New Volvo XC60 enters production phase in Sweden, expected to reach India by next year

Swedish car maker Volvo is said to have begun production of its all new XC60 SUV. Showcased recently at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show, the new XC60 is the fourth model to be based on Volvo’s SPA (Scalable Platform Architecture) platform. It is powered by a T8 Twin Engine petrol plug-in hybrid engine which churns out 407 hp and is claimed to reach 100 kmph in just 5.3 seconds. Other features, especially in the safety department, include Volvo’s Oncoming Lane Mitigation and the Blind Spot Indication System (BSIS). The BSIS can warn the driver of any object or vehicle present in the blind spot which is not visible through the ORVM (Outside Rear View Mirror) and steer the vehicle automatically if required. Similarly, the former uses the automatic steering functionality to avoid a head-on collision. There is also the addition of Pilot Assist, which is Volvo’s semi-autonomous driving system that steers, accelerates and stops the car on marked roads at speeds of up to 130 kmph.  “This is a proud day for everyone at the plant. We have worked hard in recent weeks and months to prepare Torslanda for this latest new Volvo model, and now we are ready to start delivering new XC60s to customers,” said Magnus Nilsson, Vice President of the Volvo Torslanda plant.  The new XC60 takes design cues from the larger XC90, including the new ‘Thor hammer’ LED headlights. Apart from this, there are LED tail lamps, high mounted LED stop lamps and a Sensus infotainment system which supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The new XC60 is expected to launch in India by early 2018.