2012 Volvo S60 T6 AWD - A Fond Farewell

The Volvo S60 arrived in our fleet a little more than twelve months ago, in April 2011, just before the start of the summer vacation season. Right out of the gate, the Volvo went on road trips to Tennessee, Chicago, and northern Michigan and racked up more than 3000 miles on the odometer. Over those largely highway miles, the S60 showed itself to be a comfortable long-distance cruiser with an impressive powertrain, capable handling, and a high level of refinement.

We were piling on the miles so fast that, four months into the S60's tenure, it was on pace to reach the 35,000-mile mark over the course of the year. That it ended up with a little less than 29,000 miles on the odometer should not be taken as a sign that it had fallen out of favor. The drop in accumulated mileage can be explained by the fact that, at the same time the S60 was in our fleet, we were also testing a family-friendly minivan and a full-size SUV (Honda Odyssey and Infiniti QX56, respectively), vehicles whose overall utility trumped the refinement of the S60 when it came time for long-distance travel with family and lots of cargo in tow. What the S60 was most in demand for were middle-distance, weekend getaways. Here in Michigan, especially in the summer, those weekend getaways mean driving "up north" to places like Traverse City, Ludington, and Houghton Lake, and the S60 was a willing partner in a number of such adventures. It also made several trips to Chicago and various other destinations in the Great Lakes region.
The S60 was a highly sought weekend companion, but even better was the fact that it cost so little to maintain. Not only was the Volvo completely trouble-free - that's right, not a single mechanical issue required service during its twelve-month stay -- but scheduled maintenance is free for the first 50,000 miles. Our only expenditures were for a set of winter tires and some WeatherTech floor mats to keep the carpets from getting a coat of winter grime on them.

Read more: http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews/12_month_car_reviews/1205_2012_volvo_s60_t6_awd_april_update/#ixzz1vcs4jbmH

2013 Volvo XC90 Photos and Info: Minor changes for the Long-Serving Crossover

Volvo’s XC90 SUV is old and nearing retirement—it’s expected to finally get a replacement sometime in 2014—so we’ll consider this mild 2013 refresh something of a 60th birthday party. Of course, the XC90 isn’t 60 years old, but keep in mind it debuted at the 2002 Detroit auto show just months after the first-generation Apple iPod hit the market. Yeah, the one with a scroll-y wheel thing and a black-and-white LCD screen. We’ll pause while you describe to your kids how handheld devices used to be operated via physical buttons. Unlike the iPod, the XC90 is still in its first-gen shell, but Volvo did give its soon-to-be-retiree a shot of botox to keep it fresh-ish for 2013.

Too Old for Skinny Jeans and LEDs

The biggest change for the 2013 XC90 is the application of more paint. Specifically, most everything that was previously black plastic on the exterior—the lower bumper trim, rocker panels, and fender flares—is now painted body color. Volvo also threw some LED daytime running lights at the XC90’s front end and added LED taillights, but the effect is about as successful as your dad squeezing into a pair of skinny jeans. Just as he’s probably not going to be mistaken for Justin Bieber, the LEDs do little to bring Volvo’s large SUV into this decade. Non-R-Design XC90 3.2 models also get some new silver and chrome exterior trim.

Read More: http://www.caranddriver.com/news/2013-volvo-xc90-photos-and-info-car-news

Volvo V60 Plug-In Hybrid: Unboxing Episode 1

Watch the Volvo team unbox the new Volvo V60 Plug-In Hybrid.

Volvo’s Gift to the Industry

While the C30 Electric is not a major threat to anyone, Volvo’s new V40 has disgusted industry executives with its “pedestrian airbag” that covers the hood and parts of the windshield and A-pillars when it deploys. The fact that “ped pro” has been allowed into regulation to the current extent is an epic failure of the automotive industry. Cost is outrageous, the cars grow in size, styling suffers—and the life-saving effect, according to industry studies, is virtually zero. The airbag that turns the road into a mattress has yet to be invented. A German executive shares this: “We hoped we could avoid this thing, but thanks to Volvo, it seems as if we have to offer it as well.” Congratulations, everyone.

