Every winter, auto media people are actually most looking forward to receiving the manufacturer's ice and snow test drive invitation. If nothing else, fully feeling the kind of handling state that comes from the vehicle's close to the critical point of loss of control is unmatched at other times. Of course, the seemingly calm snow surface is full of challenges, and the ice hidden under the snow will catch the slip and loss of control off guard.
Under the Changbai Mountain, a boundless ice field at -30°C, the "four-piece set" combination of crosswind, snow, dark ice and snow fog encompasses almost all the conditions that ice and snow driving can encounter. For me who came to Changbai Mountain for the first time in winter, what I felt was the game and balance between controllable and out-of-control ice and snow pavement at -30 °C. And this elegant song of ice and snow, which is not lost in elegance, has once again begun by the Volvo S60 family.
Volvo is a luxury car brand from the Nordic ice and snow world, and safety is its most prominent advantage, but it is not the only one. Safety is Volvo's genes carved into its bones, and manipulation is Volvo's instinct to melt into the blood. As Volvo's "control man", the new S60 is a powerful control on top of safety, allowing you to boldly and confidently enjoy the fun of driving.
After turning on the seat heating and repelling the cold, the ice and snow test drive began, in which there were 5 different experience items in the field experience subject, namely the acceleration challenge, the speed Slalom, the 360° drift, and the obstacle skiing challenge. After all, it is an ice and snow test drive, an indispensable set of nail tires is the best companion on this low adhesion road, if it is an ordinary tire, it is really difficult to run on this road.
This time, I focused on the S60 T8 model, which is the only model in its class equipped with the RECHARGE T8 plug-in hybrid system. Don't be fooled by the low-key appearance of the S60, the S60 is actually a sports car, it can provide the strongest power and the most fuel consumption in its class. The T8 model uses a four-wheel drive structure with front oil and rear electricity, the front wheels are driven by the engine, and the rear wheels are driven by electric motors. The 2.0T engine can output a maximum power of 303 horsepower and a maximum torque of 400 Nm with the help of mechanical and turbo double supercharging; the maximum power of the electric motor is 65 kW, the maximum torque of the motor is 240 Nm; the comprehensive power of the whole system is 390 hp, the comprehensive torque is 640 Nm, and the zero hundred acceleration is only 4.7 seconds, comparable to the Audi S4, which can also bring a smooth acceleration experience in the snow.
This is deeply experienced in the following linear acceleration link, and it is not like the linear acceleration we see every day, as long as the throttle is over. While the S60 T8 can accelerate with minimal sliding with the help of all-wheel drive and traction control, if you want faster results, you need to turn off the body stabilization system and traction control system. At this time, the driver's perception of the wheel is tested, and once the traction breaks through the tire grip limit, the side effects of the large torque output will cause the rear of the car to produce a "pendulum" effect, which will affect the punching time. Subtle control of the throttle size allows the tire to be between slip and non-slip to get the best driving force.
At this point, you will feel that the addition of the hybrid system provides the new S60 with more than a dozen additional horsepower, effectively compensating for the phenomenon of turbo lag, starting at a smoother and lighter speed, and the power output of the 2.0T engine itself is strong enough. In the face of this curve more track, the power connection during the corner is also very important, the new S60 engine and the 8AT gearbox match is quite high, through the full acceleration after the bend, the gearbox can actively respond, continuously perform the downshift action. In addition, the new S60 also uses Overboost supercharging technology, which adds an additional 25-30 Nm of torque to the engine when accelerating at full throttle, helping the vehicle to speed up faster.
Strong acceleration also needs to be combined with reliable braking performance, and the S60 can give you enough confidence in this regard. The S60 brake pedals are damped linearly, the braking force release is quite uniform, and it belongs to the type of very heeled foot, and the first experience does not need to adapt at all. In the fierce driving of the track, even if you face the sharp bend after the big straight, just press the pedal hard and deep, which can definitely give you enough braking power. In the next Slalom skiing project, it is actually a snow pile, which can also be understood as obstacle skiing, which is a test of the steering and body rigidity of the S60.
Turn on the S60's exclusive ESC SPORT sports car mode, which allows the vehicle to slide a certain amount after opening, and if the danger is detected, it will take over the intervention, providing a bottom line guarantee for driving pleasure and making the cornering more assured. What's more, the volvo S60 series of models use standard axle size, the body proportion is more compact, the center of gravity shifts less when cornering, and the cornering in the snow is more flexible.
In the case of ESC opening, the S60 T8 is helped by the electronic auxiliary system, the body posture at this time is easy to control, and in the process of left and right deflection, the body posture of the S60 T8 can also be considered calm. Volvo's unique slip angle monitoring system monitors vehicle slip status under low adhesion pavement in real time. Compared to traditional ESC, this feature can grasp the vehicle condition more accurately, correct "understeer" and "oversteer" in a more timely manner, and ensure that the correct route is maintained when cornering.
But since it is "skiing", how can you not turn off the stabilization system? In the case of ESC off, the body is prone to side slip during the pile winding process, and it is necessary to make proper oil replenishment at this time. When you come to the next pile tube, adjust the steering wheel by collecting oil to complete the adjustment of the vehicle's attitude. Then give the oil appropriately, complete the next piling action, so that repeatedly you can let the vehicle draw a beautiful arc.
In addition, the new S60 features a front double wishbone suspension structure, which greatly enhances the vehicle's handling when cornering, giving the driver greater confidence in high-speed cornering. This suspension structure, which is mostly used in sports cars, is more complex and more expensive than simple McPherson suspension, but it also provides better anti-roll ability and grip. At the same time, the two wishbones can also allow the wheel to move, to achieve a larger grounding area, thereby greatly increasing the wheel's grounding, and the front and rear swing arms are made of aluminum alloy material to achieve lightweight, for the control of additional points while also taking into account the comfort.
What I was most looking forward to was the ring drift, after all, the drift of the four-wheel drive model was significantly different from the rear-drive model. In order to maintain the most consistent drifting action as possible and give the vehicle a better power output, the vehicle must first be switched to sport mode. In this state, the power output of the S60 T8's four-wheel drive system will be closer to the ratio of 50:50 before and after, and the traction control system and ESC body stability system will also be turned off.
As the speed gradually increases, the S60 T8 will oversteer in this 100-meter diameter ring. At this time, there is no need to worry, the four-wheel drive system will never let the front wheel lose the driving force, the situation of making a U-turn in place, only need to adjust the direction slightly and appropriately, you can easily control the body attitude.
Do not hit the direction, when the wheel rotation angle reaches a certain level, the body stability system at this time will still come out to "save" your life. After the power output is limited, it is difficult to maintain a beautiful sliding posture, and when the speed is too fast, the ESC will also partially intervene to ensure safety. The bottom line of playing and ensuring safety is still very well held.
Master observation
In the past, my impression of Volvo models was mostly "Sven" and "introverted", but this ice and snow test drive made me impressed by the performance of volvo S60. The T8 model, in particular, vividly shows the passionate side of the Nordic brand's sport, and the excellent dynamic performance and the exquisite coordination of the electronic control system can be described as just right. The Volvo S60 is no longer just a model that allows you to enjoy a low profile, it seems to be more willing to communicate with the driver in the snowy forest. The precision of handling and the driving pleasure are not inferior to those of this minimalist sedan.