New S60 spotted in production form, largely undisguised

VolvoMan · 09-09-2009 4:40pm #1

http://http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/241474/volvo_s60_spied_undisguised.html

What are everyone's thoughts on it?

bladebrew · 09-09-2009 4:48pm

i cant get that link to work,i still found auto express though:)

not to keen on the front,strange looking to say the least,the back is sweet looking though,and it has that damn rectangular light beside the headlight like the new merc`s!!

VolvoMan · 09-09-2009 4:51pm

bladebrew wrote: »

i cant get that link to work,i still found auto express though:)

It should be fixed now.

bladebrew · 09-09-2009 4:57pm

yup its working,cheers,

"full auto braking with pedestrian detection will come as standard"

this sounds a bit terrifying though!,i assume the car can detect a pedestrian in the road and apply the brakes before the driver can?

Alanstrainor · 09-09-2009 4:57pm

bladebrew wrote: »

not to keen on the front,strange looking to say the least,the back is sweet looking though,and it has that damn rectangular light beside the headlight like the new merc`s!!

+1, not liking the headlights at all, but the rear looks good. It's an awful colour too!

Zonda999 · 09-09-2009 4:58pm

Very nice IMO, much more refreshing than any of the Germans. Just hope it can match them with the technical stuff, as well as the styling

Maybe not that colour though!:)

Mr Benevolent · 09-09-2009 5:00pm

Lovely looking car. Anyone else see a Mondeo/Jaguar resemblance?

samsemtex · 09-09-2009 5:00pm

They havent strayed very far from the concept which is a very good thing. Pity those doors could never make it onto the real thing.

Fantastic looking car. I'd seriously consider one over an Audi or BMW. If only they would start bringing out more R-versions...

I wonder will people still insist on calling volvos boxy and for old people? Probably.

kikel · 09-09-2009 5:06pm

Confab wrote: »

Anyone else see a Mondeo/Jaguar resemblance?

I see what ya mean, but that could be said about all cars. One manufacturer goes for a particular style and the rest follow a similar line.

It's not bad looking though.

colm_mcm · 09-09-2009 5:48pm

I love it.

Sandwich · 09-09-2009 6:10pm

Doesnt grab me but maybe its those photos. Existing S60, while looking a bit passed it these days, especially in the detail, was a more distinctive car from its competitors when it came out than this one appears to be. A bit to generic, Insignia,Mondeo,Mazda.
Was already kinda thinking of moving to an S80 instead of the next S60, but will wait and see the new S60 for real before deciding.

colm_mcm · 09-09-2009 6:12pm

Apparently the new S60 is being pitched as an alternative to high end repmobiles? Where does this leave the S40 then?

Berty · 09-09-2009 6:29pm

All I can see is a bastard child of a

Toyota Prius and a Honda FCX Clarity

VolvoMan · 09-09-2009 6:59pm

colm_mcm wrote: »

Apparently the new S60 is being pitched as an alternative to high end repmobiles? Where does this leave the S40 then?

It is going to be a direct rival to the 3 Series and A4 like the last one. The S40 is probably going to be discontinued with a 5 door version of the C30 most likely taking its place.

samsemtex · 09-09-2009 7:10pm

Well they are after cocking up the C30 unfortunately...

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/241468/volvo_c30_facelift.html

Horrendous.

colm_mcm · 09-09-2009 7:14pm

The C30 looks cat with the contrasting plastic bits, even without them, it's not as classy looking as the current model.

patrickc · 09-09-2009 7:48pm

must say I like it, heres the link to it on the volvo website

http://www.volvocars.com/ie/All-Cars-MY09/conceptcars/Pages/default.aspx

the autobrake feature looks pretty cool, in their demo videos

bazz26 · 09-09-2009 7:54pm

colm_mcm wrote: »

Apparently the new S60 is being pitched as an alternative to high end repmobiles? Where does this leave the S40 then?

S40 is coming to the end of it's life as the Focus platform on which it sits will be no more when the MkIII Focus goes on sale next year.

Regarding the new S60, not a fan of the front twin headlights, back and side profile looks well though. Rear light cluster reminds me of the current Renault Laguna. A breath of fresh air though.

Drummerboy08 · 09-09-2009 8:03pm

I'm a bit disappointed by it to be honest. I expected something discreet, and sleek from Volvo, not a retro/ultra modern looking machine. Maybe its the colour that puts me off so much, but I dont think I could drive a car that looks that ugly from the front.

VolvoMan · 09-09-2009 8:33pm

Drummerboy08 wrote: »

I'm a bit disappointed by it to be honest. I expected something discreet, and sleek from Volvo, not a retro/ultra modern looking machine. Maybe its the colour that puts me off so much, but I dont think I could drive a car that looks that ugly from the front.

I hate to say it but I have to agree. I was expecting a lot more and I do think that there are some fussy details that spoil the design. They could've been a bit more radical with the rather mundane door handles as well and have done something in the style of the Alfa 156 imo. The headlamps look in no way as good as the concept's either.

Saab Ed · 09-09-2009 8:38pm

I like them both TBH.

R.O.R · 10-09-2009 7:38am

Not liking the C30 (never have), but the S60 is looking good - except that horrible colour.

The side profile reminds me a lot of something that I can't quite put my finger on, possibly the 5 door Mazda 6?

Hopefully the emissions will be fairly low to enable it to compete on pricing with the 3 series / A4 - the outgoing S60 was off the clock price wise and no 2.0d option really killed it. I'd expect them to offer the 1.6D :eek: and the 2.0D (with powershift option) as well as the D5 version.

