Paul Tan's Automotive News » Volvo

Volvo V60 launched – RM230k for T4, RM269k for T5, CKD

Anthony Lim — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 15:13:27 +0000

Volvo Cars Malaysia today introduced the new V60, with two locally assembled variants being available, the T4 and T5. Both feature Gasoline Turbocharged Direct Injection (GTDi) petrol mills, the T5’s coming in 2.0 litre form, while the T4 sports a 1.6 litre lump. Numbers for the T5 are 240 hp at 5,500 rpm and 320 Nm of torque, available from 1,800 to 5,000 rpm, as well as a 0-100 km/h time of 7.7 seconds and a 230 km/h top speed.

The T4, meanwhile, offers 180 hp at 5,700 rpm and 240 Nm from 1,600 through to 5,000 rpm, with an on-demand overboost function taking it to 270 Nm – the car does the century sprint in 9.2 seconds and has a 220 km/h top speed. Both variants wear a six-speed Powershift auto tranny.

Many elements from the S60 are to be found on this one, so in terms of kit and features there are really no big surprises. Exterior design-wise, the company is suggesting the V60 as a coupe-like form rather than an outright estate, saying that from a design viewpoint, the focus was on making the car as close to a coupe as possible, while retaining that handy extra space at the rear.

Standard equipment includes leather seats and steering wheel (the one on the T5 gets a silk metal inlay), roof rails, Shimmer Graphite inlay décor trim and an eight-speaker, four-channel amplifier setup – on the T4 the entertainment system is CD-based, with a 5-inch integrated colour screen, while the T5’s does DVDs and comes with a 7-inch screen, replete with a navigation system.

Both variants come equipped with 17-inch alloys, the T4 getting Balder design wheels and 215/50 series rubbers, while the T5 has Njord wheels, wrapped with 235/45 profile donuts.

Plenty in the way of safety-related kit, with the usual assortment of three and four-letter acronyms to be found – there’s DSTC with ASC and CTC, ABS, EBD, ready alert brake (RAB), fading brake support (FBS), hydraulic brake assist (HBA), blind spot information system (BLIS) and active bending lights (ABL) among the mix.

The T5 features Adaptive Cruise Control with queue assist and distance alert, as well as a Collision Warning System with full auto brake and Pedestrian Detection, while the T4 makes do with cruise control.

Five exterior shades are available for the V60, and these are Electric Silver, Ember Black, Ice White, Seashell and Flamenco Red. The V60 T4 goes for RM230,000, while the T5 version is priced at RM269,000, both prices being on-the-road, without insurance.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 07:58:10 +0000.

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Volvo XC60 Plug-in Hybrid Concept to debut in Detroit

Anthony Lim — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 11:51:26 +0000

Volvo is set to unveil its XC60 Plug-in Hybrid Concept at the North American International Auto Show next week. The company touts the vehicle as an electric car, a highly economical hybrid and a powerful high-performance car all rolled into one.

It’s powered by a four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine from the forthcoming VEA (Volvo Environmental Architecture) engine family, with 280 hp and 380 Nm on tap, mated to a newly-developed eight-speed automatic transmission driving the front wheels.

The rear axle of the vehicle is driven by an electric motor producing 70 hp and 200 Nm, with juice provided by a 12 kWh lithium-ion battery pack installed under the floor of the load compartment. The battery pack is rechargeable from a regular power outlet, and at 220V and 12A takes just 3.5 hours for a full charge, while at 110V/12A this goes up to 7.5 hours.

The XC60 Plug-in Hybrid Concept’s electric all-wheel drive system is activated by pressing the AWD (All Wheel Drive) button, but instead of the mechanical power transfer of conventional four-wheel drive, the central control unit distributes power between the petrol-driven front wheels and the electrically-driven rear axle.

Three operation modes are available for the car – Pure, Hybrid and Power. In Pure mode, it runs on fully electric mode, with a driving range of 45 km. Hybrid is the standard setting, while Power delivers the maximum power through combined powertrain operation.

