Seeing Volvo’s president and CEO Stefan Jacoby driving the all-new XC60 Plug-in Hybrid Concept on stage during the car’s launch in Detroit shows how important the U.S. market is to the (Chinese-owned) Swedish manufacturer. That’s because the USA remains the brand’s biggest market in the world and in which it recorded a 25 percent sales increase in 2011 on top of a 20 percent rise the previous year.
The XC60 Plug-in Hybrid may be a concept, but Volvo is already openly talking about developing a production version and the impact it expects to have in North America.
"A diesel-electric plug-in hybrid is coming to our European dealers this year and we are busy preparing a gasoline version for the American showrooms", said Jacoby, referring to the V60 and the XC60 Plug-in hybrids respectively.
Patty Hooley, member of the Volvo Car North America Dealers Council, added that “Volvo’s dealers welcome the introduction of a plug-in hybrid. To me, the plug-in hybrid speaks both classic Volvo safety and responsibility as well as cutting edge Volvo innovation.”
The XC60 Plug-in Concept features essentially the same powertrain as the production version of the V60 D6 Plug-in Hybrid, which includes an internal combustion engine driving the front wheels and a 70HP electric motor that draws power from a 11.2 kWh lithium-ion battery pack and drives the rear axle.
The only difference is that, while the V60 will be offered in limited numbers in select European countries, the XC60 is aimed at the U.S. – that's why the former’s diesel engine was replaced by a 280HP turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline unit.
Combined output is 350HP with the 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) sprint estimated at just 5.8 seconds.
Volvo’s hybrid SUV can also be driven in zero-emissions all-electric mode for 28 miles (45 km), or in Hybrid mode where, despite the powerful gasoline engine coming into play, the company says it averages 2.3 lt/100 km or 100mpg according to European driving cycle and 50mpg using the U.S certification standards (Volvo didn't specify if it's e-mpg)
The crossover's maximum driving range is a not-too-shabby 600 miles (960 km).
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