(for anyone interested, the V70 and S80 are both listed with the 1.6D with 129g/km of CO2. Must be a dog to drive as that engine isn't the greatest in the S40)

Biro · 10-09-2009 8:52am

The current S60 was never a good looking car. The new S80 moved the game on for Volvo, and this looks to follow suit.

maidhc · 10-09-2009 8:57am

Front of a Mondeo and back of an XF!

Still nice though.

cjt156 · 10-09-2009 10:05am

It looks like the b'stard child of so many other large saloons from the Mondeo/Passat roofline, Insignia profile, Mercedes lights, Ford front grille
Why do all the major manufacturers have to follow each other like sheep?

"Aggressive front end"

"sweeping roofline"

"coupe-like profile"

WOW, never heard of those before...

maidhc · 10-09-2009 10:12am

cjt156 wrote: »

It looks like the b'stard child of so many other large saloons from the Mondeo/Passat roofline, Insignia profile, Mercedes lights, Ford front grille
Why do all the major manufacturers have to follow each other like sheep?

"Aggressive front end"

"sweeping roofline"

"coupe-like profile"

WOW, never heard of those before...

In fairness people who buy large saloons tend to be conservative (to be polite).

bazz26 · 10-09-2009 1:27pm

maidhc wrote: »

In fairness people who buy large saloons tend to be conservative (to be polite).

And those who choose Volvo tend to be even more so.

cjt156 · 10-09-2009 2:03pm

Conservative I can handle - our family car is a V70 - its a big comfy 180bhp conservative lump of metal for putting stuff in and I love it. Give me "boxey but good" anyday.

This thing is more like "everyone's being innovative so why can't we?"

cdb · 10-09-2009 2:09pm

Its a pretty nice design. Anyone else think the front resembles the Lexus IS2xx series.

shanel23 · 10-09-2009 2:28pm

cdb wrote: »

Its a pretty nice design. Anyone else think the front resembles the Lexus IS2xx series.

was just about to say that ! Very like the IS

samsemtex · 10-09-2009 2:50pm

shanel23 wrote: »

was just about to say that ! Very like the IS

What? Its nothing like it. The only similarity i can see is that they both have front lights which point towards the grille a bit...as do 90% of other recent designs.

edit: This post really has just served to show how much nicer the S60 is than that Lexus which is a hideous looking beast.

shanel23 · 10-09-2009 3:45pm

Each to their own - I'd take the Lexus anyday !

VolvoMan · 10-09-2009 6:59pm

Biro wrote: »

The current S60 was never a good looking car. The new S80 moved the game on for Volvo, and this looks to follow suit.

You're the first person I've come across to say that. The last S60 was always a very good looking car and can arguably be said to have influenced many car designs of today. How do you think the whole 'coupe style' saloon thing started?

shanel23 wrote: »

Each to their own - I'd take the Lexus anyday !

And I'm about to guess why that is; Volvo's are boring I suppose?:rolleyes:

Ice_Box · 10-09-2009 8:46pm

ug. dont like it.

Biro · 10-09-2009 10:51pm

VolvoMan wrote: »

You're the first person I've come across to say that. The last S60 was always a very good looking car and can arguably be said to have influenced many car designs of today. How do you think the whole 'coupe style' saloon thing started?

I've never met anyone who thought it good looking. From the B pillar back it's chronic from a side-on view, although the tail lights and boot were nice enough at the time. I think it's that stupid design back door that put me off the S60. The old S80 was better looking, and the new S80 is leagues ahead. Up to this new S60. Depending on what the chassis and running gear options are like on it, it's something I'd consider buying in a few years when I can afford it. Nothing could tempt me to buy the old S60. After driving the 2 litre turbo I was no more convinced.

Bluefoam · 11-09-2009 1:04am

Some of the lines are reminiscent of the current shape mondeo. I'm not keen on it, but thnk it might look better in the flesh.

VolvoMan · 11-09-2009 8:50pm

Biro wrote: »

I've never met anyone who thought it good looking. From the B pillar back it's chronic from a side-on view, although the tail lights and boot were nice enough at the time. I think it's that stupid design back door that put me off the S60. The old S80 was better looking, and the new S80 is leagues ahead. Up to this new S60. Depending on what the chassis and running gear options are like on it, it's something I'd consider buying in a few years when I can afford it. Nothing could tempt me to buy the old S60. After driving the 2 litre turbo I was no more convinced.

That's your opinion and you are entitled to it. Needless to say, I've heard the S60 being called dull to drive and sometimes unreliable but I haven't come across anyone criticising its looks before. The current S80 looks dull in comparison to both the old model and the S60 itself imo.

RobAMerc · 11-09-2009 9:03pm

Biro wrote: »

I've never met anyone who thought it good looking.

I can't agree with this - although the latest incarnation of it aint great the pre 2005 facelift model is a very good looking car and I have heard a few ( non petrol heads) comment on it as such . Admittedly the freshen up in 05 did make it look a bit more frumpy.

samsemtex · 14-09-2009 10:53am

RobAMerc wrote: »

I can't agree with this - although the latest incarnation of it aint great the pre 2005 facelift model is a very good looking car and I have heard a few ( non petrol heads) comment on it as such . Admittedly the freshen up in 05 did make it look a bit more frumpy.

I specifically remember people being shocked at how good looking it was for a Volvo when it came out. Saying you don't know anyone who finds it good looking is either nonsense or your friends go heavily against the grain. I personally think it dated quite badly and some specs look waaay better than others(anything with black rubbing strips is a no no). It was lovely when it came out though.

New S60 spotted in production form, largely undisguised

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