The driver can choose to save battery power for later in order to drive on pure electricity at a chosen point. When Save is activated, the generator charges and tops up the battery pack, if necessary, ensuring that there is always sufficient battery power for about 20 km of driving on electricity.

The Detroit debutant, which will carry a “T8″ badge to emphasise the combined 350 hp of the four-cylinder engine and the electric motor, will come dressed in a special white colour and wear 21-inch wheels.

Inside, the cabin will feature unique detailing and colours such as sober dark-blue leather upholstery and inlays of blue-grey wood. Meanwhile, the instruments have been tailored to give the driver all the necessary information about petrol and electricity consumption, battery charge level, remaining range and so on.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 07:58:10 +0000.

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Volvo V60: Wicked wagon wheels in this coming January

Anthony Lim — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 18:12:11 +0000

First, there was Naughty. And now comes Wicked. Volvo’s S60 won’t be the only mischievous Swede in town come next month, because the V60 wagon is set to join the fray. On January 11, specifically. A teaser image of the car in partial silhouette form is to be found on Volvo Car Malaysia’s Facebook page, highlighting the arrival date.

No details as yet on the estate, which made its debut last year, so it’ll have to wait until launch time to see if it starts off as a CBU or directly as a CKD, in 180 hp 1.6 litre T4 or 240 hp 2.0 litre T5 form, or both. Then, we’ll find out just exactly how wicked Wicked is.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 07:58:10 +0000.

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Next gen Volvo XC90 sketches surface with new face

Danny Tan — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 01:31:45 +0000

Here are some sketches of the next generation Volvo XC90, as shown to Car and Driver magazine prior to the LA Show. These images are likely to be design proposals for Volvo’s big SUV, which has been around since 2002. A replacement for the successful original is overdue, and the next gen car, said to be planned for 2014, could look like this.

The main pic you see above shows a face that’s not too dissimilar with the one Volvo’s Concept Universe wears, hinting that this could be the new face of the brand. The other rear three quarter sketches show various profiles, rear designs and tail lamps, among other elements. One looks like a bigger XC60, another has a C30 style rear, but I like the one with the boomerang tail lamps the most.

The folks at C/D also revealed that the next XC90 will sit on a so called Scalable Platform Architecture, and the whole range will be exclusively powered by four-cylinder engines, in line with the downsizing movement. Needless to say, the four-pot mills will have direct injection and force induction, with varying outputs.

2014 is very far away, though, and the current XC90 will have to soldier on as old lady in a class of prettier, younger things.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 07:58:10 +0000.

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Volvo C70 Inscription – limited edition to debut in LA

Anthony Lim — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 05:37:31 +0000

Volvo has come up with an Inscription edition of the C70 – the vehicle is set to debut next week at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show, and worldwide production will be limited to just 2,000 units.

It’ll be available in three exterior colours, these being solid Black Stone and Ice White as well as metallic Black Sapphire, and will wear exclusive 18-inch black Midir alloy wheels with black detailing and polished spokes and outer rim.

The car also gets a high-gloss painted grille – this and the LED daytime running lights are both surrounded by contrasting chrome, giving this particular C70 a distinctive face.

The interior also features a look that echoes the unique exterior, and elements include an exclusive leather-covered dashboard with contrasting stitching and Sovereign Hide upholstery in Off Black or Calcite, with the same contrasting stitching as on the dashboard, handbrake lever and carpets.

Elsewhere, the steering wheel, gear shift knob and sports pedals feature aluminium inlays, and the variant gets Special Inscription carpets and handbrake lever as well as the word “Inscription” embroidered on the front headrests.

An aluminium inlay in the iconic ultra-slim centre stack comes as standard, but there’s Black or Nordic Light Oak as an option.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 07:58:10 +0000.

