OK, so it's unimaginatively titled, "Volvo the Game," and it makes no secret of the fact that it's advertising for the Volvo S60 concept unveiled in January, and it's merely a free download for your PC from Volvo's website.
But this promotional video game could actually be worth checking out. Volvo contracted with the Swedish game developer, SimBin, which has a reputation for making hard-core PC racing simulations (GTR Evolution, for example), though the company released its first console-exclusive title (published by Atari), Race Pro, for the Xbox 360, in February.
You don't have to pay for Volvo the Game, of course, so it's a slim affair -- just six cars and two tracks. The S60 concept is one of the cars, obviously, while the others are race-prepped Volvos of the recent past -- a 240 Turbo Group A, BTCC (British Touring Car Championship) versions of the 850 wagon and first-generation S40 sedan, the STCC (Swedish Touring Car Championship) S60 sedan, and the C30 competing in the 2009 STCC.
The tracks are a little obscure -- Gothenburg Eco Drive Arena in Sweden and Chayka near Kiev, Ukraine -- probably a cost-trimming measure rather than a reflection of the cars or the game itself. After all, the Nurburgring Nordschleife is one of the tracks in SimBin's normal racing sims.
We're downloading the game for a quick spin, but if you don't want to commit to that, there's a preview video after the jump.
What we have here is a compressed air-powered water cannon sticking out of the side of a Volvo station wagon.
Now, Ford claims it uses this unit to simulate a car getting smacked in the rear-side by another car with the aim of improving future stability control systems. Okay. But somehow we're guessing the guys that developed it have built their share of potato cannons in the old days.
Anyway, the car is rigged up with an air cannon that Ford says is commonly used in mining operations and your better pumpkin-toss events. It carries nine gallons of water that at the push of a button comes blasting through a sheath of Glad Press'n Seal wrap at 130 psi.
We have no idea what we would use water-cannon-equipped Volvo wagon for, but we kind of want one now.
By now you know that Volvo has teamed up with award winning Swedish game studio SimBin Development Team to creat Volvo The Game. Yeah, we're not sure why either, but the game will feature the Volvo S60 Concept (among other vehicles) and we remember liking that car very much when it debuted at the Detroit Auto Show earlier this year.
Volvo The Game is set for release on May 26th. Until then, enjoy this first bit of footage which was apparently released two weeks ago, although nobody noticed.
The 2010 Volvo XC60 may not generate much interest from the enthusiast crowd, but maybe it should. No, it's not particularly fast, but as Senior Road Test Editor Josh Jacquot found out, the XC60 is far more nimble than he expected, a trait that made it surprisingly entertaining to drive given its family vehicle status. Doesn't look half bad either.
Ford has named Moray Callum (above right) as its new executive director for Ford Americas design. He replaces Peter Horbury (above left) who will head back to Volvo.
In case you're not familiar with Ford's bizarre job titles, Mr. Callum will be in charge of all of Ford's design activities in the western hemishpere. Prior to his promotion, the Scotsman presided over the styling of the latest Super Duty trucks. According to Ford, Callum will also guide the design of Mercury and Lincoln. Horbury, who was born in Britain, will oversee all of Volvo's design efforts.
According to a report in the Swedish paper Dagens Industri, there are three companies in the running to buy Volvo. Two of them are Chinese while the third is a "European constellation." Bids are expected to be in by mid-April.
In the meantime, Volvo has asked the European Investment Bank for a $568M loan to keep the lights on.
Volvo has announced pricing for the small XC60 crossover sport-ute that will go on sale in March as a 2010 model.
The little ute, powered by a 281-hp 3.0-liter turbocharged six, starts at $38,025 (including $825 destination charge). That is not inexpensive. However, all XC60s come with leather seats, power driver's seat and Bluetooth connectivity and, oh yeah, all-wheel drive. It also comes with Volvo's recently announced three-year/36,000-mile complimentry factory-scheduled maintenance. Still, that's closer in price to a BMW X3 than to an Infiniti EX35.
A few choice options include the Collision Avoidance Package, which includes adaptive cruise control, collision warning with automatic braking, driver alert control and lane-departure warning for $1,695. The Technology package which includes an upgrade Dynaudio surround-sound audio system, navigation system and rear park assist goes for $2,700. This being a Volvo, it's also offered with built-in child booster seats for $495. Nordic Light Oak inlays will set you back $295. And the not-entirely-attractive-sounding Lime Grass Green Pearl paint is an extra $525.