Read More: http://blog.caranddriver.com/the-continental-vw-and-suzuki%E2%80%99s-spat-extends-to-the-gti-euro-beetle-engines-and-volvo

Chicago Used Volvo

Volvo V60 Plug-In Hybrid: Unboxing Episode 1

Watch the Volvo team unbox the new Volvo V60 Plug-In Hybrid.

Volvo C30 Electric: Winter Drive Report

Over the past few days, we've told you about our trip to Kiruna, Sweden, where Volvo allowed us to put its C30 electric car through its paces in a series of cold-weather tests designed to push the car to its limit.

Now it's time to tell you about our real-world test drive, along 40 miles of snow and ice-covered Swedish roads.

Immediately following on from the cold-weather test that we told you about yesterday, our test drive took us from the small mining town of Kiruna, some 90 miles north of the Arctic circle, to the Esrange Space Centre, known for being one of the most active rocket and satellite test facilities in Europe.

While our test route started on the mainly snow-free main roads of Kiruna, within five minutes or so we had turned onto less well-traveled roads, covered by a healthy layer of snow and ice.

Despite it being just below freezing, we found the Volvo C30 performed well, without any hint of temperature-induced performance lag. Thanks to a combination of all-weather tires -- without studs -- and a revised traction control system developed especially for the C30 Electric, we found it had impressive road manners on both cold blacktop and icy roads.

In fact, aside from the occasional slip when accelerating onto faster roads, loss of traction was minimal.

Handling too, was precise, with the extra weight of the batteries enabling the C30 to feel very centred on the road.

As we pointed out yesterday, the C30's triple mode heating system kept the cabin warm, despite the outside temperature and significant wind chill. With the heating system also keeping battery pack and drivetrain warm, there was no noticeable drop in range.

But perhaps the element from our driving experience which most impressed us was Volvo's drive modes.

Alongside the usual Drive mode, the Volvo C30 has what Volvo calls a Highway mode. When selected, the Highway mode enables coasting, allowing the driver to maximize range without worrying about simulated engine braking when removing his or her foot from the accelerator.

Read More: http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1074295_volvo-c30-electric-winter-drive-report

The All-New Volvo V40 - Business news report

Volvo Car Corporation presents the all-new Volvo V40:
Scandinavian luxury look and feel with class-leading safety and driving dynamics

The all-new V40 is ready to overtake the competition in the Premium Hatchback class with sharpened features and characteristics from larger Volvos wrapped in a sleek, compact package.

GreenCarReports.com - ELVIIS Keeps Your Volvo Electric Car Rocking...

The King may be dead, but your electric Volvo won't be, thanks to the ELVIIS research project.

Swedish automaker Volvo has announced its participation in the Electric Vehicle Intelligent Infra Structure (ELVIIS) project, to improve the electric car charging process.

Together with Ericsson, Swedish utility company Göteborg Energi, and the Viktoria Institute, Volvo Car Corporation is helping to develop the future of smart charging.

What is smart charging?

Essentially, smart charging is a means of taking the charging process beyond simply plugging in and forgetting about it.

While one of the benefits of electric cars is being able to do other things while you're "filling it up", smart charging reassures drivers by keeping them updated on the state of charge.

The system uses GPS to verify the charging location. Then, the driver pre-sets timing and charging amount on a touch screen inside the car, or remotely - via a smartphone, for example.

The car communicates with the grid via the mobile network, which can even time the charge to ensure low energy prices are used. If the charging is interrupted for any reason, the driver can be informed.

Conveniently, rather than having to pay at a particular charging station, the cost of any charge can be added to your own utility bill.

Volvo is currently testing the system with its 2012 Volvo C30 Electric cars, equipped with a 7-inch touch screen from which to control the charging.

