Volvo V60 Plug-In Hybrid Now Available In R-Design Guise

Accounting as one of the best-selling hybrid-electrified vehicles in Europe in 2013, the R-Design package is sure to give an attractiveness boost to the V60 Plug-in Hybrid. Volvo moved almost 8,000 PHEVs last year alone.

So what does it bring new to the table? Well, the R-Design version enhances the D-Segment green machine with a number of aesthetic features both in and out, giving the car a sportier presence.

On the outside, the V60 Plug-in Hybrid gets a more aggressive front fascia, an aerodynamic diffuser at the back and special 18-inch Ixion wheels. As for the cabin, changes include sports seats wrapped in black nubuck textile material and perforated leather with contrasting white stitching, an R-Design steering wheel and R-Design logos all around.

The drivetrain is similar to the standard model, featuring a five-pot 2.4-liter turbocharged diesel churning out 215 horsepower and 440 Nm of torque to the front wheels, while the rear axle is powered by an electric motor producing 68 horsepower and 200 Nm, supplied with power from an 11.2 kWh lithium-ion battery pack installed under the floor of the load compartment.

Fitted with a standard six-speed automatic transmission, the world's first diesel plug-in hybrid consumes only 1.8 litres of fuel/100 km according to the manufacturer, while carbon dioxide emissions are down to just 48g/km.