Read Inside Line's First Drive story on the 2010 Volvo XC60.
Another of the more striking cars revealed at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show was the Volvo S60 concept, which is destined for production as the second-generation Volvo S60 sedan midway through the 2010 calendar year. We've put together a gallery of all the best images Volvo has released.
#DAS09 Several reporters and I met and had a brief conversation with Italdesign director Fabrizio Giugiaro tonight at the 2009 Michelin Challenge Design reception a few doors down from Cobo in Detroit.
Giugiaro's favorite concept car of the show is the Cadillac Converj, though for different reasons, he also likes the Volvo S60 concept. Naturally, he's a fan of the Volkswagen Concept Bluesport, as he worked on an early iteration of this well-received, easily translatable-for-production roadster concept.
And he likes what Audi has done with the Sportback concept, though he conceded that the tail is awkwardly truncated on this car. He's confident, though, that this detail will be resolved on the anticipated A7 production car: "This is one case where the production car will look better than the concept."
The Sportback breaks with current Audi designs, he added, and the company needs that. "Q5s look like Q7s. A3s look like A4s." -- Erin Riches, Senior Editor
#DAS09 It has been nearly a decade since the launch of the Volvo S60 sedan, and despite the redesign of all its relatives (S80, V70 and XC70), it continues on in its original form. A redesign really is coming, though. We're told the redesigned S60 will debut midway through the 2010 calendar year.
This Volvo S60 Concept, unveiled at the very last press conference of the day at Detroit's Cobo Hall, is a very good look at the 2011 Volvo S60. The sheetmetal is a study in modern Scandinavian design mixed with the current trend toward sedans that resemble coupes. We like it a whole lot. In fact, we'd like this look even on a production sedan that didn't have a pillarless door design. Inside, Volvo is again working with an ultra-thin center stack design, but this is a concept, so it's crystal. The gear selector is a strange piece -- you turn it one way for automatic operation and another for manual operation.
Expect all sorts of safety technology in the final production car, including an all-speed adaptive cruise system that will bring the car to a standstill if it senses you're delinquent behind the wheel. There's also a pedestrian detection feature in the S60 concept -- radar detects a human and an on-board camera confirms and monitors said human's position. -- Erin Riches, Senior Editor
Volvo just announced a new diesel engine for its European lineup. Displacing 2.5-liters, the twin turbocharged five-cylinder delivers 205-horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. Sounds solid for such a small engine, but we'll never know how it feels as Volvo said it has no plans to bring it to the U.S.
Curiously enough, after listing the various reasons why we won't get the new engine, a Volvo spokesman told Inside Line, "That said, in about three years we'll be offering electric systems, like C30 and other platforms. So for [the] U.S., we're in transition to electric." Seems as though the push for electric cars is finally getting some steam behind it. We'll see how soon it actually results in some real world cars.
Volvo will be showing this S60 Concept at the NAIAS. The styling is more aggressive than what we're used to seeing from Volvo. Interesting to note that the car has "suicide" rear doors. Since this is a Volvo (safety and all that...), maybe they have discovered that this door configuration is actually safer than the conventional door setup?
Even with word that Volvo is up for sale, the company just soldiers on. Latest news is that they're working on a C-30-based plug-in hybrid with an electric motor at each wheel, called the ReCharge. A car with this technology will go on sale in 2011. The vehicle, called a "micro-hybrid," will be available with a choice between gasoline or diesel power, and a manual or automatic transmission. It will include a start-stop system plus brake-energy regeneration which is expected to reduce fuel consumption by almost 5 percent. Next Volvo is planning to offer a full hybrid in 2012 with the D5 diesel engine Finally, a plug-in electric is also expected in a few years.
A few highlights:
* Plug-in hybrid with battery-only range of over 60 miles
* 66 per cent lower CO2 emissions than best hybrids available today
* 1.6 Flexifuel engine provides backup and recharge power
Everyone knows GM and Ford have too many models, too many brands, too many dealers, too many of just about everything and anything one can think of. So might this financial mess be a blessing in disguise? Might this be just the impetius for the General and Ford to do what just about everyone thinks should be done: Shed--not just some of their excess models--but instead shed some of their excess brands?
