Powershift Dual Clutch Automatic/Manual Transmission

 The 2010 Volvo S60 will feature Powershift dual clutch automated transmission in at least some of the engines in the range.

Volvo/Ford Powershift is a development of Getrag Ford Transmissions GmbH, a 50:50 Ford and Getrag JV.  The new gear box was jointly designed by Ford, Getrag and Volvo. There are currently two versions and Volvo is rumoured to be working on a third heavy duty version for use in upcoming larger engines.

The Powershift box is reported as being fantastic to drive, with incredible levels of smoothness. Shifts are reported to be almost imperceptible. It has all the benefits of an automatic when cruising and stuck in traffic etc but none of the annoying 'kick down' associated with standard automatics. As the current Powershift has been developed for the Volvo/Ford 2.0D with its 320Nm of torque, the transmission  electronics are intelligent enough to make full use of that wide spread of torque to accelerate, without having to sort through the gears looking for more revs. If extra grunt is called for however, the gearbox will drop down to give more urgent acceleration, but again this is very smooth. It doesn’t have the vagueness of a CVT.

New S60 to compete directly with 3 series & A4, to have V60 as wagon variant

Motor Trend cites an interview with an un-named Volvo marketing source who confirmed the sizing and market placement of the new 2010 S60 model. While the outgoing S60 sat in a size category above it's perceived main competition, the new model will compete head-on with the German trio of the BMW 3-series, Audi A4 and Mercedes C-class.
 

http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifSpy Shots of All New S60

Autoexpress have the clearest spy shots yet of a S60 test car with only the slightest hint of camouflage. Following a preview in concept form nine months ago in Detroit, today the car is clearly ready to be let out into the world. Very little has been lost in transition from concept to production - even the paint colour remains the same deep ochre-orange.

If all goes to plan the new Volvo S60 will go on sale in Summer 2010.

Preview of new 2010 Volvo S60

Motor Authority published a post and a rendering outlining what seems to be the common position on the next generation Volvo S60. I have read similar information around the web in various forms, but this article ties it together nicely.

All that they have missed out is the change in the launch date to 2010, as per previous post here.

New Volvo S60 launch delayed until 2010

Left Lane News and The Motor Report run stories stating that Volvo has scrapped plans to unveil the production S60 sedan at the Frankfurt Auto Show, instead holding off until 2010 due to uncertaintity about Volvo's future sale.