2012 Volvo XC60 R-Design

With its attractive design, a spacious cabin and solid performance, security and credentials superstar, Volvo XC60 crossover has all the makings of a sales leader. And it is within the Volvo family, anyway. But if one of the newer data in the compact luxury SUV class, the XC60 was able to break the top segment. Maybe more power will help the situation.

Volvo adds R-Design package will send the first half of the XC60 model year. It brought more than just a pretty face and an ornate interior. The original R-Design also had 10 percent faster car to steering input, 10-percent firmer shocks, and the large 20-inch wheels. For 2012, the package is more appealing. The R-Design treatment has previously been used for atmospheric XC60 3.2, and the more powerful, all-wheel-drive T6 models only, but this year it is the only province of the T6 AWD. Software developed by Volvo race tweaks affiliate Polestar performance turbocharged inline six-cylinder performance from 300 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque at 6500 rpm to 325 hp and 354 lb-ft from 3,000 rpm.

The Volvo XC60 T6 AWD is always fast. Shortly after the XC60 as a 2010 model, a T6 AWD third in a comparison test of five compact luxury crossover (missed second place by one point to the first generation BMW X3) was launched. With 281 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, if by a six-speed automatic transmission, the XC60 hit 60 mph in 6.5 seconds. For 2011, the XC60 T6 is upgraded to 300 hp. That was not enough, apparently.

Polestar changes in the T6 include a larger turbo boost, re-calibration of the ignition timing, fuel mixture, and other parameters, and to improve the throttle response reassignment. With this model in 2012, we hit 60 mph in 5.7 seconds, before going to the quarter-mile mark in 14.4 seconds on a firm to stabbing at 98 miles per hour. Turbo was? If you have not noticed. However, we have seen a very sweet exhaust note. Of course, this is not your sister-in-law the 740 cars.

The XC60 R-Design can fast for a 4292-pound crossover, but the fastest compact luxo-ute is now available, the BMW X3 xDrive35i, weighing about 70 pounds more at 300 horsepower and 300 lb-ft of torque, reached Mile-a-minute speeds in 5.5 seconds. The Volvo XC60, the laser beam steering precision, but although on the heavy side, not by hand the desired road textures to the driver, as I said in Bavaria. Some stellar mountain roads in Arizona and California, which will give us a lot of asphalt on the surprising agility of reconstituted suspension made by the R-Design and 255/45R-20 Pirelli Scorpion tires available estimate. The Volvo crossover is to go to a position just by the brakes, which are to a stop 174 meters of 70 mph with the same brake as in other models XC60-coordinated.

Interestingly, asserts that the Volvo Polestar not the T6 AWD 17 mpg city and 23 mpg highway fuel economy ratings of the influence of upgrades, as "the efficient coordination of the motor increases performance only when needed." Apparently enough was during the 500-plus miles of roads and highways, which landed 17 mpg on our average fuel economy required. Nevertheless, despite the numb steering and thirst, the general joy of the XC60 R-design factor is high. And so you think the R-Design is too far from the traditional Volvo values, this model offer the sports front seats support and comfort for which the mark has become famous.

The XC60 R-design with three trim levels offered were the same as the 3.2 and T6 AWD models, Standard, Premier Plus, Platinum and with prices starting at $ 44,575, $ 46,325 and $ 49,025, respectively. An R-design will cost $ 4,250 more than a comparable model XC60 T6 AWD, the extra money goes toward sports bumpers front and rear, satin metal trim and body-color lower profiles plus the said wheels, suspension upgrades and Flash software. There is also an aluminum-trimmed interior couture gauges with blue faces, metal pedals, aluminum trim, tinted smoke, one R-designed three-spoke steering wheel (without a paddle, unfortunately), and one of the two black perforated leather treatments. Our XC60 R-Design Platinum test vehicle was dripping with options, including the Climate Package, Technology Package, and blind-spot detection, bloating the price to a whopping $ 53,375. That seems like a lot of coin for a little crossover ... You try to pricing the only other small luxo Ute, who can keep up with it, the BMW X3 xDrive35i.

So the XC60, the PS-dominance does not translate into performance supremacy. The R-design is still athletic enough to fulfill the promise of his bold, sporty design. We are pretty sure that the XC60 R-Design model is not at the top of the cross-over sales charts shoot, but it is a good and quick start.

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