Volvo Shows Four Possible Design Directions for Next-Gen XC90

While Volvo’s stand at the 2011 Los Angeles auto show didn’t house anything we haven’t seen before (save a sassy version of the doomed C70 convertible), we did see some interesting stuff at the company’s slick Camarillo, California, design studio just prior to the show. There we got a peek at these four sketches, which show possible design directions for next-generation XC90 crossover. On first glance, they all look roughly the same, but closer inspection reveals variations in everything from the size and shape of the signature taillamps to the C-pillar treatment to the varying degrees of angularity in the overall shapes. All, however, look far more modern than today’s XC90, which has been on the market since 2002.

Volvo didn’t so much as hint about which of the four is most likely to get the green light, but it did say that the XC90 will be the first vehicle built on Volvo’s upcoming Scalable Platform Architecture. Also, in accordance with its previously announced future powertrain strategy, the next XC90 will feature only four-cylinder engines. Given the XC90’s size, you can expect direct injection and copious amounts of turbocharging, and possibly even some version of the kinetic energy recovery system that the firm is currently testing. Volvo wouldn’t comment on a hybrid version, but since the SPA platform is designed to handle all extents of electrification, you can bet your last Swedish fish there will be one. We were told that the next-gen XC90 will bow sometime in 2014.

Read More: http://blog.caranddriver.com/volvo-shows-four-possible-design-directions-for-next-gen-xc90/

Limited-Edition 2012 Volvo C70 Inscription to Debut at L.A.; 500 Examples Coming to U.S.

Volvo’s C70 folding hardtop convertible may soon go the way of the dodo, but at least it’s going out in style: This limited-edition 2012 C70 Inscription will debut at the upcoming L.A. auto show before going on sale next year. Volvo describes the Inscription as “perhaps the ultimate expression of [our] iconic hardtop convertible.” Iconic? Probably not. Ultimate expression? We’ll play along: The car bundles not only the typical special-model styling upgrades, but a healthy power boost as well.

Cosmetically, the Inscription gets a gloss-black grille, black 18-inch wheels, and a rear spoiler, and is available only in Ice White or Black Sapphire Metallic. LED daytime running lights and xenon active headlamps are standard. It’s the interior, however, that really sets the C70 Inscription apart. The seats are upholstered in “Sovereign Hide,” and the dash is wrapped in leather and features contrasting stitching. In case the fancy interior trappings fail to remind of the Inscription’s specialness, Volvo embroidered “Inscription” onto the headrests and also throws in special floor mats and a unique handbrake lever.

The Volvo C70 may be a looker—even more so after its recent refresh for 2011—but the folding hard top and structural bracing mean it’s not exactly light or lithe. Reinforcing the standard car’s relaxed attitude is its 227-hp, turbocharged 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine that drives the front wheels through a five-speed automatic. For the Inscription, Volvo squeezed out an additional 23 hp and 37 lb-ft of torque from the turbo five (for new sums of 250 hp and 273 lb-ft). The power bump comes courtesy of some ECU tuning by Volvo’s racing partner, Polestar.

Volvo has yet to announce pricing for the C70 Inscription, but it will undoubtedly carry a nice premium over the C70’s $40,825 base price. The company is planning a 2000-car global production run, with 500 of those units slated for the U.S. The limited production numbers and unique features ensure exclusivity, and make the Inscription an enticing swan song for Volvo’s attractive boulevardier.

Read More: http://blog.caranddriver.com/limited-edition-2012-volvo-c70-inscription-to-debut-at-l-a-500-examples-coming-to-u-s/

REVIEWS: 2012 Volvo S60 T6 AWD - Four Seasons Update - October 2011

Months in Fleet: 6
Miles to date: 14,960

The Volvo S60 has now spent half a year with Automobile Magazine and has settled comfortably into its role in the Four Seasons fleet. Neither a sports car nor a utility vehicle, the S60 is the car of choice when a comfortable all-around cruiser that seats four and can provide some entertainment is what's needed.

The S60 has proved so capable and comfortable that it has even enticed some editors to go on jaunts that they weren't intending. Such was the case with web editor Ben Timmins, who recently had the S60 in his possession on a weekday evening: "Yesterday I found out that a movie I want to see was only showing at a theatre in Lansing, about an hour away. Most of the time I wouldn't think of driving there at the last minute, but it was a no-brainer with the S60. The car is capable and comfortable, powerful and confident. The miles rack up in that vehicle at a staggering pace."

And the S60 is also a car whose performance potential can sneak up on you, as copy editor Rusty Blackwell reported after having the S60 in his care one recent weekend: "My wife drove the Volvo to church on Sunday. When she got home, she asked, 'Uh, what kind of engine is in this?!' 'A turbo six-cylinder.' 'Oh, well I looked down at one point on Pleasant Lake Road [which has a 55-mph speed limit] and caught myself going 80!' She rarely goes faster than 60 mph on roads like that. This car is definitely a silky-smooth cruiser."

There are still some lingering complaints with the S60's various interfaces: you can't power-adjust the seat cushion and seatback at the same time, which makes installing child seats a slightly more time-consuming task (because we never want to take 10 more seconds to do a job than we have to!). One driver couldn't get the auto up/down button on the driver's window to work properly. The steering column doesn't telescope away far enough for some drivers. The power button on the radio mutes the sound, but doesn't actually turn the radio on and off.

Most of those complaints have been more than offset by the general praise for the handling characteristics and interior of the car. There have been, however, a few staffers who long for an S60 with a manual transmission. A manual is not likely ever to be an option in this car -- there would likely be little demand and it would not be economically feasible for the automaker. Still, a set of paddleshifters for the automatic transmission would be a nice compromise for enthusiast drivers.

Read more: http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews/12_month_car_reviews/1110_2012_volvo_s60_t6_awd_october_update/index.html#ixzz1ckew9Jsz