Volvo S60 TTA revealed for Swedish Racing Elite League

Volvo S60 TTA 20.2.2012

Enters competition later this year

Volvo has a reputation for building safe, sensible and somewhat boring automobiles, but the company is hoping to change that by entering the Swedish Racing Elite League.

Seen here for the first time, the S60 TTA has a carbon fiber body with a ventilated hood, aerodynamic side skirts and a massive rear wing. There's also 18-inch wheels that are backed up by high-performance brakes with four-piston calipers and discs that measure 370mm front / 360mm rear.

Motivation is provided by a hybridized V6 engine which produces 420 hp (313 kW / 426 PS). It is connected to a six-speed sequential transmission which sends power to the rear wheels.

The model will enter competition later this year with two teams: Volvo Polestar Racing and Volvo Polestar Performance. Only three drivers have been confirmed and they include Robert Dahlgren, Fredrik Ekblom and Thed Björk.

Source: TTA / Polestar Performance

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First picture of the new Volvo S60 TTA

Volvo announced in August last year that they are going to switch to TTA - the Swedish Racing Elite League ahead of 2012 and today the first picture is released of the new racing car.

"We have had a big pressure on us from many curious Volvo enthusiasts as it is a new championship and a new racing car. That is why we chosen to reveal the car now. Our final team colors are going to be shown later, but this is our S60 in TTA racing specification," said Alexander Murdzevski, Commercial Director of Volvo Motorsport Sweden.

Volvo is going to compete with four cars in the Racing Elite League with Polestar in two different teams, Volvo Polestar Racing and Volvo Polestar Performance. Three of four drivers are confirmed, Robert Dahlgren, Fredrik Ekblom and Thed Björk. The fourth driver has not yet been named.

"We can't go in to that today. We are negotiating with three drivers, but we have other things that are more time pressing. Polestar and TTA are conducting the final tests at the same time as we are working on the hybrid system, producing the carbon fibre body shells and calibrating the aerodynamics for all cars in our wind tunnel," said Derek Crabb, Director of Volvo Motorsport.

With three months remaining to the TTA premiere on the 12th of May at Karlskoga, a new future awaits Swedish motorsport with sporting values, tight races and completely new regulations with new and exciting technology. Volvo has supported the idea from the start and has contracted their participation in the championship until 2015 at least.

"Motorsport must be cool, exciting and fair. We must fight our meanest competitors in our best selling models. We must be able to win by doing the best job and it should be easy for importers in the country to change racing car when changing model without the need of a heavy factory programme. We are really looking forward to the TTA - Racing Elite League 2012," said Anders Gustafsson, Managing Director of Volvo Cars Sweden.

Calendar - TTA Racing Elite League

12/05 - Karlskoga
02/06 - Anderstorp
16/06 - Gothenburg
07/07 - Falkenberg
18/08 - Karlskoga
01/09 - Anderstorp
15/09 - Tierp Arena
29/09 - Gothenburg

Technical specification - Volvo S60 TTA

Length: 470 mm
Width: 1970 mm
Height: 1205 mm
Wheelbase: 2750 mm
Track width: 1660 mm front/1630 mm rear
Suspension: Double wishbone, three-way dampers, etc.
Body: Carbon fibre
Engine: V6 with hybrid system
Drive: RWD
Power: 420 BHP
Gearbox: 6-speed sequential with paddles on steering wheel
Hybrid system: Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS)
Rear wing: 1600 mm width/300 mm depth
Brakes: Front: 4-piston calipers, 370 mm ventilated discs
Rear: 4-piston calipers, 360 mm ventilated discs
Rims: 18″ with centre wheel nut
Tyres: Front: 260/660-18 Rear: 280/660-18