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Chassis and Suspension
The chassis team fitted a strut brace
under the hood that ties together the suspension strut towers. This is a classic
method of stiffening up the body structure and to improve steering response. At
the rear, the 2012 Volvo S60 R-Design features monotube dampers. Unlike the
twin-tube dampers used in the S60 T6, the monotube system features compression
and return damping via the same valve. This gives shorter, faster fluid flow,
which in turn means the damper responds more quickly.
The front and rear
springs have been shortened by 0.6 inches (15 mm) to give the car more visual
attitude. What is more, spring stiffness is 15 percent higher compared to the
dynamic chassis in the S60 T6. The bushings with which the rear dampers are
attached to the body are 20 percent stiffer compared with the Dynamic chassis
found in the standard S60 T6. The front tie-blade bushing, that is to say the
attachment in the rear of the car, is a massive 400 percent stiffer than before
to counteract wheel bouncing and shaking.
Volvo's Most Powerful
Six-Cylinder
Ride control and confidence inspiring handling are
nothing without the appropriate muscle and the 2012 Volvo S60 R-Design won't
disappoint. The turbocharged T6, displacing 3.0 liters, is the most powerful
six-cylinder engine currently offered by Volvo. Maximum torque now is achieved
from just 3,000 rpm and remains available throughout the rev range. Power is
transmitted to the wheels via Volvo's second-generation six-speed automatic
Geartronic transmission with sport mode. New valves and lower friction mean
faster gear changes than before. Similar to the S60 T6, the S60 R-Design will be
offered standard with Volvo's electronically controlled all-wheel-drive system
with Instant Traction and Corner Traction Control with torque vectoring.
Corner Traction Control uses torque vectoring for smoother cornering. This
technology is a further refinement of the Dynamic Stability and Traction Control
(DSTC). When cornering, the 2012 Volvo S60 R-Design's inner driven wheel is
braked while, at the same time, more power is transmitted to the outer driven
wheel. This allows the driver to take the corner more tightly while reducing any
tendency to understeer.
Safety a Priority for Volvo
On the
safety front, the S60 R-Design is available with Pedestrian Detection with Full
Auto Brake. This driver assistance system consists of a newly developed radar
unit integrated into the S60's grille, a camera fitted in front of the inside
rearview mirror and a central control unit. The radar's task is to detect any
object in front of the car and to determine the distance to it while the camera
determines what type of object it is. Up to 22 mph, the system helps the car
avoid hitting a pedestrian. At higher speeds, the system helps mitigate the
severity of an impact.
The function is also programmed to respond to
vehicles in front that are at a standstill or are moving in the same direction
as the car fitted with the system. Thanks to the newly developed dual-mode
radar's much wider field of vision, pedestrians about to step into the roadway
can also be detected early on. The camera has higher resolution than the
previous-generation unit. This makes it possible to detect the pedestrian's
pattern of movement.
Volvo S60 R-Design: Photo Gallery, Review (1/2) and Specifications