All that power could not possibly be applied through only the front wheels, for reasons of both vehicle dynamics and image, so of course the S60R is equipped with on-demand all-wheel drive, affected through a Haldex hydraulic coupling. When the front wheels are detected to have rotated about one-quarter turn more than the rear wheels, up to 70% of the power is directed rearward. In enthusiastic driving, one might conclude that this is essentially a full-time all-wheel driver with the rear wheels getting most of the power - which is what a performance car should do. AWD is but a small part of the overall chassis package, though. In addition to Dynamic Stability and Traction Control, which, as in other performance cars, controls all aspects of chassis dynamics as limits are approached, Volvo is trumpeting what they call FOUR-C, which stands for Continuously Controlled Chassis Concept. In a nutshell, this is a system that electronically controls the shock absorbers so that, for example, braking dive and acceleration squat can be eliminated by firming up the damper valving.
This system also allows the driver to specify ride and handling settings. "Comfort" yields a reasonably compliant ride given the 235/40-18 Pirelli performance tires fitted, while "Sport" is as it says, with more concern for handling than ride. And then there is the "Advanced" setting. Pushing this button should only be done on glass-smooth surfaces and at times when the driver is seeking to wring the last ounce of performance out of the car. This setting is probably not really so useful in normal day-to-day operation, and is more of a "because we can" approach on Volvo's part.