This adds a new dimension to the sedan performance race. Volvo has gotten the go-ahead for their Prototype Concept Car based of the S60 Platform. It is going to have a 300hp inline 5 w/turbo ( 2.3 litr.) Not sure if that's a Twin or not ?? It'll be a limited production and probably be out in the next 6 months. Sticker + , I'm sure.

It's going to have AWD. That'll give the S4 a run.

Anyway , I guess it's going to cost about 43K. Not near the value of the TLS but it's just interesting to see how power is being turned up across the board. I think you'll see a standard being set soon of 260 + HP on all performance sedans , yes , even FORD's. Trust me , I'm not an advocate of FORD. I only trust foreign brands since I've been burnt so many times by domestic brands !! I love Acura as well !!!

Also , I heard Volkswagon is coming out with a 275 HP Passat. Not sure if it'll do anything though. This fall , I think. Haven't heard of price yet.


Anyway , I was just writing down my thoughts of how HP wars really seem to be heating up and that 260 may be considered the same as the 130 HP car I used to have. Remember when 130 Hp was not bad ????? I remember the 84 Vette having around , what .... 200 hp w/a 350 cubic inch engine ??? Wow , we've made progress !!

Food for thought .

 

If it's the car I saw at the Chicago Auto Show its sort of Volvo's interpretation of the "M" at BMW and "AMG" at M-B. And the "P" stands for Performance not Prototype. Volvo's already announced an AWD version of the S60 for 2002 so taking it a step further shouldn't be a big deal. The price is a little low though - a regular T5 can easily hit $40K. I'd guess the high performance version would be close to $50K.

 

For $50K, I would not get a Volvo. But that's just me.

 

I saw that car at the LA Auto Show, and if they keep some of the cool touches like the body kit, the wheels and the seats, it could be a sweet car. It would have to offer some pretty unique stuff to compete w/ the S4 and M3.

 

here's a link to edmund's blurb on the PCC w/pics. http://www.edmunds.com/news/conceptc...9/article.html

 

for some reason, all performance reviews of Volvo seem to indicate that they haven't quite figured out the suspension/handling side of things.

great on paper doesn't always mean great behind the wheel.