Volvo V60 Twin Engine Special Edition. Click to enlarge.

We were the first car maker to develop and produce a diesel-based plug-in hybrid powertrain with the launch of the V60 D6 in 2012. Since then we have been working on further refining our innovative approach to electrification and hybrid powertrains, as can be seen in our brand new XC90 T8 Twin Engine which is just entering full-scale production. With the launch of the V60 D5 Twin Engine Special Edition we are broadening our Twin Engine product range.

—Dr. Thomas Müller, Vice President Electrical and Electronics Systems Engineering at Volvo Car Group

The Special Edition is delivered with Crystal White exterior paint, 19-inch wheels and glossy black exterior detailing. Inside, the car is equipped with a black headliner and piano black trim. The V60 D5 Special Edition will also feature the Blond sport seat upholstery with decorative white stitching as seen in Volvo Ocean Race editions.

Just 500 examples of the special edition model will be built, while a regular V60 D5 Twin Engine will be more widely available later this spring.

As with the V60 D6 Twin Engine the D5 comes with several drive modes that deliver three entirely different driving experiences: 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 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, 131 mpg US).

• 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 230 hp and maximum torque of more than 600 N·m (443 lb-ft). The car accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 9 seconds.

The driver can choose to save battery power in order to drive on pure electricity later on, for instance in an urban green zone or in the heart of a city.

When Save is activated, the on-board system ensures that there is always sufficient charge for driving later in Pure mode. If necessary, the high-voltage generator will charge the battery pack so there is sufficient capacity for driving in Pure mode.

The V60 Twin Engine can be recharged from a regular power outlet (230V/6A, 10A or 16A fuse) at home or in a parking lot. Recharging time varies with amperage. A full charge with 10A takes 4.5 hours. This is cut to 3.5 hours with 16A, while a 6A charge takes 7.5 hours.

It is also possible while recharging the car to heat or cool the passenger compartment to provide a more comfortable start to a journey. This also means that more battery power is available for actually propelling the car.

The pre-conditioning function can also cool the batteries if necessary. Cooling prior to driving is important in order to maximize battery charge and thus also range.

The V60 Twin Engine has two heating systems. In electric mode the car uses a PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) air heater. The car also has a diesel-powered heater.