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Volvo XC90 – the nine-year-old doyenne gets updated

Anthony Lim — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 03:20:23 +0000

Yes, that grand dame of the SUV world, the Volvo XC90, may be nine years old, but it shows no sign of stopping – in fact, the vehicle has been given yet another set of exterior and interior refinements to keep it going until, well, the second-gen one eventually arrives.

On the outside, there’s a new daytime running light configuration using LEDs in the lower bumper, and a redesigned silver metallic bumper bar as well as silver roof rails are now standard on all variants. There’s also a new lower door moulding, with all XC90 specifications now fully colour-coordinated.

At the back, there are new tail lamps, with dual light guides, LED brake lights and silver turn indicator bulbs (offering an amber light). Also on the exterior treatment list is a new six-spoke 18-inch wheel, done in a silver matt finish.

Inside, the veritable fave gets a number of refinements to give the interior an even more luxurious feel – aside from revisions to the three-spoke steering wheel, there’s aluminium décor as standard and watch dial-inspired instrument design with white lighting, among others. The tailgate now comes with a new, colour-coordinated leather grab handle, and the load cover has also been redesigned.

Meanwhile, the Volvo On Call system can now be combined with Bluetooth mobile phone connection, and the system has been upgraded to be able to do music streaming from a preferred Bluetooth-enabled portable music player. New too is a mobile app that makes sure that the driver can stay in touch with the parked car via an iPhone or Android smartphone.

Along with the new dress-up comes two exclusive version forms, the Executive and R-Design. Going the Executive route bags one a number of exclusive options, such as soft leather seats with ventilation and massage, as well as a number of details with a more exclusive finish. Opting for the R-Design version gets the buyer a more driver-focused character. On top of the special chassis, the new R-design version also features redesigned upholstery, inlays, door panels and new Ixion 19-inch wheels.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 07:58:10 +0000.

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CKD Volvo S60 T4 and T5 launched – RM220k and RM255k

Danny Tan — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 14:25:20 +0000

UPDATE: Live gallery from the event added

Volvo Car Malaysia officially launched the locally assembled Volvo S60 this evening. The CKD S60 comes in two engine variants, a T5 and the new T4. When the S60 was launched back in April, there were two CBU variants offered – the 3.0 T6 AWD and the 2.0 T5. With the new CKD lineup, the range topping (and expensive) T6 is no more.

Both the T4 and T5 powerplants are from Volvo’s latest Gasoline Turbocharged Direct Injection (GTDi) four-cylinder engine family, and are part of the European downsizing movement, which can be summed up as: smaller cc + DI + turbo = more go and better FC.

The unit in the T5 is a 2.0-litre with 240 hp and 320 Nm of torque, pretty impressive figures that trump even Volkswagen’s TSI engine in the Golf GTI. The S60 T5 does 0-100 km/h in 7.5 seconds on its way to a top speed of 230 km/h.

The T4 may be just a 1.6-litre unit, but with a turbo bolted on, it makes 180 hp and 240 Nm of twist from 1,600 to 5,000 rpm. An overboost function raises max torque to 270 Nm in spurts. That should mean that it will be fast enough for most (0-100 in 9.0s top speed 225 km/h), while costing just RM90 in road tax. Combined consumption is 7.4 litres per 100 km. Both engines are mated to a six-speed Powershift gearbox, so it’s all the latest tech in one.

Volvo bills the S60 as its “naughtiest car ever”, so it comes with “improved steering, stiffer springs and bushes as well as more damping than any previous model”. The mid sized exec also comes with Advanced Stability Control and Corner Traction Control, which is a form of torque vectoring. By the way, our market gets the ‘Dynamic’ spec instead of ‘Comfort’. Find out what we think – read the full test drive report here.

It ain’t a Volvo if it doesn’t come with a full house of safety kit. The T5 features Pedestrian Detection with full auto brake, which detects pedestrians in front of the car and automatically applies full braking power if the driver does not respond in time after being warned with light and sound.

