I’ve always had trouble putting my finger on Volvo’s specific aesthetic. The designs are clean and simple, yet so functional. It finally materialized in front of me while driving the latest Swedish offering through the historic site where Captain James Tiberius Kirk will give his life defending the universe and time continuum as we know it from Soran 357 years from now. In between the cragged red clay spires of Veridian III I realized the new V60 Sports Wagon shares the same minimalist artistry as a galaxy class starship. The 2014 S60 received a slight interior and exterior refresh, but for 2015 it’s joined by the V60 wagon. Both are available with Volvo’s new Drive-E engine line. The E stands for environment or maybe efficiency, or something other than electricity or Enterprise, which would be far too obvious. Right now, the engine line consists of two 2.0-liter direct injection I-4s. The T5 uses a single turbocharger to produce 240 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque, while the T6, available in the S60, is the same engine but with a larger turbocharger augmented with a supercharger to add torque at low RPM. The T6 produces 302 hp and a smooth and seamless 295 lb-ft of torque. For this year at least, the T5 is the only Drive-E option in the V60, but we wouldn’t be surprised if the T6 finds its way into the car at some point down the road. Eventually the Drive-E line will include four gasoline and four diesel engines that may or may not make it to the U.S. Volvo will also add electric motors to the equation, creating all-wheel-drive versions with electric-only rear axles. Those will most definitely make it here.
