New Volvo S60 Rolled Out in China

Swedish carmaker Volvo is really keen on launching its new S60 in every market around the world, so the car recently debuted in China, the home land of its new owner Geely. Sales will begin in 2011, with the S60 to become the first model to be assembled locally after the Chinese takeover got the final signature. As you've probably heard, Geely and Volvo will establish a total of three plants in China, one of which will be responsible with the manufacturing of the new S60.

Technical details are mostly similar to the ones of the European version which is offered on the Old Continent with a choice of 5 petrol engines and 3 diesel ones.

The first units that rolled off production lines were available with two petrol engines, 3.0l T6 (304 bhp/440 Nm) and 2.0T (203 bhp/300 Nm) and two diesel – 2.4 D5 (205 bhp/420 Nm) and 2.0 D3 (163 bhp/400 Nm). Volvo also added two other gasoline engines 2.0 T5 (240 bhp/320 Nm), 1.6 T4 (180 bhp/240 Nm) and 1.6 T3 (150 bhp/240 Nm), as well as a diesel unit, the 1.6 D DRIVe (115 bhp/270 Nm).

The new Volvo S60 debuted at the 2010 Geneva Auto Show and is one of the first models to feature the so-called Pedestrian Avoidance Technology (PAT), specifically designed to reduce the number of accidents involving pedestrians. The technology, which is the combination of a radar integrated into the grille and a camera fitted behind the interior rear-view mirror, can detect pedestrians from 80cm in height, equivalent to that of a three-year old child.