‘Njord’ wheels for the T5 (left) and ‘Balder’ rims for the T4, both are 17in items

Full braking works at speeds of up to 35 km/h. Above that, it slows down the car as much as possible, which could mean less serious injury, or surviving the crash. Collision Warning with full auto brake does the same, but for cars in front.

Adaptive Cruise Control with Queue Assist maintains a set gap to the vehicle in front and works from 0 to 200 km/h. This means that technically, the S60 T5 can “drive itself” in a traffic jam. City Safety and the blind spot warning BLIS are standard on the T4.

The S60 also comes with the new Volvo Sensus infotainment system, displayed on a 5-inch colour screen and accessible via steering wheel controls.

Five colours available, but signature Vibrant Copper has been dropped from CKD range

The S60 T4 is priced at RM220,000, while the T5 costs RM255,000 OTR without insurance. An accessory package worth RM10,000 will be thrown in the mix for the first 60 customers.

Live gallery after the jump. More pics from our test drive report can be viewed here.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 07:58:10 +0000.

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CKD Volvo S60 announced: T4 RM220k, T5 RM255k

Paul Tan — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 08:14:35 +0000

For those who have been dreaming of a Volvo S60 but found the current CBU prices a little too rich for their bank accounts, good news for you – locally assembled versions will be launched soon.

Two CKD versions will be on sale – the T4 and the T5. The Volvo S60 T4 will use a 1.6 litre inline-4 turbocharged direct injection engine making 180 horsepower and 270Nm of torque, mated to a 6-speed Powershift gearbox. It is rated to consume only 7 litres per 100km on a combined cycle. The estimated selling price for the CKD Volvo S60 T4 is RM220,000.

For an estimated price tag of RM255,000 you can get the CKD Volvo S60 T5 (down from RM288k for the CBU T5), powered by a 2.0 litre turbocharged direct injection inline-4 engine mated to a 6-speed Powershift gearbox. This engine makes 240 horsepower and 320Nm of torque. The T5 also includes the Pedestrian Detection. feature, which detects pedestrians who walk onto the road in front of the car and will warn the driver, and if necessary, apply full braking power if the driver does not respond in time.

Volvo Car Malaysia also says the first 60 customers who book their CKD S60 T4 and T5 from today will receive a special surprise. According to Volvo Car Malaysia president Goran Larsson, it will make the S60 look more stunning, so we’re guessing some exterior aesthetic enhancements like a bodykit or something.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 07:58:10 +0000.

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Volvo sets out to grow, and get rid of its dowdy, safe image

Anthony Lim — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 01:06:33 +0000

Safety may have always been the big thing with Volvo, but reports say the Swedish automaker is looking at upping its image beyond being safe and dependable as owner Geely Automobile aims to broaden the brand’s appeal to woo new customers and take the fight to the competition, especially in what will be eventually its largest market in the world, China.

The shift, the company says, is needed as it seeks to climb back up the ladder in terms of market share globally. It says that it should comfortably meet its target of delivering 425,000 vehicles this year, and growth projections could see an expected increase of 140,000 units through 2014, though even with this gain it’s likely to lag behind its German competitors, namely Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi, which are all set to make a significant jump in sales figures too.

Still, that’s no reason not to try, and the company says that it will be focusing strongly on the Chinese market, in the process adding significant infrastructure there. New models will undoubtedly help in its quest, and it is already planning to come up with a new car designed for China in 2013. Earlier in the year, Volvo announced that it would be building a new plant in Chengdu and is mulling over a second factory as well as an engine plant that will have a build capacity of 200,000 to 300,000 engines.

China looks set to overtake the US as Volvo’s largest market, and this could come as early as 2012, hence the view of establishing the country as its second home market, the company states.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 07:58:10 +0000.

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Volvo S80 T5 launched – two versions, RM268k and RM295k

Anthony Lim — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 10:18:44 +0000

Volvo Car Malaysia today introduced the Volvo S80 T5, which replaces the S80 2.5T as the flagship model in the country. Two variants of the form are available, these being the S80 T5 Powershift and the T5 Exclusive Powershift.

