All-new 2019 Volvo S60 debuts as the brand’s first US-made, diesel-free model

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Volvo even goes as far as calling it a sports sedan

Following the reveal of the 2019 V60 wagon earlier this year at the Geneva Motor Show, it was high time Volvo unveiled the sedan version, which retains the S60 moniker.

The all-new S60 midsize premium sedan is the first Volvo made in the United States, at a new plant in Charleston, South Carolina. The facility was also inaugurated today and was the venue for the launch.

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Volvo expects the third-generation S60 to do particularly well in the U.S. and China, markets that have a strong appetite for premium sedans. The model’s selling points will no doubt be the sleek (and predictable) design, the powerful and green powertrains, and the fact that the automaker describes it as a “true driver’s car” and “one of the most exciting Volvo cars we’ve ever made.”

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That must have something to do with the powerful turbo-charged and super-charged plug-in hybrid gasoline engine the S60 offers: the 340-hp T6 Twin Engine AWD and the 400-hp T8 Twin Engine AWD. Further down the lineup will be Volvo’s proven T5 and T6 gasoline engines, most likely in the same states of tune as on the V60 wagon.

The 2019 S60 is also the first Volvo model to be sold without a diesel offering, and that signals the brand’s strong commitment to electrification.

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As with the V60, the new S60 is based on the Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform, and shares safety tech and the infotainment system with the wagon as well as the XC60 and top-of-the-line 90 Series cars. In the company’s words, these credentials are enough to make the new S60 “one of the safest cars on the road.”

We expect that from any Volvo, but what about the sports sedan reference? Well, according to Henrik Green, senior vice president for research and development at Volvo Cars, “the active chassis and drive modes deliver excellent control and an engaged performance that makes this a driver’s car.”

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If that’s not enough, the performance of the range-topping S60 T8 can be upgraded courtesy of Polestar Engineered, which offers an overhaul of the wheels, brakes, suspension and engine control unit, boosting the model’s combined output to 415 hp and the peak torque to 494 lb-ft (670 Nm).

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Technology-wise, the all-new Volvo S60 can be equipped with sophisticated features such as City Safety with Autobrake (assists the driver in avoiding potential collisions, including with pedestrians, cyclists, and large animals), and Pilot Assist system (offers steering, acceleration and braking input on well-marked roads up to 130km/h). Other assistance systems include Run-off Road Mitigation, Oncoming Lane Mitigation, and Cross Traffic Alert with auto brake.

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In addition to the traditional ways of buying or leasing the S60, the company will allow customers to use the car via a new premium subscription service called “Care by Volvo” that consists of a monthly flat-fee subscription with no down payment. For now, we only know U.S. prices, which start at $35,800 (plus $995 destination) for the 250-hp 2019 S60 T5 FWD Momentum. Under the “Care by Volvo” program, the cheapest model is the 2019 S60 T6 AWD Momentum, which can be had for $775 a month.

READ MORE: Our in-depth review of the 2018 Volvo XC40 SUV