Launch of the Volvo V60 and Volvo V40 boosts Volvo Car Corporation's
growth towards 200,000 cars in China
Volvo Car Corporation is one of the fastest growing luxury
car brands in China - and the journey towards selling 200,000 cars per year in
the world's most dynamic car market continues in 2012. "The introduction
of the Volvo V60 and the all-new Volvo V40 will help us maintain the desired
growth momentum," says Freeman Shen, Senior Vice President Volvo Car China
Operations.
Last year Volvo Car Corporation sold over 47,000 cars in
China, an increase of more than 55 percent compared with 2010. At the Beijing
Auto Show, Volvo Car Corporation presents two valuable additions to the
company's model line-up.
Combining luxury, fun
and functionality
The Volvo V60 is a luxurious, sporty and exciting-to-drive
Sports Activity Vehicle for customers who understand and appreciate both fun
and functionality.
"In addition to a great driving experience the Volvo V60
offers the owner rational functionality, the opportunity to enjoy life together
with friends and family. It is a perfect choice for true car enthusiasts,"
says Freeman Shen. He adds: "The all-new Volvo V40 is a premium hatchback
that offers the same virtues as the V60 - in a slightly more compact package.
It has an outstanding, beautiful design and it is charged with sophisticated
features you normally have to buy a large car to get."
Second home market
China is Volvo Car Corporation's second home market. The
company's full-fledged business operations in Shanghai include product
development, design, purchasing and staff support functions.
"We are also expanding our retailer network and our
industrial system to provide a growing number of Chinese buyers with
Scandinavian luxury cars, accompanied by first-class service and hospitality.
Our recruitment continues with more talented people joining us. Currently we have
close to 800 employees working for Volvo Car Corporation in China." says
Freeman Shen.
A Volvo manufacturing plant in Chengdu is the next step in
Volvo Car Corporation's ambitious industrial strategy. This new plant will be
up and running in the second half of 2013 and will have a production capacity
of more than 100,000 cars per year.
"Our co-operation with New York Knicks' rising
basketball star Jeremy Lin is another milestone in the continuous strengthening
of our brand position in China. As our new Brand Ambassador, Jeremy Lin will
participate in corporate and marketing activities. He will also appear in
advertising," concludes Freeman Shen.
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How about integrating the very best properties from three
different car types into one, single attractive sports wagon? By simply
pressing a button you can choose which car you want to drive:
• An electric car with a range of up to 50 kilometers.
• A high-efficiency hybrid with carbon dioxide emissions
averaging just 49g/km.
• A muscular fun-to-drive car with a combined output of
215+70 horsepower*, 440+200 Nm* of torque and acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h
of just 6.9 seconds.
Allow us to present the world's first diesel plug-in hybrid.
Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid will reach the showrooms 2012.
"The second-generation hybrid is the perfect choice for
the uncompromising buyer who wants a superbly carbon dioxide-lean car packed
with driving pleasure," says Stefan Jacoby, President and CEO of Volvo
Cars.
The front wheels of the V60 Plug-in Hybrid will be driven by
a five-cylinder 2.4-liter five-cylinder turbodiesel, which produces 215
horsepower and maximum torque of 440Nm. The car features a six-speed automatic
transmission.
The rear axle is powered by an electric motor producing 70
horsepower. The electric motor receives its power from a 12kWh lithium-ion
battery pack, located under the load floor. The sophisticated and exceptionally
compact battery pack consists of 10 modules with 20 cells in each module. It
has an integrated computer that monitors and compares the temperature and charge
level in each of the 200 cells. The battery pack also has an integrated
water-cooling system, which is connected to the car's climate control unit.
Three driving modes -
three cars in one
The driver chooses the preferred driving mode via three
buttons on the instrument panel: Pure, Hybrid or Power. The interaction between
diesel and electric power is handled via a control system.
"In order to get true car enthusiasts to think green,
you have to offer them the opportunity to drive with low carbon dioxide
emissions without taking away the adrenaline rush that promotes genuine driving
pleasure. The V60 Plug-in Hybrid has all the traditional properties of a
genuine sportswagon. What we've done is to spice it up with spearhead
technology that allows the driver to choose: zero emissions, high-efficiency
hybrid or full-on performance. Just select the mode that suits best," says
Stefan Jacoby.
