styling, we suppose).

Volvo is also being unusually bullish about the car's dynamic prowess, saying that it will be the sportiest car it has ever produced.

"The all-new Volvo S60 is sculpted to move you," says Volvo's CEO, Stephen Odell. "The customers in this segment want emotional appeal, sporty design and dynamic driving properties. The S60 has it all."

You'll have to wait to see the rear...

The Ford EUCD underpinnings should certainly take the S60 in the right direction (that's the same platform that lies beneath the dynamically impressive Mondeo), even if driven front wheels will still make it wrong-wheel drive.

Volvo is being tight-lipped about specific technical details, and it hasn't yet revealed the car's interior, but then the S60 isn't due to be revealed in the metal until the Geneva show in March 2010.

Production of the new Volvo S60 will start at the firm's production facility in Gent, Belgium, in early summer of 2010.

[thewheelman]

It looks good,far nicer than the bland lines of the current generation 3 series imo,i'd guess this may also get a few Lexus IS buyers interested.

[Sir Snaz]

zzzzzzzzzzzz

[vz-r_dave]

Sir Snaz said:

zzzzzzzzzzzz

'

Why bother posting??

I am not sure on its looks at the moment but I am sure they will grow on me.

It will be interesting to see if they produce an R version.

[gavzdc5445]

TBH...it's not bad looking at all, especially for a Volvo! Quite curvy with Lexus GS front'ish end?? Not usual boxy look!

Get the R version out tho!!!

[Agent Orange]

I'm no designer but that front end does not look right to me. The rounded shapes of the lights and grille sits oddly with the angular lines on the side.

Volvo looks have never particularly excited me but I do find myself looking at a few in the range and thinking they look quite nice but this looks dour.

Whether I'm right or not about the styling is irrelervant though because I don't like it.

[fathomfive]

The front end looks grafted on in the same way as the Kia Shuma (I think) front looked grafted on.

It may well be the photos don't do it justice though.

[OnTheOverrun]

What does it metter really? Who ever bought a 4 door Volvo for the way it looks?

[LuS1fer]

It might look better if it did meet a Merc and BMW head-on. Another incredibly ugly modern car IMHO. Just one more manufacturer to cross off my list. If I was shown that pic without badges, I'd say it was a Renault, not an exec car.

Edited by LuS1fer on Tuesday 10th November 11:27

[Fire99]

Front makes me think of a stretched Grande Punto and the side looks like Mondeo/Laguna.

Still too bland for me. That rates a couple of 'Zz'

[r11co]

Oh look - a cross between the Insignia and the Mondeo styling. How imaginative.

[ironictwist]

The side on shape shape if fairly generic & the front has a tinge of Jag XF about it, but unfortunately it doesn't have the same attraction as the Jag (Which dare I say it, isn't very attractive anyway with that front), this seems like a chubby sister to the Jag, that has an arguably slimmer & more refined looking body in comparison with the XF.

Or maybe I'm talking codswollop.

[nouze]

OnTheOverrun said:

What does it metter really? Who ever bought a 4 door Volvo for the way it looks?

I did. It was the old S60 in fact.

[Sir Snaz]

maybe this isnt an open forum .......

[vz-r_dave]

Sir Snaz said:

maybe this isnt an open forum .......

Its an open forum but a post of zzzzzzzzz is hardly adding anything to the thread is it?

Why not add why you dont like it etc?

[LuS1fer]

Sir Snaz said:

maybe this isnt an open forum .......

I prefer your deleted "stick it up your arse" version.

[hardboiled]

Not entirely sure if these are authentic images, but there's a rear view, production-version photo... http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/Secret-new-cars/Searc...

Not too sure about this car. The front end doesn't make sense because they seem to have overcomplicated Volvo's normally simple styling cues.

[Oddball RS]

I think the S60 was sized right, making it smaller is a mistake, look at the current C Class if you want to move four adults around its a real squeeze. And for the type of car we are talking about FWD is right wheel drive, this is know from experience.

[ironictwist]

hardboiled said:

Not entirely sure if these are authentic images, but there's a rear view, production-version photo... http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/Secret-new-cars/Searc...

Not too sure about this car. The front end doesn't make sense because they seem to have overcomplicated Volvo's normally simple styling cues.

Yikes...If that's real, it couldnt be more "Mondeo" if they tried!

[LuS1fer]

Looks better from the rear and the interior looks nice.

[nouze]

hardboiled said:

Not entirely sure if these are authentic images, but there's a rear view, production-version photo... http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/Secret-new-cars/Searc...

Not too sure about this car. The front end doesn't make sense because they seem to have overcomplicated Volvo's normally simple styling cues.

The one you refer to looks to be the prototype, so I presume the rear end will also change slightly in the final version. As for the front end, it is following current trend - look at XC60, C70 and C30. Some don't like it I for one think that it looks good in the flesh.