AutoObserver seems to think that this could be in the cards, as the market just can't support so many redundant brands. Put them out of their misery. Make them extinct, just like the Woolly Mammoth and countless other critters that have ceased to have a reason to exist.
At GM, Pontiac, Buick, Saturn, GMC and Saab certainly all fall into that category. Might we see a lean and mean General Motors consisting of just Chevrolet and Cadillac, with maybe leaving Buick strictly for China?
And Ford? Might this be the time to cut Mercury; and maybe even cut Lincoln loose, by replacing it with Volvo?
If GM and Ford are going to do this, now is the best time to do so.
With the auto industry in such a turmoil, AutoObserver has been blessed by a wealth of topics to explore. One of which is the future of GM and Ford's Swedish patients: Saab and Volvo. Both brands are ill, with Saab being the far more ill of the two. Both brands are also considered fringe, if not exotic forays by these automakers, and therefore not central to either corporation's survival. ...And these days "survival" is exactly what GM and Ford are striving for.
So, that being the case, what do you think will happen to Saab and Volvo?
Volvo, always an innovator, and always looking for new ways to improve safety, are now studying locust. The little flying beasties have some sort of built-in radar system that allows them to fly in groups of millions, if not billions, without ever having a collision with one another. So Volvo is looking into this with idea of taking--whatever they use--and putting it on a microchip, and in use with a camera, could be used in vehicles to avoid accidents.
Volvo has a new turbo-diesel technology called DRIVe. Its claim to fame is that vehicles equipped with DRIVe will achieve optimal efficiency with reduced air resistance, higher gear ratios and a more efficient driveline. The cars will ride 0.4 inch lower and feature new aerodynamic panels as well as lower-friction transmission oil.
Volvo claims the 1.6L DRIVe diesel, in the C30, S40 and V50, can get 53 mpg. So far DRIVe-equipped vehicles are for Europe. There's no word yet as to whether they will make it across the pond.
Rumors started popping up everywhere that Chery Automobile of China may be considering purchasing Volvo from Ford. According to reports, Chery is in the very beginning stages of undertaking a feasibility study of taking Volvo off of Ford's hands. The deal is expected to be worth around $4.4 billion.
Now that the Land Rover/Jaguar sale to Tata is complete, might Ford be considering selling Volvo?
Ford has long denied that Volvo would be sold, however, Just-Auto.com is now reporting that just such a sale may indeed be in the works; if not in the works, at least is being comtemplated. If it happens, it would be much more difficult considering so that many Ford products are tied to Volvo platforms and vice-versa.
That's the response by virtually everyone who has heard the latest comments from Kirk Kerkorian's point man, Jerry York. York thinks Ford should sell both Mercury and Volvo. I suppose you could make a case—although a very weak one—for selling Volvo, but selling Mercury?..
Nope, these are not to be expected in your local Volvo showroom any time soon, as they are one-off creations by Swedish coachmaker Dalbo Fordonsteknik. These vehicles were spotted outside the Volvo Museum in in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Still, pretty neat, I think, as I'm always interested in seeing new and/or different truck thinking.
Volvo, ever the safety leader, is working on developing an injury-proof car. With any luck, the hope to be able to offer such a vehicle by 2020.
Claes Tingvall, the Swedish road administration's head of traffic safety, calls this the biggest revolution in the auto industry since the seatbelt. And states Jan Ivarsson, leader of the Volvo safety team: "I think if you look into the future, we as a community will not accept that we have injuries...
Volvo, as in Volvo "Truck," not Volvo "Car," is testing diesel-electric hybrid trash trucks. They are hoping to sell hybrid trucks next year. When you think about it, a trash truck is perfect for hybrid duties. The speeds are usually very low, which means the electric motor aspect is most often in use...
Volvo is on the skids. Sales peaked in the United States back in 2005 when the Swedish brand sold 139,000 cars, wagons and SUVs. Last year that number was down under 100,000 and this year isn't looking good. Problems include the weak dollar, Volvo's lack of a U.S...
Images of the upcoming Volvo XC60 have found their way to the Net before the news embargo deadline. So, what else is new...
As per most new Volvos—no, make that all new Volvos, it's a handsome ride, and should do well for the brand. Rumored engines for Europe include a 285-hp 3.0 V6 and a 185-hp 2.4 turbo diesel...
When I had my '98 Explorer, I kept my Class III trailer hitch attached to the vehicle. It was a good thing I did, as I was rear-ended several times during the time I owned it, and that rear hitch took the brunt of the hit, thus never damaging my vehicle.