Both are powered by a four-cylinder 2.0 litre turbocharged mill making 240 hp at 5,500 rpm and 320 Nm of torque at 1,800-5,000 rpm, and the engine – which features direct injection and twin variable camshafts – is mated to a six-speed Powershift transmission.

Performance specs include a 0-100 kph sprint time of 7.7 seconds and a 230 kph top speed. Essentially, this is the same lump as found on the Ford Mondeo EcoBoost, with a higher state of tune (that’s available in other markets).

As befits the suffix (and additional price), the T5 Exclusive gets more in the way of kit and features. There’s Pedestrian Detection as well as new Collision Warning with Full Auto Brake, features that were unavailable in the previous variant.

The T5 Exclusive also features Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), which activates at speeds above 30 kph to automatically adjust the car’s distance to vehicles ahead. The system is adjustable to five different time intervals to the vehicle ahead.

The variant also has Driver Alert Control and Lane Departure Warning as well as Active Bending Lights and Personal Car Communicator with keyless drive as standard items.

Safety features on both variants include Volvo’s Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) and a host of other acronyms, from ABS, EBD, EBA, SIPS, WHIPS, IDIS and DSTC right into RAB (ready alert brake) and FBS (fading brake support).

Inside, the T5 – which now comes wearing the Dynamic chassis – gets new design features, with the S80 T5′s leather interior being in grey with cross brushed aluminium inlays and the the T5 Exclusive’s in a grey/beige mix, with classic wood decor inlays, the last also to be found on the gearshift and steering wheel.

The car comes with an eight-speaker audio system, and additional features on the T5 Exclusive are a six-CD in-dash changer, Bluetooth connectivity and two rear sockets for headsets.

As for wheels, the S80 T5 runs with 16-inch Oden alloys and 225/55 series tyres, while the T5 Exclusive comes shod with 17-inch Cassini-design wheels and correspondingly-sized 225/50 rubbers. Price-wise, the S80 T5 goes for RM268,000 while the T5 Exclusive is priced at RM295,000, both on-the-road, without insurance.

Gallery after the jump.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 07:58:10 +0000.

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Volvo develops three range extender electric vehicle technical concepts based on C30 and V60

Paul Tan — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 17:53:37 +0000

Volvo has been dabbling with electric cars for quite some time now, but now they’re further developing the idea with the addition of combustion engines to serve as range extenders for their electric vehicles, increasing the amount of distance that an electric vehicle can cover.

Like hybrid cars, range extender electric vehicles have both an engine and an electric motor. Unlike hybrid cars, in range extender electric vehicles the combustion engine does not drive the wheels directly, instead it starts up only to generate electricity to recharge the vehicle’s battery. This is known as a series connected setup.

Examples of range extender electric vehicles that you may have heard of are the Chevrolet Volt, and in concept form, our very own Proton EMAS Concept.

Click for enlarged image

Volvo has produced a number of range extender concepts. They not only use a series setup but a parallel setup as well. The first one called Technical Concept I is based on a Volvo C30. It has a 3 cylinder engine producing 60 horsepower (45kW) installed under the rear boot. This engine is fueled by a 40 litre fuel tank. This 45kW engine is hooked up to a 40kW generator, which can either power the car’s 82kW electric motor, or recharge the car’s battery. According to Volvo, this allows the C30′s electric range to be boosted from the original 110km up to over 1,000km.

Click for enlarged image

Technical Concept II is also based on a Volvo C30. This isn’t a regular range extender vehicle as there is a combustion engine installed in the rear that directly drives the rear wheels, thus it is a parallel setup instead of a series setup. And it’s quite a powerful engine as well – a three cylinder that makes 190 horsepower thanks to a turbocharger, driving the rear wheels via a 6-speed automatic transmission. This engine can also be used to charge a battery via a 40kW generator, which powers a 82kW electric motor. The two combined power sources puts out over 300hp, taking the C30 Technical Concept II up to 100km/h in under 6 seconds.

