Test drive the new Volvo S60: target the three series and challenge the BBA

The mid-level sports sedan market sounds fiercely competitive, but in reality there are few choices. Under the two labels of luxury and sports, the only one who can be named is the evergreen BMW three series. It is necessary to emphasize that the movement referred to here does not only mean a fierce appearance, but also emphasizes the aspect of "opening up". The Audi A4L is more comfortable, and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class is more than luxurious, but lacks handling. Alfa Romeo, which entered the Chinese market with arrogance, has first-class dynamic performance, but its sales have been sluggish due to assembly and reliability reasons. The promising Cadillac ATS-L has been discontinued, and its successor, the CT5, has made a strong debut, and the market has yet to settle. At the Guangzhou Auto Show, the Volvo S60 also launched pre-sales, and we got to sit in this new car immediately before it was launched. Axis? Is it popular or not? Volvo: To tease you, it is different from the S60L in previous years. The update brought by Volvo this time is a standard-axle model. Without the L, it is "pure" in the words of car enthusiasts. But the cruel market tells us that luxury cars with an L mark are easier to sell. Let’s not talk about the Audi A6L, the originator of the extended version, but let’s talk about today’s three series. This athlete famous for sports has also been a hot seller after launching the extended version. Although BMW also offers a standard-axle version, the market shares of the two versions are obvious to all. Standard axle model, the current status of this original style in China is "If you buy it, I recommend it, but if you really want it, I won't buy it." Therefore, it is risky to launch the Volvo S60 at this time. But don’t let Volvo fool you! This is a brand new model. Although the official measurements of this car have not been announced in detail, the new S60 has been updated overseas for some time. The new car has dimensions of 4761×1850×1437mm and a wheelbase of 2872mm. Friends who are familiar with the previous generation S60L (4715×1866×1481mm) must have seen the clues from the data. In addition to the lack of width and height, the length and wheelbase of the new S60 are better than those of the old model. In other words, in terms of vertical space, the S60 is "brighter and darker" compared to the S60L. Although the width and height have been tightened, it gives the new car a more compact and dynamic appearance. There are gains and losses. Regarding the interior, it is necessary to add that the interior design of the S60 still adheres to Volvo's fine style, which is luxurious but not exaggerated. The strong texture makes people feel comfortable, but it does not make people feel pressured or difficult to control. The power configuration is rich, and it can be fast or slow. If you don’t talk about power, the sports car is just a rogue. The S60 provides two power systems and four power configurations, namely: T3-163 horsepower/265 Nm T4-190 horsepower/300 Nm T5-250 Horsepower/350 Nm T8 E hybrid-390 horsepower/640 Nm The low-power 2.0T T4 version returns to focus on volume, and a spiritual totem-level T8 E hybrid model is also added. The entire series still uses Aisin's 8AT gearbox. Because it is still a front-wheel drive model, the S60 lacks some "tail flicking" fun compared to the three series of the same class. However, whether it is the abundance of power or the smoothness of the output, the S60 can give drivers as much fun as they want. However, compared to many performance-oriented models, the chassis of the S60 is more inclined to adjust for comfort. The secret lies in Volvo's HRS hydraulic shock absorbing technology customized for China. In terms of vibration filtering, it is difficult for you to link the S60 to performance. . That's assuming you don't get into the T8 E version of the car. Earlier we mentioned the T8 E-drive hybrid - 390 horsepower/640 Nm. Such book parameters are more than enough for a family car. The fast response under the blessing of electric drive and the high-horsepower engine can be said to be the most appropriate term to use here. 0-100km/h only takes 4.6 seconds, pointing at the all-new BMW 340i that has not yet launched in the domestic market. Sports sedans are most afraid of losing control of the vehicle during intense driving, especially when cornering. After all, front-wheel drive cars are most afraid of being pushed forward. The DSTC dynamic stability and traction control system can individually control the braking force applied to each wheel to adjust the vehicle's driving trajectory and improve vehicle safety and handling. When the vehicle turns, CBC Curve Control Assist will continuously monitor the vehicle's steering situation and the position of the accelerator pedal, reduce power output, and selectively brake each wheel to achieve optimal power distribution and ensure the vehicle's steering stability when turning. stability. Talking about Volvo’s unavoidable safety, details win. When talking about Volvo, safety has always been the brand’s main selling point. Let’s not