Now there's a rear trailer hitch designed specifically for such impacts, in that it compresses to some degree when hit. This portable spare bumper protects your vehicle from rear end collision damage caused by tailgaters, uninsured motorists, bumper-to-bumper traffic, distracted drivers, inattentive cell phone users, drivers with poor judgment, text messengers and lousy parallel parkers...
If you're a Volvo fan, and going to be in Germany this March you want to take a side trip over to the Essen Motor Show. On display there will be an exhibit called "Volvo cars - 80 years of serving society." As you might expect there will be Volvo models that represent the various models throughout the brand's history.
The show runs from March 26 – 30. There's more info here at Volvo's newsroom site (here)...
Swedish car site Auto Motor Sport Sweden (here) is reporting that the Volvo XC90 replacement has just been canceled.
There are several reasons such as increased costs in developing lightweight components, but the big one is that Volvo does not have an eco-friendly enough powertrain (hybrids, etc.) to power this vehicle. So instead Volvo will concentrate on smaller SUVs, such as the XC60, a smaller still XC50, and perhaps even an XC30.
This nifty Volvo Surf Rescue Concept was conceived by Volvo and built by Aria, a concept car building firm from Irvine, CA. The car was first shown at SEMA.
Other than some eye-catching graphics, the 3.2L, 235 hp car has been given a 5" suspension lift, oversized floation-type tires, and modified body panels. The interior has also been given the beach once-over.
I don't know how they did it and there were no displays I could see explaining it, but this Volvo C30 2.0's windows have been replaced by video screens displaying snowboarding scenes. I thought it was one of the cooler displays at the show. Considering Pimp My Ride once put a 30-inch plasma screen UNDER a 4Runner, it's only a matter of time before they try something like this. Why do I need to see the road when I can better spend my time watching the Flying Tomato?..
After showing off the all-new 2008 Volvo V70, President Anne E. Belec announced pricing at $32,465. This is a 6 percent increase over the previous V70's price, but as you might expect it comes loaded with the latest safety features, including Lane-Departure Warning, Collision Warning, Adaptive Cruise Control and Driver Alert Control. No word yet on the rumored "Unruly Kid Control" option (frequently requested during Volvo's focus group testing)...
Motor Authority is reporting that Volvo is considering adding a 5-door C30 to the already popular C30 3-door lineup.
I think that would be a very smart move, as it would dramatically increase buyer interest. I love the C30, but would never consider one, as these old bones need easier access to the rear seat than what just two side doors afford. Adding two more doors, from my standpoint, is a no-brainer...
The Volvo Truck plant in Ghent, Belgium has become the first vehicle manufacturing plant in the world that operates without emitting any carbon dioxide, CO2, the company announced.
The company says its efforts to establish CO2-free manufacturing plants are in line with the European Union's goal for reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 20 percent across Europe in the next 13 years, by 2020.
"Our ambition is to make all our plants CO2-free plants and Ghent is the first," says Volvo CEO Leif Johansson. "It is not an easy undertaking, but we are prepared to try different alternatives to achieve our goal for CO2-free production in our plants."
This humdrum-looking C30 variant, the 2008 Volvo C30 Efficiency, packs a surprise. President of Volvo Cars Fredrik Arp mentioned it in his opening remarks, but we doubt the glassy-eyed jet-lagged throng of journalists in attendance caught on.
First, the car. The C30 Efficiency sips fuel at a rate below 4.5l/100 km and generates CO2 emissions below 120 g/km...
While all the buzz right now is on the Frankfurt auto show, keep in mind that SEMA is also just around the corner. And with that in mind Volvo plans on showing two mighty spicy cars. The first being an S80 that is powered by a 380hp bioethanol engine, which are hooked up to a sport suspension and AWD. Volvo claims a 5.8 second sprint from 0-62 mph...
Forbes has come up a list of the top 10 least expensive luxury vehicles to own over a 5-year span.
The figures include not only MSRP, but also depreciation, interest and opportunity costs, fuel, maintenance and repairs, insurance, and taxes and fees.
