Good Guy Volvo Is Working On KERS-Powered Super Saloons

That's right, F1-style KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems) could soon be available in your run-of-the-mill Volvo. The Swedish company is currently testing out a device on an S60. Built by British company Flybrid Automotive, the system collects energy from a flywheel at the rear axle during braking.

The energy can be collected in just eight seconds of braking, giving an extra 80bhp dollop of power that can be sent to the rear wheels for up to 10 seconds. With a 254bhp T5 engine powering the front wheels, the extra poke can cut the 0-62mph time from 7 seconds to 5.5 seconds.

As you'd expect, though, Volvo isn't just trying this out for the benefit of us speed freaks. The technology could be used to drastically cut emissions and fuel consumption, theoretically up to 25 per cent.

The good news just keeps on coming, as the whole system weighs just 60kg; next to nothing compared to the 300kg hybrid arrangements you'll see on the likes of the Toyota Prius.

Any eventual production version - expected around 2020 - will most likely have the device integrated into the transmission at the front, rather than being separately installed at the rear, as this makes packaging considerably easier.

Between this and a Prius, we know what we'd choose.