[02s60t5]

Just stumbled across this series of video reviews last night. Looks like they reviewed the S60 T5 AWD recently in addition to the XC60 T6.

(The 0-60 run is right at the end, so skip ahead if that's all you care about. Time is slow due to the altitude.)

 

[02s60t5]

...and another one that puts the S60 up against a G37x and an S5. The S60 turns in a much better performance in this one!

 

[Adrian-C30R]

Although, I realize the point was to test the effects of altitude on a car's performance, I still think they should have used the T6 R-Design to really see how competitive these three are. I'm honestly surprised at how the Infinity performed since it has a big power advantage and a newer 7-speed, I didn't think altitude effects were so drastic.

 

[02s60t5]

Unfortunately the effects of altitude are HUGE on performance. These tests are done at around a mile high (Denver/Boulder area) and the roads only go up from there.

On top of the highest passes at 12,000' elevation, normally aspirated cars have lost nearly half their power, and even turbos are laggy and gasping for air. One of the few things I don't like about living up here!

[EDIT] The same guys did a video comparing a G25x at three different elevations that shows how badly cars without forced induction suffer up here. When the Vail police department purchased XC90 3.2s a few years ago I laughed and pictured them having trouble catching up to pedestrians!

 

[yukikaze]

There were also 2 not so small guys in the car in the first video posted.

 

[ptpatrick]

thats one thing I LOVE about driving my C30 in the mountains. I breeze through Independance Pass and Berthoud. the weight to power ratio plus the turbo makes the c30 a lovely mountain car. Sure, there is "some" power loss of there, but compared to my old v6's, I will take my T5 up there anyday.

 

[MattN2S60s]

Watching the first video (the one with the 0-60 run at the end), it looks like Volvo has added a new feature to the 2013 S60's that neither of my 2012 S60 T5's have: which is a V8 engine/exhaust sound piped in. That's not the sound a Volvo 5 makes. ???

 

[dhorvath]

thats one thing I LOVE about driving my C30 in the mountains. I breeze through Independance Pass and Berthoud. the weight to power ratio plus the turbo makes the c30 a lovely mountain car. Sure, there is "some" power loss of there, but compared to my old v6's, I will take my T5 up there anyday.

I love driving mine in the moutains of Pennsylvania. While those aren't much compared to the Rockies, I can feel a difference between my S60T5 and my old normally aspirated 3.0L DOHC EFI Mercury Sable.

I should've taken the S60 into the Alps during OSD. We didn't because we've been there before and wanted to go new places.

 

[02s60t5]

Watching the first video (the one with the 0-60 run at the end), it looks like Volvo has added a new feature to the 2013 S60's that neither of my 2012 S60 T5's have: which is a V8 engine/exhaust sound piped in. That's not the sound a Volvo 5 makes. ???

The only V8 I hear in that video is when the Porsche Panamera is being launched. The S60 acceleration run sounds like classic I-5 thrumming to me.

 

[KCCM]

Although, I realize the point was to test the effects of altitude on a car's performance, I still think they should have used the T6 R-Design to really see how competitive these three are. I'm honestly surprised at how the Infinity performed since it has a big power advantage and a newer 7-speed, I didn't think altitude effects were so drastic.

Atmospheric pressure is about a third less at those altitudes, and thus so is O2 intake and power for naturally aspirated engines at any point in the rev range. Turbo/supercharged engines can compensate with different maps that replace the lost atmospheric pressure with extra boost (about 5 PSI or so) but they have to 'spin' more to compensate, so will develop maximum torque and power higher up in the rev range.