Volvo S60L Plug-in Hybrid Debuting at Beijing Motor Show

Volvo is aiming for performance while going green in China.

The new S60L plug-in hybrid will make its debut at this year’s Beijing Motor Show, targeting Chinese consumers once its launched early next year. The model will be built at the automaker’s Chengdu plant and is part of Volvo’s plans to contribute to the development and spread of new automotive technologies in China. It’s natural that the Swedish automaker is now putting a focus on the growing Chinese auto market, especially considering its new owners are Geely.

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The S60L plug-in hybrid will feature the brand’s 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine mated to an electric motor for a plug-in hybrid powertrain. Volvo has stated that the gasoline engine is good for 238 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque while the electric motor will provide 68 hp and 148 lb-ft of torque. While it sports the same electrification technology found in the V60 plug-in hybrid, the automaker has replaced the diesel engine with a standard gasoline powerplant.

Three different driving modes will give owners the freedom to control their fuel consumption: Pure, Hybrid or Power. According to Volvo, in the default hybrid mode the S60L will be good for 2.0l/100 km while the Pure electric mode will provide up to 31 miles of emissions-free driving. In the Power mode, the vehicle will take advantage of the electrified powertrain to blast the sedan to 62 mph in 5.5 seconds. In hybrid mode, the S60L will have a total range of about 621 miles. Lastly, it will feature instant all-wheel-drive technology.

“The creation of a powertrain with 238+68 hp and 350+200 Nm of torque by combining a petrol turbo from our new four-cylinder Drive-E engine family and an electric motor proves that the most efficient car can also be the most fun to drive,” said Peter Mertens, Senior Vice President of Research and Development at Volvo. “This is our most technologically advanced powertrain ever. It brings us closer to our vision to offer zero-emission motoring in the future.”