Volvo will be repositioning it’s Volvo S60 model to go against the likes of the BMW 3-Series, Audi A4 and Mercedes Benz C-Class with it’s younger sibling the Volvo S40 to be transformed into a 5-door hatchback (think of the Ford Focus 5-door hatch). The S40 will go against the BMW 1-Series and the Audi A3.
Autocar reports that there is a little tussle internally at Volvo with the engineers battling the accountants in an effort to get funds to engineer a chassis for the new S60 that is up to the mark in terms of driving dynamics with the 3-Series. The new chassis is said to have a slightly longer wheelbase than the current S60.
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hmm…everyone “upsizing”, Volvo is downsizing its model lines. Wonder where this will leave the next C30….mini-sized?
I’m sure some of that internal pressure comes from Ford with the new stablemate Mondeo.
But I wonder how Volvo plans to match BMW in handling dynamics, unless they either engineer a new RWD platform, or take the Haldex system a next level up. Tall order, if not impossible.
Everyone has taken pot shots at the 3’s handling dynamics and none seems to hit the target (including the new E90 itself, which has gone too big, flabby and disconnected.)
I’m really indifferent of what Volvo makes as long as they keep the a T5/T6 powered estate in production. (Even Ford has a “T5” powered Mondeo Estate …so where does it put Volvo?)
S40 become a hatchback? then what to do for the C30?
C30 = 3-door hatch. S40 = 5-door hatch
is that the new s60 ?
it looks nice .
Why can’t they use a Ford for this expeditious excercise in lunacy. If they want, they could shrink the Mustang GT coz its still got RWD. Why bastardize Volvo? New market share for an ailing marque? Ford have done just about anything on Volvo; coupe/cabrio and a hatch. Either the Ford or Vauxhall. They need serious greenbacks propping not only engineering but marketing and re branding if they rework Volvo.
Maybe there is a method to the madness. Maybe its a re branding exercise for Volvo and BMW’s just the carrot on a stick.
uglier than proton persona!~!
lolz
sory thy hav no chnace.c-class,3 series and a4 are totally dominating that segment…..
Its a question of bringing something worthwhile into the market, agreed that the 3series and the 4series are totally dominating the market but then if the upgradations to come are good enough… you never know!! just hope that those engineer manage to secure funds to engineer new chassis.
wow..i like those rim..it looked like BBS Air rim
Car makers should do what they do best.People buy volvos for safety and overtaking power(which is also a kind of safety feature).BMW’s are for driving pleasure,mercs for status and comfort,audi for people who want something different. A volvo will never be able to match the others in their own areas of strength. I canot imagine anyone trying to use a volvo to race a BMW on twisty roads. It is like using hush puppies shoes to run a track race.
It is a pity if they down size the S60. The one thing that the present S60 has over the 3 series and C class is the size.It is a good size as it can be used as a family car for comfortable outstation use without being as bulky as a 5 series or E class.
Meaning that Volvo will make something like 1600cc and 1800cc cars ? (to match BMW 1-series)
Hopefully Volvo can make something at the price range of RM120K.
its good for volvo to reposition those 2. currently the s60 is in between the 3 and 5 series and it is in a strange position. the s40 would be good if repositioned down to fight the 1 series while the s60 pushed down to fight the 3 while the s80 being a 5 competitor. currently ppl don’t know where the s80 is positioned its not big enough to be a 7 or s class competitor and it is definitely positioned as higher than the 5 series.
yeap.. agree wit s60t.. anyway.. if they r really targeting at bmw, they must not 4get their root.. ppl buy volvos 4 its image, safety, comfort, n its scandanavian sensible simplicity.. hope they produce ori volvos.. but adding some sporting variants is welcoming.. cheers!
What model is tat?? S60 or S40??? it looks it is suitable for police car.. i mean look at it.. which all black with white bold words (US police)
Woops. I thought I was looking at a revamped Waja.
Volvo had already had a very good positioning with their current model line up, they’ve carved up a very good market share by making S40 slightly lower segment than the 3 series segment, and S60 slightly higher, with S80 slightly lower segment than 5 series. Of course this balance is already tumbled by the new 3 series which is almost as big as the E39 BMW 5 series….. good positioning volvo – Blue Ocean’s the new trend.
YES!!!!! GREAT!!!!!
YES!!! GREAT!!!
the above pic looks like a S40 size… with twin exhaust pipe makes me think of it T5 heart….
kinda missed those rims design… 5 spoke with fanblade shapes… cool!
first time when i notice them(the design) are on V70, 10 years ago….
love Volvo car ever since… except XC70, XC90, C30 and S80
and strongly wished that Volvo will dump their “coffin” shapes silhoutes on their future models….
LOL.
The forum is usually full of “copy this and copy that” statements. Then Volvo comes out with a distint shape in the current S60/S80 (which is a significant design shift for Volvo) then we say it looks like a coffin.
Please bear in mind that only oriental coffin looks like this. Proof you cant please every demographic ;p
I still think the “coffin” shaped cars look good. Definately the strong shoulder line gives it a strong yet sexy presence (oxymoron?).
I agree with ingolstadt, it might just be sheer genius to slot the S40 below the 3/C class/A4, and the S60 between the 3 and the 5/E classe/A6. However, maybe somehow it might actually end up neither here nor there. I still think having this is better than going head on againsts the germans. The Swedes have always done things differently, which is what sets most of them apart.
My guess would be that Ford’s corporate platforms has moved in such a way to target the germans that if Volvo would use Ford’s platforms, obviously the size classes will follow. Pretty unfortunate but inevitable.
better trim, less pleasure to drive compared to BMW?
not feeling the new design..too bad…haiz…
mystvearn said,
August 17, 2007 @ 9:19 pm
better trim, less pleasure to drive compared to BMW?
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Don’t get too suck up by the ad. The last round I drove an E46, I found out one crucial thing. BMW only shows its talent when you drove to the limits/extremes, which unfortunately, no one’s gonna drive like that on real roads, if not, you wouldn’t even reach the speed limit and you’ll be either dead or being lock up.
After driving that E46 325, I have a conclusion, IT’S NOT NICE compared to many other cars if it were lugging around the city. The steering’s too heavy to make me concentrate too much on turning it rather than the I steer it following where i felt like going. Then the drab interior with all those fake aluminium panels and low par switch gears.
So in this case, for 99% of the lifetime of a car, a comfortable Volvo (oh-those-volvo-seats-are-unbeatable) with great all round visibility and an image that shows more of intellectually other than wealth. Is an all round better car than a BMW.
Unfortunately, we read reviews by car mag editors, which most of them interact with the car with 100% driving style that represents only 1% of our total car ownership lifespan, or none at all.
Ingolstadt,very well said.Sometimes a 1 day review by a motoring writer may not convey what it is like to live with the car on a daily basis.When I bought my S60 2.0T in 2001I found the 318(previous model) was a bit small for a family car and the power was much less than the volvo’s 180hp 240Nm and cost 20K more.My car has served me well and I think the present ads on astro are the right direction for volvo,”who would you give a volvo to” ..if you value their safety. But unfortunately the price prohibits us from buying it for all family members,and maintenance costs can be quite high too.