The 2012 Detroit Auto Show, which starts January 9th, will no doubt play host to all kinds of new innovations in automobiles. Car makers from all over the auto market will be showing off their latest designs in horsepower and fuel efficiency. Spectators will be privy to glimpses of many new concept vehicles and implementations of new technologies. One such implementation will be a presentation of Volvo’s new XC60 Plug-in Hybrid Concept.
Volvo XC60 Plug-in Hybrid Concept
Volvo’s new XC60 Plug-in Hybrid Concept is expected to be a performance hybrid. Volvo says that the SUV’s power train puts out a total of 350 hp, using 280 hp from a turbo charged four-cylinder gas engine and another 70 hp from the SUV’s electric motor. This combined hp gives the SUV a 0 to 60 time of 5.8 seconds. Above that, Volvo’s Environmental Architecture (VEA) engine combination design is said to give the car a 600 mile range in hybrid mode. That’s 102 mpg. Not too shabby.
Three Driving Modes
Volvo’s hybrid concept offers the driver three driving modes: Pure, Hybrid and Power. The Pure mode powers the vehicle entirely with the electric motor. In this mode the SUV can travel up to 35 miles purely on electric. If you’re driving further, you can use the Hybrid mode to utilize both the four-cylinder and the electric motor for a journey up to 600 miles. If, however, you need maximum horsepower you can use the Power mode to combine the engine and the motor with the instant torque delivery for a little more get up and go.
Generator and Breaking Regeneration
Volvo decided to forgo a traditional starter and also an alternator for an integrated starter and a generator connected directly to the crankshaft. This layout boosted the electric motor by an extra 45 hp. The arrangement also allows for battery regeneration through braking.
AWD Distribution
The concept vehicle doesn’t run like a standard AWD vehicle, but rather uses a different power distribution. The gasoline engine drives the front wheels of the automobile, while the rear wheels of the SUV are driven by the electric motor through the central control unit when you activate the AWD mode. This distribution layout of the VEA engine is what allows the SUV to achieve its 600 mile range.
Charge Time
The Volvo XC60 Plug-in Hybrid Concept doesn’t need a proprietary or even extravagant charging system. It can be charged from standard outlets in your home. From a 12A 220V outlet, the vehicle can be completely charged in three and a half hours. If you prefer, you can charge the vehicle from a standard 110V 12A outlet in about seven and a half hours. The choice is yours.