Volvo Car Group (Volvo) is now ramping up production by 90 percent. It is doing so earlier than anticipated to keep up with the demand.

The increased demand, especially in Holland, Belgium and Italy, means that the Plug-in Hybrid production at Volvo Cars’ Torslanda plant in Sweden will be increased continuously from 150 to 282 units per week.

All in all, Volvo Cars will produce 7,600 plug-in hybrids in 2013 – and the 2014 target is 10,000 units.

“We are exceptionally pleased that the V60 Plug-in Hybrid has received such a fantastic reception among consumers. However, I am not surprised. Our Plug-in Hybrid is a unique car, superior to all other hybrids on the market,” says Peter Mertens, Senior Vice President Research and Development at Volvo Car Group. “Since the Plug-in Hybrid has been integrated into the established production flow together with other car models, we have the flexibility to quickly adapt to the increasing demand.”

The driver of the V60 Plug-in Hybrid can select the driving mode wanted via three buttons on the dashboard that gives the car three entirely different temperaments: Pure, Hybrid or Power.

The default mode is hybrid.

By pressing the Pure button, the driver can cover up to 31.06 miles on pure electric power.

By pressing the Power button, the driver will use the combined capacity of the diesel engine and electric motor to create a veritable driving machine using the combined power of the gasoline engine (215 horsepower) and the electric motor (70 horsepower).

“This on-demand possibility to choose between different driving modes makes the V60 Plug-in Hybrid the perfect choice for the uncompromising customer who wants minimum carbon dioxide emissions combined with maximum driving pleasure,” says Peter Mertens.

Volvo said the V60 Plug-in Hybrid is the synthesis of close cooperation between Volvo Car Group and the Swedish electricity supplier Vattenfall.

The two companies have financed the development project jointly.

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These changes will trickle down to the sole hybrid model of the brand, the V60 Plug-in Hybrid.

“This is the most extensive development of existing models in our company’s history. Each of the enhancements is designed around our customers’ needs. We have focused on quality and attention to detail in order to give these dynamic models a major boost and sharpen their competitiveness,” said Lex Kerssemakers, senior vice president, Product Strategy & Vehicle Line Management at Volvo Car Group. “The S60 and XC60 are our best-selling models in several important markets, and the innovative V60 Plug-in Hybrid has got off to a flying start. We have been listening very carefully to our customers in order to make improvements that ensure that we make these successful cars more attractive.”

Changes have been made to the exterior and interior of the vehicles; for example, the previously visible washer nozzles have been relocated out of sight under the hood; the radar cover has been painted gloss black, which practically makes it disappear in the grille; the chrome frame around the grille has been removed.

Moreover, fine calibration of mechanical components have allowed further savings in fuel consumption.

Following the successful introduction in high-specification “Pure Limited” guise, the Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid is now available with a full range of colors and specifications, including most of the design and technology upgrades of the standard V60.

“We’ve made the car look more purposeful and dynamic, reflecting its personality. And your every interaction with your car is more intuitive, expressive and customizable,” says Patrik Widerstrand.

The tailgate on the world’s first diesel plug-in hybrid still displays the D6 AWD badge. The front wheels are powered by a five-cylinder 2.4-liter turbo diesel engine producing 215 horsepower, all sent through a six-speed automatic transmission.

The rear axle is powered by an electric motor producing 70 horsepower. The electric motor is supplied with power from an 11.2 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack installed under the floor of the load compartment.

The driver selects the required driving mode via three buttons that give the car three entirely different temperaments: Pure, Hybrid or Power.

In Pure mode, the car is powered solely by its electric motor as much as possible. The range is up to 50 kilometers (31 miles).

Hybrid mode is the standard setting whenever the car is started. The diesel engine and electric motor cooperate to achieve CO2 emissions (NEDC, mixed driving cycle for certification) of 48 g/km (1.8 l/100km).

In Power mode, the technology is optimized to give the car the maximum possible power. The diesel engine and electric motor combine to deliver a total power output of 285 horsepower, for a 0 to 60 acceleration time of less than 6.1 seconds.

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