Volvo's S60 Performance Concept Car, developed in parallel with the production S60, the sportiest Volvo sedan ever, was unveiled Jan. 4 at the Greater Los Angeles International Auto Show. Company officials describe the Performance Concept Car as "an engineering and design study to identify and test technical solutions plus design structures that will support a high-performance European touring sedan." "From the design standpoint, we wanted to provide a hint of what a future high-performance car with a Volvo badge could look like," said Peter Horbury, vice president and chief designer at Volvo Cars. The concept vehicle has a potent version of Volvo's proven five-cylinder engine, producing 300 horsepower and 295 lb. ft. of torque from 2.4 liters of displacement. Power is channeled to all wheels through a six-speed compact four-shaft manual gearbox. One of the concept's most interesting features is the unique continuously controlled chassis. Volvo's Continuously Controlled Chassis Concept (Four-C) is a result of the company's relationship with Ohlins Racing AB, a manufacturer and developer of high-technology damper systems. The result? Optimizable dampers to suit the driver's bias for either a comfortable ride or what a Volvo press release coyly describes as "enthusiastic" driving. Five hundred times per second, the system's microprocessor monitors the position of each wheel, assessing its degree of grip, and alters the suspension damping characteristics of each wheel accordingly. The system's ability to collect large amounts of information about the way in which the car moves, and to respond instantly by adjusting the damper characteristics to suit conditions, enables optimal performance or ride comfort, according to Volvo officials. If harsh braking activates the ABS system, the dampers automatically set to maximize the grip on the road surface. A corresponding effect resulting from sudden acceleration and quick steering wheel movements is equally managed by the Four-C system. Four-C offers three chassis modes that can be selected by the driver via a button set into the instrument panel: Comfort, Sport, and Advanced Sport. However, rather than being fixed settings, they are a way for the driver to indicate to the system which driving style he or she prefers at the moment. The Volvo Performance Concept Car is also equipped with Dynamic Stability and Traction Control (DSTC), which helps the driver avoid a skid. The choice of chassis mode influences just how early or late in the skid the DSTC system steps in to recover the car's poise. The Performance Concept Car is fitted with electronically managed all wheel drive (AWD). The AWD system is linked to the car's Multiplex electrical system, wshich means it communicates continuously with the car's other functions to optimize four-wheel drive operation to suit current conditions. "In this application, we're not using AWD for enhanced off-road ability, but optimizing it for superb road handling and dependable stability," said Hans Nilsson, overall project manager for the Volvo Performance Concept Car. "The work we have done with the Performance Concept Car helps us to choose the right path for a feasible high-performance model in the future."