Volvo S60 R-Design (2012)

CAR GARAGE | Volvo S60 R-Design (2012) | The Volvo S60 R-Design's energy is channeled to the wheels through Volvo's second-generation 6-speed Geartronic automatic transmission with Sport mode and a selectable That holds shifts deeper into the torque curve. The standard electronically controlled all-wheel-drive in the 2012 Volvo S60 R-Design has Instant Traction and Corner Traction Control, a further refinement of Dynamic Stability and Traction Control (DSTC) That the uses torque vectoring to smooth and Stabilize cornering. It gently brakes the inner wheel driven while adding power to the outer wheel to Reduced any Tendency to understeer (or "plow"). Both front and rear springs are 15 mm shorter and 15 percent stiffer, the rear suspension bushings are 20 percent stiffer, and the front tie-blade bushing is a massive 400 percent stiffer than the T6's to help keep under control during Things aggressive driving.

We were impressed last year by the new-for-2011 mid-range S60 sedan, and we're even more enamored by this new 2012 Volvo S60 R-Design performance model. But as Volvo's sedan the quickest and most powerful yet, is it competitive with BMW's vaunted mid-range 5 Series sport sedans? The base 250-hp 5-cylinder 6-speed-automatic S60 T5 offers a slew of standard stuff beginning with a high-performance multimedia audio system and dual-zone electronic climate control and finishing with a full suite of safety features That includes Volvo's exclusive That City Safety system can actively avoid low-speed collisions.

All 2012 Volvo S60 models come with City Safety, the low-speed collision avoidance / mitigation system originally introduced in the XC60 premium CUV. At-speed relative differences less than nine mph, City Safety can help entirely avoid a collision. Up to 22 mph, it can help avoid a pedestrian hit.

This R-Design sport chassis surpasses anything in our toolbox, "says Volvo S60 brand manager Frank Vacca. Only the brakes, predictably strong and reliable in normal driving, disappointed by heating and fading a bit after repeated hard laps. If a fairly rare, distinctive and surprisingly affordable Euro-sport sedan Might Be on your wish list, we recommend giving the 2012 Volvo S60 R-Design a serious look. Easily Volvo's best-looking, best-handling and best-performing sedan ever, it's nothing like Those "good old" days Volvo. www.volvocars.com.