"The best of both worlds." In a society where sticky compromises are often the best we can hope for, all we can ask is that with clever manoeuvring, it brings forth a perfect solution, from business deals to relationships, and pretty much any situation where two entities are at odds.
It is much the same in the world of motoring. With fuel prices headed skywards and the growing urge to adopt electrified mobility solutions, there must be a halfway point that can keep our expenditure at the pumps in check and meet emission and fuel consumption standards without the caprices of our limited EV charging infrastructure and ailing electrical grid.
It's at this meeting point of the automotive-needs Venn diagram that the hybrid comes in, with its blend of eco-friendly, low-speed electric motoring and practical internal combustion primary powerplant. Volvo has come to the Recharge-branded party with its wares, combining its turbo-petrol engines and a battery-fed plug-in electric motor. We sampled the firm's XC60 T8 Recharge to see if this solution really does what it maintains, or if this halfway point in the firm's plans to become an all-EV entity by 2030 is merely a motoring novelty.
The T8 is underpinned by the same SPA scalable platform that does service in several of its 60-and 90-badged models, as well as the Polestar 1. In addition to mounting a 2,0-litre, four-cylinder turbo petrol engine, the Recharge arrangement includes a rear-axle mounted electric motor. The petrol engine develops a healthy 228 kW at 6 000 r/min, along with 400 N.m of twist. It's allied to an electric motor fed by an 18,8 kWh lithium-ion battery. This unit develops 107 kW and 309 N.m of torque, contributing to combined outputs of 340 kW and 709 N.m. As the electric motor provides up to 65% drive to the rear wheels, this set-up essentially gives the T8 an all-wheel-drive powertrain.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der April 2023-Ausgabe von CAR South Africa.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der April 2023-Ausgabe von CAR South Africa.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
BAND OF BROTHERS
Complete with rugged bakkie-based underpinnings that encourage off-the-beaten-track venturing, largely proven powertrains that afford maximum range and towing capability, and brand names with enviable respective reputations for reliability, adventure SUVs remain the favourite of thousands of South Africans.
TWELVE OF THE BEST
Ferrari keeps things suitably old-school with its V12-engined 12Cilindri GT
CROSSOVER COUTURE
Opel has revived the Frontera nameplate once attached to its rugged Isuzu Frontier-based SUV from the 1990s and attached it to a stylish looking crossover set to arrive here next year.
BMW E36 M3 (1992-1999) SA's first taste of M
When conversing about modern-classic sportscars, few match the pedigree and heritage of the BMW M3.
SATISFACTION TO SORROW
Like the undulations from one side of the Kyalami's Mineshaft to the other, motorsport can deliver spectacular highs and petrifying lows.
FINAL FLING
Targeting his record eighth title, Lewis Hamilton will ditch his long-time Mercedes team for a Ferrari seat from 2025 onwards.
Ford Ranger 3.0TD V6 Platinum 4WD
The.battle for double-cab supremacy continues, with Ford’s luxurious new Ranger Platinum appealing to the lifestyle-oriented buyer
Mercedes-Benz GLE 450d Coupé 4Matic
A fresh face with the sleeker coupé roofline lifts the GLE's appeal, especially in 450d guise
Volvo EX30 Ultra Twin Motor Performance
Volvo's all-electric ambitions have been bolstered by the arrival of a new entry level model. Is the EX30 the model to change local opinion of EV motoring?
Niche knacks
They are about as deep in the crossover niche as it's possible to mine, but the Ford Puma and Volkswagen's Taigo are more closely matched than you'd think...