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