Volvo Electrifies The XC60 SUV In Europe; India Launch On The Cards

• Standard engine options have been axed.

• Mild-hybrid engines are 2.0-litre petrol and diesel units with power outputs ranging from 197PS to 300PS.

• Plug-in-hybrid system combines a supercharged and turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine with an electric motor.

• The XC60 with the plug-in hybrid system can run on pure electric power. 

• India-spec XC60 is powered by a conventional 235PS 2.0-litre diesel engine only.

• Electrified variants could be introduced to India-spec XC60 in 2021.

Volvo has been hard at work to electrify its entire lineup, starting with its first all-electric SUV, the XC40 Recharge. Volvo has now taken another step in electrification by introducing various mild-hybrid and plug-in-hybrid engine options for the XC60 SUV in Europe. The XC60 is now exclusively electrified with the conventional engine options axed. 

Starting with the mild-hybrid powertrains, it combines 2.0-litre petrol and diesel engines with a 48v battery and KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) to increase fuel efficiency as well as improve driveability and response at low speeds. It also features an integrated starter generator for a faster, quieter restarting of the engine. 

 

The petrol engines that come with the mild-hybrid system are the 250PS B5 variant with optional all-wheel drive and the 300hp B6 that gets all-wheel drive as standard. The diesel mills getting the mild-hybrid system are the 197PS B4 with front-wheel drive and the 235PS B5 unit with all-wheel drive.

Heading into the more complicated plug-in-hybrid setup, the system combines a supercharged and turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine propelling the front wheels and an electric motor powering the rear axle. It can also run on pure electric power for around 52km with an 11.6kWh high-voltage battery giving juice to the electric motors. Volvo claims a charging time of around two and a half hours for the battery pack.

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The plug-in-hybrid lineup starts with the Recharge Plug-in Hybrid T6 which produces a combined 340PS. Above that is the Recharge Plug-in Hybrid T8 which bumps power to 390PS. The range-topping Recharge Plug-in Hybrid T8 Polestar Engineered, unveiled in April 2019, develops 405PS. It comes with suspension and brake upgrades for better handling. 

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Back home, Volvo offers the XC60 with only a conventional D5 2.0-litre diesel engine which makes 235PS and 480Nm. Chances are, we could see the cleaner XC60 in India pretty soon as Volvo intends to bring greener models to the country. Currently, the XC60 is priced at Rs 59.90 lakh (ex-showroom) in the sole Inscription variant.