10. Lincoln MKZ: $55,011 9. Lexus ES 350: $54,585 8. Acura RDX: $54,502 7. Lexus IS 250: $53,220 6. Volvo V50: $52,906 5. Audi A3: $51,513 4. Saab 9-3 SportCombi: $51,499 3. Volvo S40: $51,484 2. Saab 9-3 Sedan: $50,282 1. Acura TSX: $47,084
Despite denials from Ford Motor Company, the UK newspaper The Sunday Times is reporting that an agreement to sell Volvo has been made within the last two weeks. What has not been finalized is the timing of the announcement. Nor has a bank yet been selected to handle the transaction. The deal is expected to be worth around $8 billion...
With all the rumors and speculation going on about Ford's Premier Automotive Group (PAG), Mark Fields, Ford's president of the Americas has stepped up and said: "Volvo is pretty integrated into Ford right now." So that pretty much says "no deal" to me.
When you think about it, this really makes the most sense. Of all the PAG brands, Volvo is the one that's most closely tied to current and future Ford products. For example, Volvo was key in helping Ford engineers make the new Taurus safer, developing crush zones that transfer energy around the passenger compartment in a crash, protecting occupants...
According to CNNMoney.com, and the Financial Times, Ford has hired Goldman Sachs Group and Morgan Stanley to sell the Ford Premier Group (Jaguar, Land Rover & Volvo).
Apparently Fiat had expressed some interest in both Land Rover and Jaguar, as they seem to think that a link with those brands might help their launch back into the USA in 2009. Not sure what, if any, interest they might have in Volvo.
Ford has declined to comment and Fiat reportedly broke off discussions fearing an adverse effect on its improving credit rating...
Volvo hid their "$50,000 gold coin treasure and XC90 keys" way too well as none of The Hunt 21 finalists could find it! As a result Volvo is going to 'redo the contest!' The popular Hunt is a month-long multi-media campaign developed as part of Volvo's sponsorship of the Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean.
"We really didn't see this coming," said Linda Gangeri, national advertising manager for Volvo Cars of North America. "Our Hunt has been tough from the beginning and we have been in awe of all the amazing puzzle-solving skills and sharp minds out there meeting us at every twist and turn...
Yesterday a flurry of reports hit the Internet that Ford was in discussions with BMW about a possible sale of Volvo (Volvo to BMW?). Ford has now issued a statement saying this is not true.
“Ford Motor Co. is not in discussions with BMW or any other company regarding an interest in the Volvo Car Corp...
According to Winding Road (via AN), Volvo may be sold to BMW, perhaps as soon as next month!
The Financial Times also reported last Friday BMW was in informal talks to buy Volvo.
"We cannot comment on speculation, this is a question for our owner," said a spokeswoman for Volvo cars.
Ford has already sold Aston Martin in order to raise cash, but the turn around is not going as well as planned, which could result is Ford selling off the rest of the Premier Automotive Group, which Volvo is part of.
This could be tricky for Ford, because unlike the rest of the PAG, Volvo products are far more integrated with other Ford products...
Volvo has just added some sizzle to their top-rung S80, by offering a T6 version. The S80 T6 has a 3.0L engine twin-scroll turbo that puts out 285 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. This engine fall in between the base 3.2 V6 and the larger V8 model. The T6 also comes with AWD...
Odd. It seems like Volvo had just introduced the S40 and V50 (at least here in the USA), and now the cars are in for a refresh... It just goes to show that the competition for younger customers is intense, and Volvo wants to stay on top of it, and not get left behind.
Here in America we can expect a 2.5L inline 5-cylinder engine putting out 227 hp with 236 pound-feet of torque...
Volvo took the wraps off its redesigned XC70 wagon over mocktails in Geneva, but since the U.S. is the biggest market for this crossover wagon, the company made a fuss over it once again here in New York. We didn't get much new information about it. In short, it's roomier than the old XC70, loaded with high-end safety features, and equipped with a standard 3.2-liter normally aspirated inline-6 rated for 235 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque.
Still, no word on when or if we'll get the new T6 power plant, which is a 2.8-liter turbo inline-6 based on the same architecture as the 3.2L. Contrary to what we reported earlier, it uses a single, twin-scroll turbocharger (rather than two turbos), which helps it to 285 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque.