The idea behind the technology is that running an electric car is made no more difficult than running an internal combustion vehicle. The driver can enjoy all the usual electric car benefits, with as little hassle as possible when it comes to charging.

Read More: http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1073329_elviis-keeps-your-volvo-electric-car-rocking

Volvo’s next safety frontier -- animals

CHICAGO -- Having long ago made a name for itself in vehicle safety, Volvo is turning its attention to protecting animals.

Or more correctly, protecting animals and drivers from each other.

The automaker is working on a new-generation safety system that detects animals --ranging from Swedish moose to family pets -- in the road.

“It’s active safety,” Volvo Cars of North America CEO John Maloney said today, speaking on the sidelines of the Chicago Auto Show.

“There are plenty of ways that people get into accidents. They hit objects. At the last moment, if they don’t see something, they’ll try to swerve when it’s too late. That will damage the car. And if it’s a pet, people don’t want their pets killed.”

Maloney declined to say when the animal system will begin appearing on Volvo vehicles, other than saying “it’s a couple of years out.”

“It’s a radar and camera-based system that’s looking for images in front of the car,” Maloney said. “If you’re not doing anything, it will intervene and either slow the car, depending on how close it is, or completely stop the car if it has enough time.”

Read more: http://www.autonews.com/article/20120208/OEM04/120209814#ixzz1m13tPpX9

Volvo to Split S60 Lineup with T5 AWD Model

Volvo has added a new, lineup-splitting T5 AWD version of its S60 sedan, one of the brand’s few successful U.S. offerings. John Maloney, Volvo’s new U.S. president, revealed the information during an interview at the Detroit auto show. The T5 AWD announcement is hardly exciting stuff, but in light of recent subtractions from its U.S. lineup, any news that involves the addition of new models is potentially good for Volvo.

The new S60 T5 AWD will occupy the space—and find a home somewhere within the rather sizable $7150 price gap—between the $32,175 base FWD T5 model and the $39,325 AWD T6 variant. The T5 AWD will be powered by the same 250-hp turbocharged inline-five as the front-driver. (The T6—a very finicky example of which we have in our long-term stable—is powered by a smooth turbocharged 300-hp inline-six.) This new T5 will allow Volvo to counter competitors’ base-engine all-wheel-drive models, which include the BMW 328i xDrive and Audi A4 Quattro. The S60 T5 AWD goes on sale this summer, and exact pricing information will be available closer to its release.

Read More: http://blog.caranddriver.com/volvo-to-split-s60-lineup-with-t5-awd-model/

Volvo Boss: Five-Door V40 Hatch “Probably Not” Coming to the U.S., New XC90 Again Confirmed for 2014

Volvo’s upcoming V40 hatchback is set to debut at the 2012 Geneva auto show, but it will “probably not” come to the U.S., the company’s CEO, Stefan Jacoby, told us recently.

The hatchback, which is based on architecture evolved from the jointly used platform underpinning the S40 sedan, Ford Focus, and Mazda 3, doesn’t fit into the company’s product plans in the States. Volvo said in the past year that it would delete both the S40 sedan and the V50 wagon from its U.S. product lineup; the C70 convertible, meanwhile, has been given an expiration date of January 1, 2014, and no replacement has been confirmed. We’ve even heard that the C30 hatchback, a three-door car that’s not terribly practical, may bite the bullet globally.

Jacoby explained that Volvo is paring its U.S. lineup to focus on its volume products: the S60 sedan, the XC70 wagon, and the XC60 and XC90 crossovers. In relative terms, Volvo is a small company—it sold roughly 67,000 cars in the U.S. in 2011, compared to about 306,000 by BMW—and can’t support marketing, sales, and service for a broad range of products.

Read More: http://blog.caranddriver.com/volvo-boss-five-door-v40-hatch-probably-not-coming-to-the-u-s-new-xc90-again-confirmed-for-2014