We recently had the chance to test drive the Volvo S60 T6 AWD courtesy of Warp Division and were really impressed. If you’re looking for a more affordable option than the BMW M340i, the Volvo S60 is a great choice. It offers impressive performance and is a great alternative for those who don’t want to spend as much.
If you’re a Volvo fanatic, you will question why the front looks like it’s 2013 if it is a 2011 model year. That is because it has been fitted with a facelifted front end which combines the front headlights into a singular unit and updated styling for front bumpers. Overall, the silhouette is quite clean and the most noticeable change to the sedan is the red wrap the owner has done to the exterior which suits the car well. The change which we would make is to swap the stock wheel for some forged options.
The interior is undoubtedly quirky as it is quintessentially Volvo. For starters, the centre control stack isn’t housed in a touchscreen. Instead, it is a unique setup of 4 dials, a rectangle with the above portion having a dial pad and the seat corresponding to climate control. The above two dials control the tuning and volume whereas the bottom two dials control the dual-zone climate control. The bottom half of the rectangle houses all of the safety tech such as Blind Spot Detection, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, etc. This is a perfect setup for someone tired of all the screens neatly combined into a unit. Also, doesn’t the air vent placement remind you of the C7 Corvette? Overall, the interior is a luxurious place to spend time and brings its Swedish flavour to the table.
The Volvo S60 is powered by a 3.0-litre Inline 6-cylinder engine, producing 305hp and 480Nm of torque. This power goes to all four wheels via a 6 6-speed torque Converter Transmission sourced from Aisin. This setup seems similar to the M340i if you excuse that the BMW has a longitudinally mounted engine as opposed to the transversely mounted engine found in the Volvo. The Volvo S60 comes with a Bog Wagner K16 Turbo which, with a few modifications, can produce 450hp! Warp Division says a full-frame hybrid turbocharger with some upgrades such as ARP Bolts and forged internals, will produce 800hp!
On the road, if you are coming from a BMW M340i, the Volvo will feel a lot easier and calmer. The power delivery will feel smoother, and handling is less direct, giving the impression that the S60 is more suited for grand touring. The ride is soft which will make sense if you daily drive the car. Putting the pedal to the metal, the realisation will quickly hit that the S60 has no issues achieving triple-digit numbers! The downside to the driving experience is the Transmission as it isn’t a dual-clutch and dulls the experience. However, we need to remember that the S60 competed with the likes of the E90 335i and Audi S4, and compared to them, the S60 is more attainable (considering the 335i wasn’t sold in India and S4 is expensive) and holds its own when it comes to a thrilling driving experience. Also, comparing it to an M340i would mean falsely equating the two as the BMW is 13 years younger than the S60. In that period, various technological enhancements have happened to improve the dynamics of a car such that you will not notice the shortcomings of a sedan.
We cannot wait for a fully built stage 3 setup on the S60! The only question mark with the platform is the Transmission. It needs to be capable of handling the massive power output. According to Warp Division, the stock motor can handle 500hp and 800hp with a fully built engine. Developments are happening in regards to an upgrade kit for the 6-Speed Transmission which is the final hurdle which needs to be cleared! You can currently take the S60 to stage 2 which will produce 350hp which can be called a healthy figure. The Volvo S60 also makes sense as you can retrofit things such as Volvo Digital Gauges, Paddle Shift Steering and various safety tech. In conclusion, the S60 is a perfect recipe for you if you want a quirky way to achieve a thrilling performance car, for under 30 lakhs!