Communications Director Geno Effler did offer some insight into Volvo's decision not to offer the T6 in U.S.-spec XC70s initially. "Once you reach that 50K threshold, price becomes less of a factor. Under that in the $40,000, $30,000 range, people are a little more price-sensitive." Translation: The 2008 Volvo XC70 should be priced very close to the current model when it goes on sale this fall. — Erin Riches, Senior Content Editor
We've already given you our first report on how the 2008 Volvo C30 drives, and today at New York's Javits Center, Volvo released specifics on how much it will cost. Trim levels are a bit oddball -- C30 1.0 and C30 2.0. Starting at $22,700 (not including a $695 destination charge), the 1.0 comes with 17-inch wheels, a cloth interior, a 160-watt stereo with an iPod jack and full power accessories. Stepping up to the 2.0 raises you to $25,700 while adding 18-inch wheels, a 10-speaker Dynaudio system with Dolby ProLogic II and 650 watts, and a full body kit...
Volvo invited us, and a couple hundred other journalists, to come sip beverages (orange juice, fresh squeezed) and dish about the 2008 Volvo V70 and XC70 wagons at a spot called Expo-Lac just north of the Rhone in Geneva. But it amounted to a full-on press conference, complete with pulling the sheets off cars and at least a dozen designers and engineers eager to field our questions.
The most interesting thing we learned is that Volvo has developed a new T6 engine for the V70 -- you may remember the old one from the S80 and XC90. The new engine is a 3.0-liter inline-6 with twin turbochargers. It's rated for 285 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, and a six-speed automatic feeds power through an electronic all-wheel-drive system. But here's the bad news: U.S.-bound V70s and XC70s won't get this engine -- at least not anytime soon.
According to Mobile magazine, Volvo is working on a hybrid version of their soon to be released C30 coupe. Being Volvo, you can expect a few twists and turns in their hybrid application—and twist and turn it does... It seems Volvo has reached into the hybrid cookie jar and grabbed a handful of all the latest goodies, such as diesel and plug-in capability. Another neat trick is the gas engine never powers the wheels, but only powers the generator...
Autoblog, via AutoWeek.nl and Auto Motor und Sport, have posted images and info on the all-new 2008 Volvo V70.
Power for the V70 will come from a 2.4L diesel four-cylinder producing 143 hp and 250 ft-lbs. of torque, a five-cylinder diesel producing 185 hp and 295 ft-lbs. of torque, a 2.5L turbo gas engine making 285 hp and 221 ft-lbs...
Probably lost to those engrossed with the Chevy Volt, the new Accord coupe concept, et al., at the Detroit auto show, was the Volvo BeeVan Class 8 truck concept. It was also probably lost as it was shown in 1/4 scale.
What's so neat about this truck concept is that the driver sits squarely in the center of the cab, with the huge windshield wrapping around the driver, thus giving the driver unequaled visibility.
One of the most pleasant retro design touches we've seen on a new car in the last few years is the frameless glass hatchback on the tail of the C30. So we were happy to see the rear of the XC60 Concept, with its even bigger glass tailgate. It's a good look. But wait, the front and rear seats of the XC60 Concept have vertical channels right through the seat backs, meaning if you squat behind the XC60 you can see directly though the tailgate, the rear seat and the front seat all the way up to the steering wheel...
ROCKLEIGH, N.J. - Volvo on Thursday revealed a sneak preview of its XC60 concept, the precursor of the next XC model. The concept will be unveiled at the upcoming North American International Auto Show and will be powered by an I6 flex-fuel engine that can run on either gas or E85, Volvo insiders told Inside Line.
Volvo considers this vehicle to be its first "true crossover." The production version is tentatively slated for a European rollout in late fall 2007 with a U.S...
No huge news on the 2008 Volvo C30 which we've already covered in depth at this year's Paris Auto Show. Volvo execs dodged the usual cost questions admitting only that the C30 will be competitively priced in the same range as the VW GTI, MINI Cooper and Audi A3. They did, however, admit that Volvo will make a line of roofs racks and performance and appearance accessories available for the C30.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) 2007 Top Safety Picks have been announced. Thirteen cars and trucks from foreign brands won "Top Safety Pick" honors for 2007 models from the IIHS, including seven varieties of SUVs. More info can be found here.
There have been a rash of spy shots of the next Volvo V70 showing up recently. Thanks to Carscoopthis link shows the latest images to hit the Net. These are from the Swedish car magazine Teknikens Varld; translation: World of Technology.
