We like a touch of green here at Stuff-Review, and Volvo has just announced a new plug-in hybrid concept car, which it claims to be superior to all existing hybrids. The Volvo XC-60 concept car is both a plug-in electric vehicle, an economical hybrid and a high-performance car in one. The driver can switch between different driving modes using buttons on the instrument panel.

The driver can choose between three modes. The Pure mode, which mainly uses the car’s electric motor for zero emissions and a range of 35 miles. The Hybrid mode, which is the car’s standard setting, and combines both the gasoline engine and electric motor to provide maximum efficiency. Under European standards you get CO2 emissions of 53 g/km (2.3 l/100 km) and a fuel economy of over 100 mpg (50 mpg under the US standard, which includes emissions for electrical energy). Under the hybrid mode the car has a range of 600 miles (960 km). The final is Power mode, which combines the 280 horse power four cylinder turbocharged gasoline engine and the 70 hp electric motor to achieve 350 hp and acceleration of 0 to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds.
continue reading