124 MPG in a Volvo

The Hybrid Owners of America is reporting that Volvo has confirmed the sedan and wagon versions of its V60, a car that Volvo debuted at the Geneva Auto Show back in February, will start selling in Europe early next year.

The car is noteworthy in that it hits 62 mph in 6.2 sec. and can go 31 miles on electricity alone. That gives it the equivalent of 124 mpg. It has up to a 745-mile range on one tank of fuel. Trouble is, Volvo stopped selling its V60 wagon in the U.S. so Americans won't see the car.

Nevertheless, the Volvo CEO has said he hopes to sell a plug-in hybrid in the U.S. by 2013 or 2014, reports HOoA.

More information: http://www.hybridownersofamerica.org/backpages/hoablog.cfm#218

It is not unusual for European car makers to come out with different versions of their cars, with different drivetrains, for the American market not just because of styling preferences, but also because European car makers have as much trouble meeting American CAFE emission standards as American car makers do:

http://machinedesign.com/article/leland-teschlers-editorial-mpg-figures-that-aren-t-what-they-seem-1122