talk about the dazzling security configuration, but let’s talk about the dynamic level of expressiveness. It drives fast and brakes well. The stopping distance from 100-0km/h is 35m, which is a significant improvement compared to the old model and is solidly shortened by 2m. This 2m increase also benefits from three technologies: HBA Emergency Brake Assist: By judging the driver's braking intention, if the accelerator is suddenly closed suddenly, the system will pressurize the braking system in advance to eliminate response time and shorten vehicle braking distance. BC Brake Disc Cleaning: In rainy and snowy weather, the brakes will be controlled lightly at intervals to remove rainwater and other stains on the surface of the brake disc to keep the brake system in good working condition. FBS Brake Fading Assist: In long downhill or moderate to heavy braking situations, the vehicle's braking force will gradually decrease, and the brake fade compensation system will supercharge the brakes to maintain normal braking performance. Compared with its competitors, Volvo's conscience is reflected in the standard City Safety system for all series. This system consists of three major functions: full-speed automatic braking, emergency avoidance assist, and emergency brake light flashing. Let’s focus on explaining the emergency avoidance auxiliary function. It may not be easy to understand literally. Volvo's logic is that when the system determines that the braking force is no longer enough to avoid a rear-end collision with the vehicle ahead, it will prepare the steering and braking systems. When the user makes an emergency avoidance action, the steering system amplifies the user's steering angle to obtain the maximum avoidance effect. At the same time, the dynamic stability and traction control systems intervene to help the vehicle avoid stably. Volvo also provides an avoidance function that is not available in its class. For example, when a vehicle is overtaking in a lane at a speed of 60-140km/h, if there is an oncoming vehicle and the system determines that a collision is imminent, the system will automatically activate the steering assist function and steer the vehicle. Turn back to the original lane. If an oncoming vehicle enters the lane, the system will also warn the user and brake to slow down. Compared with the lane departure warning of many cars, the S60 handles the details more gracefully. Instead of roughly "pulling the steering wheel", Volvo tightens the seat belt to remind the driver. There are some details that you have to admire Volvo's obsession with safety. Engineers specially arranged an energy-absorbing device between the seat and the seat frame. This energy-absorbing device can alleviate up to 1/3 of the vertical impact when the vehicle falls. force to avoid spinal injuries to the occupants. The brake pedal also has a fun name "deflagration collapsible pedal". In the event of a violent collision, the brake pedal will be disconnected within 30 milliseconds, cutting off the impact force from being transmitted to the driver's legs. According to reports, the body of the Volvo S60 adopts a cage-type load-bearing design, and the main structure uses a large amount of boron steel and ultra-high-strength steel to ensure the rigidity of the body and the safety of the occupants in the car. 1600MPa boron steel has the highest strength, which is about 4 times stronger than high-strength steel. It can withstand more than 15 tons of pressure per square centimeter. Don’t underestimate these details, they can save lives in critical moments. If you look at the configuration list of the Volvo S60, whether it is standard or optional, it is "dazzling". I tried to turn on Volvo's driving assistance system on the highway, and it worked great. First, the front camera will recognize the road sign ahead and display it on the instrument panel and HUD. When a human is driving, once the front camera detects an abnormality in the vehicle's driving status, the system will give a warning on the dashboard through sound and text. The user needs a break. Through the buttons on the steering wheel, you can turn on the "autonomous driving" of the vehicle with one click, and the car will maintain cruising in the lane. Whether it is driving trajectory or acceleration and deceleration, the Volvo S60's posture performance is excellent. Although it has not yet reached the point of freeing one's hands, driving on the highway can greatly relieve the driver's stress. At the Guangzhou Auto Show, Volvo announced the pre-sale price of the S60. The luxury version and sports version are 287,000-380,000 yuan, and the T8 E-drive hybrid starts from 399,900 yuan. In terms of configuration and power, the S60 is still very affordable, especially It is the T8 version of the car. The new S60 will be officially launched in the near future. The price of the new car will most likely be lower than the pre-sale price, and the T3 model is expected to further lower the purchase threshold. It has to be said that the market for mid-level luxury sports sedans is becoming more and more lively. If you want sports, you have to have a BMW three series. This is a good thing for passionate young people.