It’s going to be a busy year for Volvo as the Swedish manufacturer is renewing the vast majority of its model range for 2013. Six major models are being updated in one fell swoop from April this year.
The updates include the whole ‘60’ group of models (the S60 saloon, V60 estate and XC60 4×4) along with the V70 estate, S80 saloon and XC70 4×4.
The most obvious change is on the surface. All models have been given a new front end with broader headlamps and grille designs, in an effort to make the cars appear wider and give them a more solid-looking stance. Other visual updates include new Daytime Running Lights, altered tail-lights and a wider range of wheel designs.
Changes inside the new cars include the adoption of the instrument display from the V40 hatchback released last year. This display can be switched between different driving modes, including an Eco mode to encourage more efficient driving and a Performance mode that illuminates the instruments in red and displays a more prominent rev counter.
Equipment has been upgraded too, with touchscreen technology making an appearance on the cars for the first time. Infra-red technology means Volvo’s ‘Sensus’ touchscreen can still be operated when wearing gloves.
Its features include full internet connectivity, music streaming from the web via Spotify and internet radio, 3D navigation and real-time weather forecasts. There’s even a function which reads out commentary from Wikipedia on places of interest as you drive past them.
New and updated Apps for the system can be accessed from the car or via PC. Prices for the Sensus system are yet to be announced but early indications from Volvo are that the system will be priced under the £1,300 mark. Older 2011-on models can also be retro-fitted with the new Sensus system at Volvo dealers, at a likely cost of around £900.
Fuel consumption and CO2 emissions have been improved across the engine range. The D4 and D5 engines have had CO2 emissions reduced by 10-20g/km (depending on model), while the D2 has seen reductions of 8-11g/km. In particular, Volvo describes the S60 D2’s emissions of 106g/km as ‘class leading.’
All new models are fitted with the second generation version of Volvo’s City Safety system as standard, which can help to stop the car automatically in an emergency from speeds of up to 31mph. Further systems available include Pedestrian Detection, where cameras recognise and monitor pedestrians before applying the brakes should they step into the car’s path, and road sign information displayed on the car’s instrument panel.
Following this batch of facelifted cars, the next big step for Volvo comes in 2014 when the next XC90 kicks off an all-new modular platform that will form the basis of all new models above the V40.
The updated models go on sale in the UK in April 2013, with deliveries starting in July. Detail changes for each model are as follows:
S80:
The S80, V70 and XC70 have all been given similar styling updates to link them together with a more uniform appearance.
The S80 saloon has been given new front and rear bumpers and a wider front grille, along with new rectangular LED Daytime Running Lights. The radar unit in the front grille (used for the car’s active safety systems) has been given a gloss-black finish to help it blend in more neatly than before.
‘Boomerang’-shaped LED light-guides now form the S80’s tail-lights and there are various new exterior chrome trim elements. Wheels as large as 19 inches in diameter can now be specified for the S80, and for the first time steering wheel-mounted paddle-shift gearchange controls are available for automatic versions.
V70:
Like the S80, the V70 estate has been given the same front grille and headlamp changes along with new rear LED tail-lights. It too can be specified with 19-inch alloy wheels, and Volvo says that ride comfort won’t be spoilt if you opt for the larger wheels.
XC70:
The XC70 4×4 has been given a modified front grille with a thinner frame and different mesh pattern, along with new front and rear skid-plates. A refreshed front bumper design includes LED Daytime Running Lights positioned at its lower corners.
Tail-lights are the same as the new V70, with a chrome cross-piece joining the two lamp units. Inside, a white ambient lighting scheme has been adopted, highlighting the front cupholders and rear footwells to help retrieve dropped items more easily.
Trim levels across all models are the same as before, with a few new options including a leather finish for the dashboard, heated windscreen and heated steering wheel.
XC60
To make the XC60 small 4×4 appear ‘more urban’, it has been given an all-body colour finish. An enlarged, frameless grille carries a larger badge than before and Daytime Running Lights have been placed in a vertical position on the outer edges of the front bumper.
Also new are a shorter bonnet, front skidplate and exhaust tailpipes integrated into the rear bumper. Larger 20-inch wheels are now available as an option.
Torque-vectoring corner traction control, which shuffles power around and brakes the inside wheels to keep the car on track when cornering, is now fitted to the XC60 as standard.
S60
The XC60’s updated headlamp design has been adopted on all ‘60’ models and, as with the rest of the new range, the S60’s radar unit has been hidden more neatly in the front grille with a black finish.
The S60 now sports a frameless grille and bonnet lines inspired by ‘drifting snow.’
V60
The V60 estate features all the S60’s updates along with its own new tail-lights, more integrated tailpipes as per the new XC60 and a lower glass line on the rear screen.
Trim levels throughout the Volvo range remain the same, and optional extras now include new body-hugging sports seats, paddle-shifters for automatic cars, a heated windscreen and heated steering wheel.