Human has discovered profound meanings to food. To many, eating is not just to keep alive, but rather a gastronomical experience. And while there are many ways to make good food, chefs are always trying new methods to cook up delicious cuisines that will tantalise our taste buds.
Likewise in the motoring world, cars aren't purely a mode of transport - especially for car nuts, like us. As such, carmakers are constantly searching for the right mix of performance and practicality that can excite our senses.
But more often than not, an extra dose of horsepower will do the job. Like how garnish works on dishes, a boost in performance can bring out the 'true flavour' of a car.
That pretty sums up the latest Volvo S60. Dubbed the Drive-E, the car is now locally available with a turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol variant producing upwards of 240 horses and 350Nm of torque.Up close and Personal
The S60 Drive-E is what we'd call a 'sleeper'. For starters, it looks nothing like a car with hot-hatch rivalling performance. You'll also struggle to find the usual 'hints', such as a body kit, any form of aero treatment (not even a subtle-looking boot lid spoiler), or stance-boasting large rims.
Likewise in the motoring world, cars aren't purely a mode of transport - especially for car nuts, like us. As such, carmakers are constantly searching for the right mix of performance and practicality that can excite our senses.
But more often than not, an extra dose of horsepower will do the job. Like how garnish works on dishes, a boost in performance can bring out the 'true flavour' of a car.
That pretty sums up the latest Volvo S60. Dubbed the Drive-E, the car is now locally available with a turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol variant producing upwards of 240 horses and 350Nm of torque.Up close and Personal
The S60 Drive-E is what we'd call a 'sleeper'. For starters, it looks nothing like a car with hot-hatch rivalling performance. You'll also struggle to find the usual 'hints', such as a body kit, any form of aero treatment (not even a subtle-looking boot lid spoiler), or stance-boasting large rims.
In fact, you won't be able to distinguish this Drive-E variant from its less powerful T4 counterpart, which we test drove some time ago. To further downplay its range-topping status, it gets 17-inch shoes, which looks more comfy than sporty.
Likewise, the cabin receives identical treatment. The digital instrument cluster retains its cool, modernistic design, and has three clean, clear and easy-to-read display modes.
We also like the stylish-looking sport seats, which feel as good as they look. The slight drawback is that the thick leather seats and door cards seem to 'eat' into the cabin space, which is better described as 'cosy' than 'spacious'.
Likewise, the cabin receives identical treatment. The digital instrument cluster retains its cool, modernistic design, and has three clean, clear and easy-to-read display modes.
We also like the stylish-looking sport seats, which feel as good as they look. The slight drawback is that the thick leather seats and door cards seem to 'eat' into the cabin space, which is better described as 'cosy' than 'spacious'.
The Drive
A quick look at the spec sheet reveals that the car will complete its century sprint in 6.3 seconds. That got us cracking our brains, trying to visualise out how this dormant-looking sedan can be this potent in dishing out speed.
And it doesn't help that the sedan accelerates in a less dramatic demeanour than you'd expect. First, it doesn't have the sudden 'burst of power' that turbocharged cars are known to provide.
What it does, however, is to get up to speed in a smooth, calm and effortless manner, as though it is asking you to have a cup of coffee while it handles the chore of overtaking.
A second glance is required before you notice that you have left the pack at the lights for good and are fast approaching illegal speeds. This means your passengers will still feel at ease even if you put the pedal to the metal and drive in any spirited manner.
The S60, however, is more than just blindly fast. During our three-day test drive, it returned a fuel economy of 10km/L, which is pretty impressive for a car this quick.
A quick look at the spec sheet reveals that the car will complete its century sprint in 6.3 seconds. That got us cracking our brains, trying to visualise out how this dormant-looking sedan can be this potent in dishing out speed.
And it doesn't help that the sedan accelerates in a less dramatic demeanour than you'd expect. First, it doesn't have the sudden 'burst of power' that turbocharged cars are known to provide.
What it does, however, is to get up to speed in a smooth, calm and effortless manner, as though it is asking you to have a cup of coffee while it handles the chore of overtaking.
A second glance is required before you notice that you have left the pack at the lights for good and are fast approaching illegal speeds. This means your passengers will still feel at ease even if you put the pedal to the metal and drive in any spirited manner.
The S60, however, is more than just blindly fast. During our three-day test drive, it returned a fuel economy of 10km/L, which is pretty impressive for a car this quick.
We, too, find the chassis well-sorted for more dynamic handling. For instance, body rolls are less noticeable. That makes for a confident-inspiring and more involving drive.
Conclusion
We like the S60 Drive-E for its plush and modern-looking cabin. But more importantly, its well-sorted ride and linear power delivery make it a notch above many turbocharged cars, especially with its remarkable fuel economy.
While we like our cars to be hot, fast and to make us cringe with excitement, the S60 has its unique way of delivering speed - in a soothing but no less effective manner.
And this could very well be the Scandinavian's recipe of fixing up a delectable motoring cuisine.
Conclusion
We like the S60 Drive-E for its plush and modern-looking cabin. But more importantly, its well-sorted ride and linear power delivery make it a notch above many turbocharged cars, especially with its remarkable fuel economy.
While we like our cars to be hot, fast and to make us cringe with excitement, the S60 has its unique way of delivering speed - in a soothing but no less effective manner.
And this could very well be the Scandinavian's recipe of fixing up a delectable motoring cuisine.
