Rendered Speculation: Return of the R for Volvo?
Swedespeed has asked the question that anyone who follows Volvo is thinking: Will R cars return? After a tumultuous last couple of years that saw the Swedish brand suffer falling sales amidst parent company Ford's effort to sell the brand to the highest bidder (it's looking like Chinese automaker Geely at the moment), Volvo has gotten as far away from producing performance automobiles as a brand can. All the while, its competition from Germany, Japan and the U.S. have augmented their luxury lines with mid-level or super high-performance cars like the BMW 335i/M3, Audi S4/RS4 and Cadillac CTS-V. Volvo, meanwhile, put all its egg into a basket that touted refined design and safety. Unfortunately, every player in these segments has upped the ante with their designs and superior safety is no longer an island on which Volvo finds itself alone.
So back to the R cars. Volvo had some success with the 850R in the mid-Nineties, which was a mildly hotter version than the standard box sedan on which it was based. After that, the P2-gen S60R and V70R were downright scorchers with a complex Haldex all-wheel-drive system, 300-hp motor, adjustable 4C suspension and Brembo brakes. But then the R cars disappeared and were replaced by "R Design" packages that offered all of the visual potential for high performance but little else. Swedespeed decided that proper R cars should return with the arrival of the all-new S60, and rather than being blow-the-doors-off quick, should offer mid-level performance like the original 850R did. What you see above is their rendered speculation of a reborn S60R. Click here to read more about it and catch an extra view. We think they're spot on and would love to see Volvo return to building R cars that make us think of more than safety and design when we're behind the wheel.
[Source: Swedespeed]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
click_playaz 6:34PM (11/16/2009)
I don't expect to see more Volvo on the road.
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John H. 6:34PM (11/16/2009)
Volvo "R" has a lot of catchup work if they want to play with Audi / BMW / Caddy...
I can't see them doing it and retaining their "safety" brand image.
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P.V. 6:55PM (11/16/2009)
I totally agree. They are at this point too family-friendly to go this route.
LaserRed38 6:55PM (11/16/2009)
I wish Koenigsegg bought Volvo (or both of them). I always liked Volvos better than Saabs. Not sure why, as I have always liked Saabs too, but could never see myself owning one. I could see myself in a nice C30 or S60R one day though.
anonymous j 7:27PM (11/16/2009)
that's what they said about Lexus too, and along came the IS-F and LFA....
John H. 9:45PM (11/16/2009)
Of course, that was supposed to be the GS' job...
Still, at least Lexus is trying.
And Lexus has resources and volume that Volvo simply lacks.
Alex Hobbs 12:01AM (11/17/2009)
I think the practical family wagon image actually helps when they do an R model because its so ironic. Back in the 90s when they did the 850R wagon it was like jekyll and hyde, most 850s were soccer mobiles but the few bright yellow Rs were total sleepers and absolute beasts. I'd love to see a return of the R, won't be as good as an M3 or an S4 but but it will be just as awesome purely because its practical and boring Volvo getting crazy.
larry raines 6:37PM (11/16/2009)
That is a pretty massive R badge on the fender in this rendering. But I guess all of the Volvo front grill badges are now the size of dinner plates - so it seems on par. Unfortunately.
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raschmidt1 7:15PM (11/16/2009)
I would love to see a return, but if Saab can throw out at best a 9-3 Turbo X with 280 horses / 295 ft-lb.....well the new T6 motor in an S60 would throw out almost identical power. I guess if it's enough for Saab enthusiasts Volvo will probably assume it's enough for Volvo enthusiasts too (to be honest I'd buy an S60 R Design with that motor). Too bad it's like 50 horses shy of being competitive with even an S4 or 335i, much less a RS4 or M3.
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John H. 9:47PM (11/16/2009)
Perhaps Volvo can get back in with a new P1800E...
If the could take the C30 chassis, give it a fastback hatch, and pump the motor, they might have a decent player.
evilspoons 11:04PM (11/16/2009)
I'm not sure what you mean about the T6 only producing 280 HP... the old P2 R produces 300 HP/295 lb-ft from the 2.5L I5.
I love my S60R :)
raschmidt1 11:22PM (11/16/2009)
The Volvo Short Inline 6 motor, the one thats in the XC60 and S80 T6, it's a 281 hp 3.0L turbo I6. I would assume it'll go into the new S60 as most of its competitors have similar motors (saab 9-3 aero, 335i, S4).
evilspoons 2:19AM (11/20/2009)
Ah, I thought you meant that's the most they'd be able to get out of an S60R.
Give an engineer 5 minutes and a disregard for fuel economy and that T6 can likely be pushed way past 280 HP for this imaginary new R.
mbslrm 7:44PM (11/16/2009)
I like how that Volvo looks.
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TXspeed 8:05PM (11/16/2009)
We have one of the P2 V70Rs. It proves that Volvo can build a VERY safe car that is also a blast to drive, the two things can be combined well. The Haldex AWD and Brembo breaks let the car perform flawlessly in any kind of weather. Even better, our two big dogs appreciate how easy it is to jump in and out of the way back. When we bought this car it was a "sleeper" in the market which is a shame. The next time I blow your doors off on the Toll Road, you'll wish you had one instead of the lumbering, gas hog SUV you're driving .
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Marreroj 8:35PM (11/16/2009)
i would love an s60r or v70r but i'm going to call "too good to be true". but who knows maybe sales will pick up since their being advertised hand in hand with that littel vampire movie that everyone is obsessed with.
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BoxerFanatic 8:38PM (11/16/2009)
If Volvo doesn't go to the Chi-Comms, and gets AWD, stick or dual-clutch, and a good amount of horsepower... (260 minimum, north of 300 is way better...), and a turning radius shorter than a professional sports stadium...
I would really consider a car that looks like that as a replacement for my Legacy GT, as much as I would hate to give up my boxer engine... If only the '10 Legacy looked anywhere close to that slick...
But the wheels on that gray volvo aren't doing many favors...
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fmwso 8:56PM (11/16/2009)
I have yet to see a Volvo R. Hard to see them doing a car that's as fast as a M3, RS4 or CTS-V.
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Other Man 9:06PM (11/16/2009)
When Lexus does a sport division you know it's time for your brand to do it .......
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JDM Life 10:48PM (11/16/2009)
mmmmm
I can think of much worse then Lexus...Lexus was never bad. With the IS300 GS400 SC400.....their not new at performace...
Now it you said something like Kia havin their own performance cars...i would understand that.