For immediate release
More power for the road and better air quality for passengers inside are just some of the refinements to the 2003 Volvo S60 -- the most popular Volvo in Canada.
The four versions of the sporty S60 - the S60 2.4, 2.4T, AWD and T5 - account for more than one third of all Volvo sales in Canada, and each variant enjoys enhancements that will appeal to a broad spectrum of buyers attracted to this elegant sedan with a coupe profile and sporting soul.
From the base S60 2.4 to the high performance T5, the 2003 S60 line has subtle enhancements and new standard equipment. For example, the Volvo Interior Air Quality System (IAQS) is now a standard feature of all S60 versions. IAQS includes a high-efficiency air filtration system that improves the environment inside the car. A pollen and particle filter blocks airborne contaminants before they can enter the passenger space, and an available active carbon filter reduces gasses such as oxides of nitrogen, ground-level ozone and hydrocarbons, sparing passengers from the worst effects of vehicle exhaust and oil, gasoline and other fumes. A gas sensor monitors incoming air and automatically shuts off the air intake before contaminants reach unhealthy levels.
Other new standard equipment includes a standard trip computer, emergency trunk release and new alloy wheels for both the 2.4 and 2.4T.
Described as a marriage of 'safety + sporty', the S60 emphasizes real world driving enjoyment with extraordinary handling and state-of-the-art safety technology. While it shares much of the same platform architecture with the S80 and V70, the new S60 has a distinctly sporting character that sets it apart from its siblings. But the taut handling and sport coupe performance do not compromise ride and passenger comfort. The successful balance of comfort and handling is a key part of the S60's success as a performance sedan with a strong Scandinavian character.
The S60 line gains a fourth powertrain for 2003 as the S60 AWD gets the new 2.5T engine as standard equipment. Optimized for use with the sophisticated electronically controlled all-wheel-drive system on the S60 AWD, the new 2.5-litre in-line 5-cylinder aluminum engine combines low pressure turbocharging and Continuously Variable Valve Timing (CVVT) to generate 208 hp at 5000 rpm and a remarkable 236 ft.-lbs. of torque from 1500 rpm. The ability to deliver significant torque to all driving wheels from very low rpm enhances the responsiveness and overall performance of the S60 AWD.
With the addition of the new 2.5T engine for the S60 AWD, the array of 5-cylinder engines and two transmission choices provides S60 buyers with performance in keeping with a fine European sedan. A normally-aspirated, 168 hp 2.4-litre version mated to a smooth 5-speed manual transmission or available 5-speed electronically-controlled automatic are the heart of the base S60 2.4. The engine in the S60 2.4T generates 197 hp from the same 2.4-litres, thanks to a low pressure turbocharger with intercooling.
The 5-speed automatic is standard equipment. The exhilarating S60 T5 delivers 247 hp performance from 2.3-litres with high pressure intercooled turbo and 5-speed manual or optional 5-speed automatic with sequential shifting Geartronic feature.
Traditional Volvo safety is a top priority in the S60. Dual-stage driver and front passenger airbags and three-point seat belts with pyrotechnic pre-tensioners, SIPS Side Impact Protection System with side airbags and IC Inflatable Curtain protection for front- and rear-seat passengers, WHIPS whiplash protection seating and many other passive safety features are standard equipment, making S60 among the safest Volvos ever made. Electric foldable rear headrests are standard, adding improved visibility.
Dual climate controls with adjustable rear air vents on the B-pillar, comfortable seats with an orthopaedic design (including sport seats in the T5) and 60/40 rear fold-down feature, attractive cloth and supple leather trim choices in Scandinavian designs, and a host of small comfort and convenience features confirm the interior of the S60 as a fine European sedan. A standard CD player is just the beginning of the selection of available premium audio systems, while personal security features and options abound, including a system that recalls who drove the car and returns the driver's seat and mirrors to the positions they used last.
Comforting, too, is the knowledge that the Volvo S60 carries the Volvo Car Corporation's commitment to improve the environmental impact of the automobile. In addition to the PremAir™ radiator that converts up to 75 per cent of the ground level ozone it encounters into oxygen and the use of Öko-Tex certified materials inside the car, the S60 2.4 and S60 AWD meet Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) standards while the 2.4T and T5 models are classified as Low Emission Vehicles (LEV). All Volvo S60s come with an Environmental Product Declaration, a 'cradle to grave' report on the environmental management measures taken by the company in the design, manufacture, use and subsequent recycling of the car.
The Volvo S60 is available through authorized Volvo retailers in major markets across Canada, and is protected by a comprehensive 48-month, 80,000-kilometre overall warranty and the standard Volvo On Call 48-month roadside assistance program.
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Information:
Lisa Graham
Volvo Cars of Canada Ltd.
(416)490-5834
lgraha11@volvocars.com
Doug Mepham
MacDonald & Co.
1-877-975-1572
doug.mepham@sympatico.ca
Media website:
09/02
