What is it?
The V60 T8 Twin Engine is, to these eyes, an extremely attractive family car wrapped around the most powerful and sophisticated powertrain Volvo currently offers (£140,000 Polestar 1 notwithstanding). As denoted by the 'T8' moniker, it's also a plug-in hybrid, with a real-world electric range of around 25 miles.
A ‘Polestar Engineered’ version with Brembo brakes, adjustable Öhlins dampers and sharper handling exists and will shortly arrive in the UK with an even greater sense of anonymous cool, though we’re yet to sample that car and at nearly £60,000 it is sure to be a rare sight.
Even at £50,905, the V60 T8 Twin Engine is hardly cheap, and costs almost exactly what you’ll pay for the V6-engined Mercedes-AMG C43 Estate. It’s a clique that also includes the latest Audi S4 Avant, with its ultra-smooth mild-hybrid V6 turbodiesel, and the BMW M340i xDrive Touring, whose new 369bhp straight six is the best of the lot.
The upshot is this: only with Volvo do you get less than six cylinders for your circa-380bhp, fifty-grand estate, though the V60 T8 Twin Engine has the environmentally friendly USP of being the only one capable of pure-electric running. Depending on your priorities, already you'll be either repelled or enticed by the concept.
The powertrain uses a transversely mounted 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol both turbocharged and supercharged to drive the front wheels. With no central coupling, the rear axle is driven by an electric motor, with the 11.6kWh battery (larger than previous T8 interactions) laying along the spine of the chassis but well within the wheelbase. As such, the standard Volvo V60's impressive 529 litres of boot space is undiminished.
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Brilliant car
Yet again a load of petrol head comments. As an ex owner of a Subaru Impreza WRX, I am extreemly happy with my new T8. Simple to charge, plugged in each evening. Beautifully designed, fun to drive, nice power surge when needed, corners beautifully, note I like to drive fast but not like a power idiot. Well designed to allow electric driving to be saved for when you get to a city centre. No complaints from me and very pleased not to be a BMW owner!
Volvo seem to be producing
Volvo seem to be producing some very heavy cars these days, I don't think its a good trend, especially with the way they've jumped on the climate band wagon so vocally.
A convoluted vehicle
that was designed with technical and philosophical dogma as a start point instead of good engineering sense.