The different
temperaments
The Pure, Hybrid and Power driving modes give the V60
Plug-in Hybrid three different temperaments:
• In Pure the car runs only on its electric motor as much as
possible. If the battery has been recharged using electricity from a renewable
source, the driving range is up to 50km with zero emissions of carbon dioxide.
Battery range varies with terrain, climate and driving style.
• Hybrid is the default mode whenever the car is started.
The diesel engine and electric motor interact to provide the optimal balance
between driving pleasure and low environmental impact. Emissions of CO2 (NEDC,
Combined driving cycle for certification) are 49g/km, corresponding to diesel
fuel consumption of 1.9L/100 km. The car's total range is up to 1200km. The
driver has the possibility to key in the planned route's distance (short,
medium or long) in the car setup menu, The control system calculates the
balance between diesel and electric power to obtain the lowest possible CO2
emissions for the given distance.
• In Power the technology is optimized to give the car the
best possible performance. The diesel engine and electric motor have a combined
power output 215+70 horsepower and maximum torque of 440+200Nm. The electric
motor's lightning-quick torque delivery contributes to the car's 0 to 100km/h
acceleration time of 6.9 seconds. The majority of all European car drivers
cover less than 50km a day, for instance to and from work. On longer trips, the
diesel engine gives the car the same range as a conventional hybrid.
Better traction with
All Wheel Drive
Pushing the AWD (All Wheel Drive) button in the center stack
activates electric four-wheel drive. Instead of the mechanical power
transmission of the conventional AWD system, it is the central control unit
that manages torque distribution to the diesel-driven front wheels and the electrically
powered rear axle. The electric AWD is designed to offer the driver better
traction when starting and driving on slippery road surfaces such as snow or
mud.
However, due to the electric motor's lower output, the
torque level available for the rear wheels is limited and the AWD system is
active in speeds up to 100 km/h. When AWD is activated the diesel engine is
running continuously and the High Voltage Generator maintains a sufficient
charge level on the battery pack that feeds the motor on the rear axle with
power. Since the electrical All Wheel Drive is active on driver demand only it
is more fuel efficient than a conventional, permanent AWD system
Save battery power
for later
The V60 Plug-in Hybrid offers the driver the option to save
battery capacity in order to have enough charge for driving on clean
electricity later, for instance in an urban low emission zone. When Save For
Later is activated, the car makes sure that the battery has a sufficient charge
level for another pure drive. If necessary, the High Voltage Generator
recharges the battery in order to maintain a sufficient charge level for
another "Pure" drive. The aim is that the Save For Later mode should
secure enough battery capacity for approximately 20 kilometer drive on pure
electricity.
Two-step braking
system
The two-step braking system is another intelligent feature
in the Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid. When the driver pushes the brake pedal, the
system initially brakes the car by controlling the rear axle motor. This
braking energy is used to regenerate the car's battery pack. The mechanical
brakes are only activated when the situation requires more braking power than
the rear axle can handle.
Recharging at home
The Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid is recharged via a regular
power socket (230V/6A, 10A or 16A) at home or in a parking lot. The charging
time depends on the level of the current. A full 10A charge takes 4.5 hours.
The time is shortened to 3.5 hours with 16A, while a charge in a 6A socket
takes 7.5 hours.
To get a comfortable start of the journey, the car driver
has the possibility to preheat or cool the passenger compartment during the
recharging process. This also means that more battery capacity can be used for
powering the car.
The pre-conditioning also includes the possibility to cool
the batteries. The battery pack has an ideal working temperature of 20-30°C.
This means that the pre-cooling is highly important for maximizing the charging
capacity and thereby the driving range on each charge. The timing is programmed
via the car's setup menu or remotely via a smart phone application*.
The V60 Plug-in Hybrid has two heating possibilities. When
running on electricity a PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) air heater is
used. The car also has a Fuel Operated Diesel heater.
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