Underscoring the growing importance of China as a market for “new energy” vehicles, Volvo has announced that it will reveal its S60L PPHEV concept car at the 2014 Beijing International Auto Show. The gas/electric plug-in hybrid will be launched in China in early 2015, and will be produced at Volvo’s Chengdu plant. There’s no word on plans to bring the new model to the US.

“The creation of a powertrain with 238+68 hp and 350+200 Nm of torque by combining a petrol turbo from our new four-cylinder Drive-E engine family and an electric motor proves that the most efficient car can also be the most fun to drive. This is our most technologically advanced powertrain ever. It brings us closer to our vision to offer zero-emission motoring in the future,” says Peter Mertens, Volvo’s Senior VP of R&D.

The S60L PPHEV features the same electrification technology as the V60 diesel plug-in hybrid, which has been selling well in Europe. The S60L features an 8-speed automatic gearbox and a 68 hp electric motor powered by an 11.2 kWh lithium-ion battery pack installed under the floor of the load compartment. Electric range is up to 50 km.

The driver can select Pure, Hybrid or Power driving modes, as well as an AWD mode in which the central control unit distributes power between the gas-driven front wheels and the electrically-driven rear axle.

“This on-demand possibility to choose between different driving modes makes the plug-in hybrid the perfect choice for the uncompromising customer who wants minimum carbon dioxide emissions combined with maximum driving pleasure,” says Mertens. “The electric range covers the needs of most Chinese commuters, and the car has a total range of about 1,000 km in hybrid mode.”

Source: Volvo, Green Car Reports