Volvo has announced the local availability of its R-Design package for the Volvo V60 and Volvo S60 models. “The all-new S60 and V60 are our sportiest models ever. With R-Design they are even sharper. They’re the natural choice for true connoisseurs,” says Magnus Jonsson, Senior Vice President Product Development at Volvo Cars.

Volvo Cars’ chassis experts have taken the next step on the road to a more exciting driving experience. “In the R-Design chassis we’ve sharpened the steering, the agility and the solid overall impression still further compared with the dynamic chassis in the all-new S60 and V60,” says Stefan Sällqvist, manager of vehicle dynamics at Volvo Cars.

The all-new Volvo S60 and V60 R-Design come with a range of special design details both outside and in. On the outside the cars have an imposing redesigned front with a grille painted in glossy piano black. The sporty stance is further enhanced with colour-matched body components, details in matt finish and a hexagonal pattern that is repeated both front and rear. Twin exhaust tailpipes and unique five-spoke 18-inch Diamond cut wheels emphasise the performance credentials.

On the inside, the driver and front passenger sit in sports seats with even firmer side support than before. The special leather/textile upholstery is available in a version trimmed in off-black and ceramic light, or in an all-black variant, both with contrasting stitching. The interior also features a special steering wheel, gear selector, sports pedals and floor-mats.

After developing the all-new S60 and V60, which are Volvo Cars’ most dynamic models to-date, the chassis team focused on further refining a number of details. The chassis has received a number of tweaks, including a strut brace beneath the bonnet – connected to the suspension strut towers. This is a classic method of stiffening up the body structure. At the rear the S60 and V60 R-Design feature monotube dampers. Unlike the twin-tube dampers previously used, the monotube system features compression and return damping via the same valve. This gives shorter, faster fluid flow, which in turn means the damper responds more quickly. The R-Design sits 15 mm lower to the ground, while the springs are 15 percent stiffer compared to the dynamic chassis in the S60 and V60. The bushings with which the rear dampers are attached to the body are also 20 percent stiffer compared with the dynamic chassis in the S60 and V60.

The mechanical enhancements are supported by electronic systems that further sharpen the driving experience. For example, Volvo’s Corner Traction Control is a new feature that uses torque vectoring to make for smoother cornering. When taking a curve, the car’s inner wheel is braked so more power is transferred to the outer wheel. This gives the driver a tighter line in the curve, with reduced tendency toward understeer.

The R-Design package can be had with any of Volvo’s range of petrol and diesel engines, from an economical T3 version producing 110 kW to a high-performance turbo version with 224 kW.