We knew the 2008 Volvo V70 would be a full redesign, but other than some murky spy shots from a snow covered lake near the Arctic Circle we hadn't seen much in the way of prototypes. Now the Swedish magazine Teknikens Varld has posted a spy shot of what looks to be a 2008 V70 in full production trim. As expected, it's not a big departure from the current V70, but it does look a little more upscale and refined than the current version. Expect to see the official unveil of this new wagon next spring...
The UK's Daily Mail recently ran a poll as to which vehicle was the best to have <whisper>sex</whisper> in. Lo and behold the Volvo Estate came in first, followed by the Mercedes Sprinter Van, and the VW Van/Camper running third. Frankly I would think the Sprinter Van would win hands down if the poll was about which vehicle is best to have an orgy in, but that's another story...
Check out the link for the remainder of the "Top 10." Yo, Letterman!..
Here's the latest on future products from this week's edition of Automotive News. Saturn will continue to integrate Opel vehicles into its lineup with the addition of the compact Corsa hatchback. The current Corsa is all-new this year in Europe, but the version headed for the States will be the next-generation model due in roughly four or five years. About the size of cars like the Toyota Yaris and Honda Fit, GM now feels the U.S. market is receptive to cars of that size.
Volvo unveiled the production version of the C30 three-door hatchback here in Paris, and confirmed that it will be sold in the U.S., possibly as a 2008 but late in the model year. The annual global sales target is 60,000, and 75% of those cars will go to European buyers. Although the company will offer a varied engine lineup in Europe, including a pair of diesels, in the U.S...
There were a couple interesting stories of note in this week's issue of Automotive News. The first involved the desire of foreign manufacturers to get into the heavy-duty pickup game -- or lack thereof in this case. According to supplier sources, Toyota has decided to halt development of a heavy-duty version of the next generation Tundra that was due to arrive as early as 2009. No explanation was given, but the program is on hold indefinitely according to the article...
David Hutz. of Herndon, VA is the winner of the widely publicized Volvo Treasure Hunt. In a surprise turn of events, Volvo announced that all seven finalists will receive a new Volvo, although no specific model has been mentioned.
The event was tied in with the "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" and their recent "Volvo Ocean Race."
Snippet: Volvo's promotion of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest grew out of the partnership with Disney for the worldwide Volvo Ocean Race...
The upcoming 2007 Volvo C30 is based on the Mazda3 platform, and as with other current Volvos, it's a really handsome vehicle. It looks to be very similar to the C30 concept Volvo showed at Detroit car show. The production version reportedly will debut at the upcoming Paris car show.
It will go up against the Audi A3, VW Rabbit and the all-new (and more upscale) '08 Subaru Impreza...
Add Volvo to the list of SUV makers to offer a "sport" version of their basic model, to be known as the XC90 SE Sport. The formula is familiar: firmed up shocks, stiffer anti-roll bars, larger 19" wheels, and speed-dependent steering all add up to a more fun ride on the way to the boonies. Oh, and let's not forget a few added visual tweaks too, both inside and out, so as not to be confused with "lesser" XC90s.
Snippet: The interior gets a more dynamic and exclusive feel, Volvo reckons...
According to the Irv-O-Meter, his car now has 2 million miles on the odometer.
Snippet: In 1998, The Guinness Book of World Records honored Gordon's Volvo P1800 as the vehicle with the ``the highest certified mileage driven by the original owner in non-commercial service.'' Today, Gordon is breaking his own world record every time he drives his celebrated car.
Volvo is working on a fully automatic braking system, which looks to be a great advance in terms of safety. Check out the video on this link.
Snippet: Full automatic brake power Volvo Car Corporation is now working on a whole new generation of the Collision Warning System. It will be equipped with full automatic brake power and a considerably wider field of view...
It was the best of drives, it was the worst of drives. I'm not talking about the 2006 Volvo C70 here, I'm talking about driving through the heaven and hell that is New Orleans.
Volvo is adding some visual candy to the 2007 S60 lineup in order to make it look sportier. To add some credibility to the new visuals, the chassis has also been tweaked.
Snippet: The Volvo S60 is being further refined, with the sights firmly set on sharpening the sedan model’s already sporty profile.
“We’re making the S60 even sportier in every respect,” says Gerry Keaney, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Sales and Customer Service “We’ve both spiced up the design and fine-tuned the chassis to create a car with even greater driving appeal.”
Volvo has updated their logo, and it will be positioned in the dead center of the grille of their vehicles.
