Archive for Volvo

This is Volvo’s new XC70, the latest edition of it’s popular off-roading capable 4WD version of it’s V70 wagon. This time following Volvo’s new design language, the XC70 takes on a much more sculpted and aggressive appearance. It also has a tailgate that reminds me of a certain generation of the Subaru Forester, though elements of the Volvo C30 are also very much there. The enlarged front grille and the upwards sloping headlamps look fine, but I find the bumper is looking abit too concept-car-ish, the design is too busy.

For the moment, the new Volvo XC70 will come with two engine options, a 238hp 3.2 liter inline-6 as well as a 5-cylinder turbodiesel that’s good for 185 horsepower and a whole load of torque, 400 Newton Meters! Power is transmitted via a 6-speed Geartronic transmission to all four wheels. Other features include Hill Descent Control (ah, a testimoniy of real off-road prowess), Dynamic Stability and Traction Control, and an adjustable suspension that Volvo calls Four-C which can be set to comfort, or sport mode to tailor the XC70’s ride to driving style and conditions.

More photos after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of New 2008 Volvo XC70 revealed

This artist’s impression of the next generation Volvo S40 is thanks to German magazine Autozeitung. The talented artists took design cues from the latest Volvo XC60 Concept, which has also manifested in the new Volvo V70. I heard through the grapevines that the 2009 Volvo S40 will replace both the current S40 and S60 models, as the differences in interior room for the S40 and S60 is pretty much negligible. This would mean the 2009 Volvo S40 will likely be based on the Ford Mondeo/Mazda6 chassis instead of the current Focus/Mazda3 chassis.

Europeans seem to have gone the sleek coupe-like liftback style with all their designs. The new Ford Mondeo has a similiar kind of rear windscreen design, and spyshots of the new 3rd generation Renault Laguna shows a similiar roofline too, sloping so much that it requires a rear wiper.

One more photo after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of 2009 Volvo S40 Artist’s Impression

Here are more images and details of the Volvo XC60 Concept, set to be unveiled at the upcoming North American International Auto Show. The Volvo XC60 Concept kills two birds with one stone, for one, it showcases to us the next Volvo XC model, younger brother to the big Volvo XC90. It also reveals several design elements that will be part of future Volvos. More details after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of Volvo XC60 Concept in detail

Volvo will debut it’s new hydraulically controlled dual-clutch gearbox in diesel variants of it’s Volvo S40 sedan and Volvo V50 stationwagon models, coinciding with a mid-life facelift of the two cars. Parent company Ford also plans to introduce the dual-clutch gearbox to other models like the Ford Focus and the Ford Focus C-MAX, which currently also offer CVT gearboxes, as well as the Land Rover Freelander and some Mazda models. Ford Focus ST or MazdaSpeed 3 with a dual-clutch gearbox, anyone?

While Volkswagen’s extremely good Direct-Shift Gearbox (DSG) is supplied by BorgWarner, Ford gets it’s units from Getrag, and the system is called Powershift.

A concept for the Volvo XC60, Volvo’s competitor for the future Audi Q5, Merc GLK, Volkswagen Tiguan and other small crossover SUVs like the BMW X3 will be shown to the public next month at Detroit 2006. As part of the Ford group, the Volvo XC60 will be based off the Ford EUCD platform (Land Rover LR2/Freelander, Volvo S80, future Volvo S40/V50), which is in turn loosely based on Ford’s C1 platform (current Volvo C30/S40/V50/C70, Mazda3).

While remaining mostly Volvo-like on the exterior, the interior features a futuristic look including a floating center console which looks like all data is displayed using OLEDs, and controls are touch sensitive. Even shifting the automatic gearbox is via touch sensitive buttons on the floating center console, as you can see from photos.

More photos after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of Volvo XC60 Concept Photos

For a limited time only, Volvo Car Malaysia is having a one month promotion from now until the 31st of December 2006 where you’ll be able to buy the Volvo S80 2.0T Classic for only RM199,000 excluding insurance, alot cheaper than the original price without insurance of RM250,927.42! That’s a savings of over RM50,000.

Some specs of the Volvo S80 2.0T Classic – it’s powered by a 5 cylinder light pressure turbocharged engine making 180hp at 5,500rpm and 250Nm of torque between 1,850rpm to 5,000rpm. The engine is mated to a 5-speed auto. Top speed is 210km/h, and 0-100km/h acceleration time is 9.8 seconds. Of course, this is the current S80 that’s on sale here, not the recently launched new Volvo S80.

For more info, visit any Federal Auto Cars or Swedish Marque showroom.

Volvo has consolidated it’s two non-industrial operations in Malaysia – Volvo Car Malaysia Sdn Bhd (VCM) and Volvo Car Asia (VCA) into a single unit. Previously VCM handled the national sales for Malaysia, while VCA handled regional management for China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Indonesia and Brunei.

Source

Volvo and Ford are developing their own version of a dual clutch gearbox, following the footsteps of Porsche and Mitsubishi who are executing similiar plans. Mitsubishi’s upcoming successor to the Evolution line of rally turned tarmac monsters – the Evolution X, will feature a twin clutch automated gearbox, and Porsche has recently filed patents for their 7-speed dual clutch gearbox design.

If all goes through, we’ll see versions of the Ford Focus ST and high performance Volvo C30 hatches with 2.5 liter inline-5 turbocharged engines and dual clutch gearboxes. Click here for a video on DSG gearboxes, where a Volkswagen Golf GTI 6-speed manual goes against it’s DSG brother. DSG has worked so well for Volkswagen that they are going to phase out conventional torque converter automatics for a pure DSG automatic line-up across the range.

Related Posts:
Volkswagen DSG – Direct Shift Gearbox
Porsche patents dual clutch gearbox design
Volkswagen phases out automatics; makes way for DSG

The annual Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) auto show is here, and this means Volvo fans finally get to see the modified C30 trio that was promised to be shown. Actual photos and details of the three cars from Evolve, Heico Sportive and ipd are after the jump. Enjoy!

Click here to read the rest of Modified Volvo C30 concept cars at SEMA

Volvo Cars has just released the Volvo XC90 V8 Sport in the US market, responding to customer requests for a sportier Volvo XC90. Going head to head with the likes of the BMW X5 4.4i (or the upcoming 4.8si), the Volvo XC90 V8 Sport has a 311hp V8 engine, and comes in two unique colour options – Passion Red and Electric Silver.

The chassis has had some enhancements to improve it’s driveability – stiffer antiroll bars and shock absorbers, quicker steering response, and the Nivomat self-levelling system is installed standard. On the exterior, you have twin chromed exhaust pipes and large 19 inch alloy sport wheels. The wheel arches come with color-matched extenders, which puts emphasis on the presence of the huge wheels. Chrome details such as the roof rails have been replaced with a matte silver finish, and the skid plate is lower.

As for the interior, you have sports seats and a sport steering wheel as well as gear shift done up in perforated leather. Instrument dials light up with a shimmering blue luster.

The Volvo XC90 V8 Sport is a limited edition vehicle, and will be on sale in Q4 2006 at US$49,300,00. That’s RM 181,281.00, but of course you know the deal with our tax brackets, oh well. More photos after the jump, with enlarged versions too!

Click here to read the rest of 2007 Volvo XC90 V8 Sport