Volvo XC60

Volvo XC60

Sweden’s leading automaker joins the trendy crossover market with the XC60 comfortably positioned between the brand’s XC70 Wagon and XC90 sport utility vehicle. It’s lighter than the latter, wider than the former and shorter than either.

Safety conscious consumers shifting their transportation needs to smaller vehicles can look to XC60 for Volvo’s signature styling, standard all-wheel drive, and traction and security innovation not found in any other vehicle.

INNOVATIVE “CITY SAFETY” AUTOMATIC BRAKES

Standard on the 2010 Volvo XC60 is the industry’s first ‘City Safety’ feature that automatically applies the brakes if the driver is about to hit a forward vehicle at low speed.

City Safety is a driver support system aimed at preventing or lessening collisions occurring at speeds 18-miles per hour or less. A laser sensor mounted behind the inside rear view mirror scans the vehicle distance ahead. If at 18-mph or below, the car in front slows suddenly and City Safety determines a collision is likely, the XC60’s brakes pre-load for the impact.

If the Volvo driver fails to respond, the XC60 automatically applies the brakes to reduce damage to the cars and their passengers.

However, if the scenario occurs at typical stop-and-go rush hour speeds between 2- and 9-mph, City Safety abruptly stops the XC60 without driver intervention within 8-inches of the forward car to avoid the collision entirely.

According to Dan Johnston, Volvo product communications, weather plays a large role in City Safety’s effectiveness noting that under ideal conditions, the 9-mph threshold can be raised to 12-mph.

Forward objects must be car-like in size and shape. City Safety technology doesn’t respond to pedestrians or animals and is limited by fog, snow or heavy rain.