2011 Volvo S60 To Debut at 2010 Geneva Auto Show

GOTHENBURG, Sweden — Ten years after its original debut, the revamped Volvo S60 will arrive in the U.S. this fall after its official unveiling at the 2010 Geneva Auto Show.

The all-new 2011 Volvo S60's exterior design remains true to the S60 concept unveiled at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show.

The main character line flows down the side of the S60 in a gentle wave, complementing the fast roof line. Also note the downward slope of the hood, which allows Volvo to meet pedestrian protection standards without putting on an enormous grille. If you think these lines would look great on a wagon, well, Volvo already thought of that. A V60 wagon goes on sale in Europe next fall (look for it in Paris), but it probably won't come to the U.S. (because we don't buy wagons).

The hardware underneath the Vibrant Copper showcar is a shortened version of the S80 platform architecture. The 2011 Volvo S60 remains on the small side of midsize, as it's only 1 inch longer (182.2 inches) than the current S60 with a 2.3-inch longer wheelbase (109.3 inches). It's 2 inches wider (58.4) than before, with a 1-inch track increase up front (62.5 inches) and a 1.7-inch increase in back (62.4 inches).

Weight gain is negligible, as the 2011 Volvo S60 won't put on more than 100 pounds, even with the addition of a six-cylinder engine. Volvo will launch the car with the most potent version yet of its twin-scroll-turbocharged, 3.0-liter inline-6. Look for the T6 to deliver about 300 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque, with the latter coming online at just 1,500 rpm.

A six-speed automatic transmission will be standard fare. Early models will have a Haldex-built all-wheel-drive system as standard, but a front-drive model will be added later in the fall. The 2011 S60 T6 AWD will accelerate to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds, says Volvo, on its way to an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph.

Of course, there are all sorts of efficient drivetrain options for Europe, including a turbocharged and direct-injected 2.0-liter gasoline four-cylinder, plus a couple of diesels available with a dual-clutch gearbox. None of these are on track for the U.S. market. We've been told, though, that a T5 version of the company's 2.5-liter five-cylinder turbo will return "later in the autumn." Expect it to make about 227 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque, as in the current S40.

The company will offer three different suspension setups in the U.S. The base suspension will be softer than the standard setup in Europe because of our issues with "freeway hop," we're told. Final calibrations are still being worked out.

Standard for Europe and optional for us is a Dynamic suspension with higher spring rates, stiffer bushings and more rebound damping than on any previous Volvo built from this architecture. Thicker piston rods in the front struts are said to provide a 47-percent increase in stiffness over the S80. The third suspension program is Volvo's Four-C adaptive damping system. You're limited to all-season tires with any of these setups, and they'll range in diameter from 16-18 inches.

Volvo, of course, never forgets its roots, so the 2011 Volvo S60 will also show off the company's latest bit of safety technology, Pedestrian Detection with full auto brake. This is an enhancement of the City Safety collision avoidance system in current cars and employs a front-grille-mounted radar unit and a mirror-mounted camera to detect pedestrians over 31 inches tall.

Inside Line says: Hard to say if the S60 will be as interesting to drive as it is to look at, but not every car needs to be a BMW. Also, we want that V60 wagon. — Erin Riches, Senior Editor