Since its introduction in the early 2000s, the Volvo S60 has been one of the more well-rounded midsize sedans out there. It mixes sporty yet elegant styling, a luxurious interior, and a refined yet still engaging time behind the tiller. Plus, Volvo has been offering it with a torque-y diesel motor.
That last attribute, however, may soon be a thing of the past as Volvo Cars has just announced that it will discontinue the S60 diesel once the next-generation model arrives later this year. The Swedish carmaker says that it intends to focus more on electrified vehicles come 2019.
Regular readers may recall that Volvo, as early as last year, announced that it would be electrifying its lineup beginning in 2019. It plans to produce mild hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and battery electric vehicles. Moreover, it likewise intends to make half of the vehicles it sells run on electricity by the year 2025.
As for the diesel engine, it isn’t part of the company’s future plans. Thanks in no small part to the controversy surrounding diesel powerplants as of late (such as those being fitted with emissions cheating devices), the oil burner has been getting a lot of flak. And more than a few carmakers have likewise announced that they will be axing it from their model lineup in the near future.
Volvo says that the new S60 will initially be offered with a range of four-cylinder gasoline motors. It will likewise come with plug-in hybrid versions. And mild-hybrid offerings will follow later on. Expect the new model to arrive within the next few weeks.
So if you own a current-gen S60 D5 or the like, consider it a modern-day classic as it will soon become a rarity on the road.