And for those who would like a little history lesson in the name 'Volvo:"
When the decision was taken to start producing Volvo cars in August 1926, financial backer Svenska Kullagerfabriken – SKF – reactivated a company that had been idle since 1920 for the purpose. The name of that company was VOLVO and it had been formed in 1915 for the manufacture and marketing of bearings for the automotive industry.
A member of the SKF management had come up with the VOLVO name...
This seems like a no-brainer to me: a Volvo minivan. Long experts in wagons, and with one of the best crossover SUVs in the market, you would think family-friendly Volvo would also have a minivan—but they don't.
Word has it that, if built, it will be based off the architecture of the Euro-Ford Galaxy minivan (pictured) and the S-Max crossover.
Even though this link is almost two years old, I thought it might be fun to look at, especially if this is the first time you've seen it. It's a LEGO version of the Volvo XC90. It was first shown at the 2004 NY auto show.
Volvo displayed their all-new S80 sedan at the Geneva car show. The big news is that this sedan will now be available with a V8 engine—a must-have in this market segment.
The all-new Volvo S80 is a rather evolutionary step for Volvo. Visually it appears to be a blend of the current model and the S60 sedan, particularly with the sloping rear roofline.
The new S80 will offer choice of engines: a new (compact) 3.2L inline 6-cylinder, putting out 232 horsepower; as well as a 311 horsepower transverse V8, a first for the S80. It will also offer AWD...
Volvo is one of the worlds largest truck makers, of large trucks. They just introduced the new FH16, a "premium" class truck, which has a 16L engine generating 660 horsepower, which is the the most horsepower in the truck industry.
Check out the snappy wheels. They're like nothing I've ever seen on a truck this size...
Volvo is debating as to whether to equip their new C30 coupe with AWD (among other gizmos). I sure hope they do, as I'm a huge fan of all four wheels clawing for traction.
Hakan Abrahamsson, the C30's project director, says a turbo-five is the most attractive option because of the performance premium.
Debate rages within Volvo about whether to equip the car with all-wheel drive...
I love Volvo styling, and this new Volvo C30 concept is no exception. It's just stunning. This is the heir to long-gone P1800 coupe. It's aimed at young, dynamic urbanites looking for an entry-level, premium-brand performance car, the C30 is 9 inches shorter than an S40 sedan and will be Volvo's smallest model when it (or something like it) hits the market...
Volvo C30 Concept: This was one of the more interesting cars at the show. It's in no way over-the-top,
but it has a clean, tight look and its interior design is similarly straightforward
and upscale. I expect it to sell well when it hits showrooms in production
form next fall, assuming they don't water it down too much.
Ford,
Volvo and Jaguar. It's amazing to me that Ford can be so successful
with the Volvo brand, yet they continue to struggle with the Jaguar
brand. Is it because Volvo has always strived to build the best vehicle
they can within their market segment, whereas Jaguar seems stuck on
promoting an idyllic fairytale image, rather than building the best
product they can? In many ways I see Jaguar's plight
much the same as I do with many of the domestic auto brands; Buick, for
example...
I have a feeling we're just seeing the tip of the iceberg
here. It's long been known that roofs of many SUVs and pickups are
weak, and their collapse can cause serious injury or death in rollover
accidents. It lesser known that the auto manufacturers don't want their roof
crash testing data to be released to the public.
There is a huge legal battle brewing here between Ford Motor Company
and these two groups: Public Citizen and Trial Lawyers for Public
Justice...
Well,
it's Thanksgiving time, so I guess this Forbes list is fair game.
Interestingly there are some models here that I would never consider a
"turkey;" the Mercedes CL-Class, Audi TT, or Volvo C70, for example. However this list was
developed with sales as the determining factor, and from a sales standpoint, these vehicles have not done well this past year.
Well, this one I sure wouldn't have predicted; A Volvo street rod.
What's next a chopped and channeled Rolls Corniche? Or how 'bout a
peanut butter and banana pizza? I guess Volvo must have figured that
Plymouth missed a few tricks with
the Prowler...
Volvo, at the SEMA show, has displayed one nasty looking Volvo off-roader, the XC 70 All Terrain. It's a 408-horsepower off-road brute with a trick suspension that can be raised 8 inches if needed. I guess with 408 horsepower on tap, a low range transfer case would just be overkill. As impressive as this is, I can't help but wonder why they didn't use the XC90 as a basis instead?
