Volvo XC60 Plug-In Hybrid: A Plug-in With a Plug You Can Handle

I've driven several groundbreaking plug-in vehicles lately, namely the Nissan Leaf and the Chevy Volt. The Volt is an electric car with a range-extending gas engine. It uses a bulky, electrical charging cord that winds around an electric panel contraption that my 9-year-old daughter said looks like a "man tool" (whatever that means). It's laden with “Danger! Risk of Electric Shock” stickers that can be a little, well, shocking at first.

My $19 hairdryer from Target has a cute electrical cord that retracts with the push of a button. My vacuum cleaner has simple, short arms that I wind the cord around to keep it neat and tidy. And my Apple computer has a cord that connects to the computer via a magnet.

Perhaps the emergence of plug-in cars should give rise to charging cords that are more manageable for the everyday family to use. Volvo seems to offer a solution with its XC60 plug-in hybrid concept. Volvo isn't rushing to market with a plug-in, so perhaps the company is taking extra time to Scandanavianize — or simplify — the actual cord itself.

Volvo XC60 Plug-In Concept at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show

• Looks like: XC60 with some "green" badging
• Drivetrain: 280-horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and an electric motor powered by a lithium-ion battery pack
• Defining characteristics: Driver chooses between pure electric and gas/electric modes
• Chances of being mass-produced: Volvo says the technology will hit showrooms in a couple of years

Volvo’s smallest SUV might be jumping on the alternative-fuel bandwagon. The XC60 — the brand's most popular model — was chosen for a plug-in version in concept form here. It might not look as revolutionary as a Chevy Volt, but Volvo buyers can afford to go green and they have few options within the brand.

More 2012 Detroit Auto Show Coverage

The XC60 Plug-In Concept is powered by a 280-horsepower, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and an electric motor good for an extra 70 hp. The motor uses a 12-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack. An eight-speed automatic is the sole transmission.

Volvo Collision Prevention Found Effective

Volvo’s City Safety, a collision-avoidance feature standard on the XC60 SUV, aims to prevent low-speed collisions in bumper-to-bumper traffic. There’s now measurable proof that these types of systems can be effective, according to a study by the Highway Data Loss Institute, a division of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Insurance claim data show the XC60 is far less likely to be involved in a low-speed collision compared with competing models without such a system, the study says.

Claims paid out for at-fault collisions fell by as much as 27% in the XC60 compared with similar luxury SUVs, according to the study. These types of claims were down by 19 percent compared with Volvos without the feature, so you can eliminate safety-conscious Volvo drivers as a possible explanation for the data. The institute monitored claim frequency and costs, and it reported XC60 owners weren’t filing claims of less than $1,500 — claims commonly associated with fender benders in congested traffic.

City Safety works at speeds below 19 mph. It uses an infrared laser to monitor approaching speeds, and when it senses a driver not taking action, the system automatically brakes to avoid a collision. The feature is also standard on the 2012 S60, S80 and XC70 wagon.

2012 Volvo Lineup: Ch-Ch-Changes

For the 2012 model year, Volvo has discontinued the S40 and V50, which reported in an earlier post. The Swedish automaker is also no longer offering any V-8s across its lineup after the company axed its sole V-8 engine in the XC90 for 2012. V-8s were once offered in the S80 and XC90.

Overall, most models get more standard features and new trim offerings while maintaining similar prices to last year’s models.

Volvo Boosts Power With R-Design S60, XC60

Volvo is increasing the power in the R-Design-trimmed S60 and XC60 for the 2012 model year. Both vehicles now have a power rating of 325 horsepower and 354 pounds-feet of torque. The turbocharged inline-six-cylinder in both models is the same one found on each trim’s T6 model, but here the engine produces an additional 25 horsepower to better match the sporting aspirations of the more expensive R-Design trim level.

Each model comes with standard all-wheel drive and a six-speed automatic transmission. The S60 R-Design will have a starting price of $42,275 and the XC60 R-Design will start at $43,150 when they both go on sale this summer.

The R-Design trim is new for the second-generation S60; the last time it was available on the model was in 2007. It's essentially a sportier, more aggressive-looking S60 T6. The suspension has been lowered on the model, and the chassis has been stiffened with a front strut brace and rear monotube dampers.

