John R. Quain
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What is it?
A sleek, four-door sports sedan with a first-of-its-kind pedestrian detection with full auto brake system. (Translation: It can see people and stop the car automatically before you hit someone.) It identifies people using a video camera, has radar and computer controls to sound an alert, flashes warning lights above the dash, and stops the car should you ignore all that.
Is it real?
Yes. And in an early demonstration drive last year, even at more than 30 miles per hour, the full auto brake prevented me from hitting a test dummy in a parking lot. Officially, the company promises that it will bring the car to a complete halt and avoid hitting a pedestrian at speeds up to 22 m.p.h.
What they said:
“It’s a coupe with four doors,” said Peter Horbury, Volvo’s design chief. Sexy, sleek and “naughty” was how the president of Volvo North America, Doug Speck, described the S60 — one of Volvo’s best sellers in the United States. It’s being pitched as a luxury sports sedan. The company hopes to sell 20,000-30,000 S60s here this year.
What they didn’t say:
No one is going to think of a Volvo as being “naughty.” What people will think about is how Volvo will protect its Scandinavian cachet. Between the lines, the company was clearly saying, our new Chinese owners will not touch our designs.
The S60 unveiling is also a somewhat schizophrenic introduction: part new sexy sports car, part safety technology showcase. Can one simultaneously be passionate about generating as much g-force as possible on sharp corners and still be worried about hitting someone in your path? (Shouldn’t you be driving more slowly to begin with?)
The pedestrian crash prevention system will trickle down into other Volvo models and eventually be offered across the line. But it remains unclear how drivers will react to the new feature. Some distracted drivers are likely to end up with a lap full of hot coffee when the auto brake takes over. On the highway, the system will not be able to prevent a collision on its own, and it will be interesting to see whether it helps — or creates — panic situations. There is also the law of unintended consequences, which conjures up images of inebriated frat boys experimenting with the auto braking system on new pledges.
What makes it tick?
The all-wheel-drive five-person car is powered by an in-line-6, 300-horsepower engine. (Fun!)
How much? How soon?
The S60 will appear in United States showrooms late in the third quarter this year. But with all the sophisticated safety systems, the company isn’t saying what the price will be yet.
How does it look?
Volvo continues to round the corners off of its designs. The sedan’s Maserati-like rounded front end is designed to minimize injuries to pedestrians should the driver still manage to hit any jaywalkers. Conversely, its raised rear haunches give the car a more aggressive look.
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