2018 Volvo XC60 Adds Automated Steering

Volvo Car Corp. is launching three new advanced driver assistance systems on the redesigned XC60 midsize crossover vehicle that will provide steering assistance as needed to help drivers avoid potential accidents.

One of the technologies is an updated version of Volvo’s City Safety collision avoidance system. In addition to automatically braking a vehicle if the system detects a pending collision, the updated unit also can automatically steer around an object if a driver doesn’t react in time. The system is designed to work at vehicle speeds between 50 kph and 100 kph (31-62 mph).

The XC60 also gets a new lane-keeping assist feature that is designed to help drivers avoid accidents with vehicles in an oncoming lane. After alerting a driver when a vehicle has drifted off a driving lane, the system will automatically steer back into the intended lane to avoid a collision at speeds between 60 and 140 kph (37-87 mph).

The two systems will be standard on the 2018 XC60, which will debut globally later this year. In addition, the vehicle’s optional blind spot warning system is being updated to automatically guide a vehicle back into its lane if there is traffic in the intended merge lane.

The XC60 is built on the scalable product architecture that also carries Volvo’s XC90 crossover, V90 wagon and S90 sedan. The car will adopt some of the same technologies offered in its larger 90 series cousins. This includes Volvo’s optional Pilot Assist system that can steer and brake a vehicle to maneuver through traffic at speeds as high 80 mph on roads with clear lane markings. Among the standard safety features are Volvo’s large animal detection system and “run-off-road” mitigation system.

Last year the XC60 accounted for nearly one-third of Volvo's record global sales of 534,300 vehicles. The carmaker, which hopes to hike overall sales to 800,000 units per year by 2020, will unveil the redesigned, high-volume XC60 at next week’s Geneva auto show.

A video of the new safety systems can be viewed here.