Exterior changes on the S60 include a new lowered front end design. The rear bumper gets the same treatment. Unique 18-inch alloy wheels and dual exhaust designs are also included. On the inside, there are front seats with larger bolsters and unique color combinations.

We already thought the S60 T6 had enough performance for the casual driver for a lower starting price of $37,700. It’ll be interesting to see whether these changes can help the model better compete with the BMW 3-Series for performance buyers.

Check out our shots of the two models from the New York International Auto Show. Tell us in the comment section below if you think the changes are worth the cash.

2011 Chevrolet Cruze, Volvo XC60 Shine in Crash Tests

For 2011, the Chevrolet Cruze and Volvo XC60 can be added to a short list of models that earned top crash-test ratings from both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. NHTSA rates the Cruze and XC60 with five stars overall, five stars in frontal and side ratings, and four stars in rollover protection. IIHS named both cars Top Safety Picks. To earn this safety award, the Cruze and XC60 scored the best rating of Good in frontal, side, rear and roof-strength tests, and both cars have a standard electronic stability system.

For an explanation of each organization’s testing, go here. The two organizations have different procedures for testing collisions. They actually complement each other and exploit different strengths and weaknesses of a vehicle. Consumers should look at both sets of ratings for a larger picture of how a car crash-tests rather than just relying on one set of crash-test scores.

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Recall Alert: 2009-2011 Volvo S40, S60, V50, XC60

Volvo is recalling 7,420 vehicles over a potential seat safety defect, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In certain 2009-2011 S40, S60, V50 and XC60 vehicles equipped with power front passengers seats, the rail detection system was manufactured incorrectly, potentially allowing passengers to move the seat forward too far.

The forward positioning of the seat could cause increased risk of injury to the passenger in the event of a crash.

On the affected vehicles, dealers will inspect the side seat rails and repair them if necessary, free of charge.

Volvo doesn’t have a set date for the recall yet. Owners may call Volvo at 800-458-1552, email the automaker at customercare@volvoforlife.com or call NHTSA’s hot line at 888-327-4236.

Recall Alert: 2011 Volvo S80, S60, XC70 and XC60

Volvo is recalling 6,046 vehicles from the 2011 model year due to potential engine stalling, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

On the 2011 Volvo S80, S60, XC70 and XC60, the engine software that controls fuel cutoff function has been programmed to be too sensitive. In affected vehicles, the engine idle speed may drop, resulting in a sudden engine stall when braking or coasting in stop-and-go traffic. This could increase the risk of a crash.

All recalled vehicles will get updated software from Volvo to correct the problem free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on Dec. 10, and Volvo will send recall notices to affected owners.

For more info, owners can call Volvo at 800-458-1552 or NHTSA’s hot line at 888-327-4236.

Recall Alert: 474 Volvo Vehicles Over Airbags, Navigation Defects

Volvo is recalling the 2010 XC60 over airbag concerns and Volvo models equipped with an aftermarket Garmin navigation unit, which was previously recalled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Just 58 XC60s are being recalled for side curtain airbags that may have been misassembled. The error may cause the airbags not to deploy correctly or possibly not at all, which could increase the risk of injury in a crash. The recall is expected to begin this month. Affected customers will be notified by Volvo, and their vehicles will be inspected and fixed, if necessary, free of charge by a Volvo dealer. For more info, owners can call Volvo at 800-458-1552 or NHTSA’s hot line at 888-327-4236.

Recall Alert: 9,746 Volvo Vehicles

Volvo is recalling 9,746 2010-11 S80, XC70, V70 and 2011 XC60 vehicles over faulty airbags, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The driver’s airbag may not be wired correctly. In the recalled vehicles, the “SRS” lamp will be lit on the gauge cluster with the message “Airbag System Service Required” displayed on the Driver’s Information Module.

If the driver gets in an accident when the SRS lamp is lit, the airbag may not deploy as intended or deploy at all.

The recalled models were built between Nov. 19, 2009, and June 22, 2010. You can check your vehicle’s build date on the sticker affixed to the driver-side doorjamb. All of the vehicles in this recall are affected and need to be fixed. Volvo has already received 142 reports of the condition worldwide.

Owners will receive a letter about the recall from Volvo. Volvo dealers will install a small metal shim in the driver’s airbag clockspring wiring connector free of charge.

For additional information, owners can call Volvo at 800-458-1552 or NHTSA's hot line at 888-327-4236.