Click for enlarged image

The Technical Concept III is based on a Volvo V60. It’s similar to Technical Concept II where both the electric motor and engine drive the wheels, but in this setup the entire drivetrain is installed under the bonnet in the front. Up to 50km/h, the car runs on its 111hp (80kW) electric motor, but after that the 190hp kicks in. The engine is also hooked up to a 40kW generator so it can be used to charge the battery as well. The car can run 50km on the battery alone, but its 45 litre tank of petrol extends it up to over 1,000km.

“This is an exciting expansion of our increasing focus on electrification. Battery cost and size mean that all-electric cars still have a relatively limited operating range. With the Range Extender, the electric car has its effective range increased by a thousand kilometres – yet with carbon dioxide emissions below or way below 50 g/km,” says Derek Crabb, Vice President Powertrain Engineering at the Volvo Car Corporation.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 07:58:10 +0000.

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Oh deer, watch out! – Volvo developing system to avoid collision with wild animals

Anthony Lim — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 09:35:25 +0000

More news on the collision avoidance assistance front, but this time, it has to do with animals – Volvo is developing a system that alerts and automatically brakes for animals on the road.

With thousands of motorists across the globe killed in accidents caused by collisions with wild animals each year, the aim of the project is to develop a safety system that reduces the risk of collisions with said wild animals. The new system is based on technologies from Pedestrian Detection with Full Auto Brake and will be launched on the market in a few years’ time, Volvo says.

The system consists of two parts – a radar sensor and an infra-red camera that can register the traffic situation. The camera monitors the road ahead and if an animal is within range the system alerts the driver with an audible signal. If the driver doesn’t react, the brakes are automatically applied.

As the majority of accidents with animals occur at dusk or after nightfall, it’s essential for the system to function in the dark. The goal, of course, is for the system to function at the normal rural highway speeds, as opposed to the current pedestrian detection system which operates at low speeds, specifically for city usage.

The challenge being faced by the engineers is how to ‘teach’ the system to recognise different animals. A development team from Volvo spent time at a safari park digitally logging film sequences of animals and their various behavioral patterns, focusing on moose, red deer and fallow deer. By driving very slowly along a trail where fodder had been laid out to attract the animals, data was recorded and this will be used to evaluate and develop the sensor system.

In the first stage, the system will respond to large animals that risk injuring the driver or passengers in an impact, such as moose, deer and reindeer. There’s good reason for going with the trio – in Sweden alone, more than 47,000 accidents involving wild animals took place in 2010, 7,000 of them with moose.

The company says that the greatest danger is from collisions with a moose, or Eurasian elk, if you prefer. In an impact with an Alces alces, there’s a relatively high risk of personal injury, since it’s common for the animal to end up on or roll across the front of the car and its windscreen.

The project has been under way for just over a year, though a lot of work still remains to be done. Various technologies are currently being evaluated and software is being developed. And while the system “learns” to recognise various animals, development is also under way on the necessary decision-making mechanisms, which is how and when the protective system is activated to respond.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 07:58:10 +0000.

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Volvo C30 Electric production begins – first deliveries to leasing customers start in August

Anthony Lim — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 11:26:59 +0000

Volvo has begun production of its C30 Electric, and initial deliveries to leasing customers, mainly companies, authorities and governmental bodies is expected to begin from August.

The car, which will be delivered to leasing customers throughout Europe including those in Sweden, Belgium, the Netherlands and Norway – is built on the regular assembly line in the Ghent factory and then transported to Goteborg for installation of the motor, batteries and other model specific electronics.

The C30 Electric has an operating range of up to 150 kilometres per full charge – charging can be done via a regular household power socket, with a full recharge taking about seven hours. The car has a 130 kph top speed and does the 0-100 kph sprint in 10.9 seconds.

Tests on a fleet of about 50 cars have been conducted since September 2010, mainly internally at the Volvo Car Corporation. In terms of production, about 250 cars will be built by end 2012, possibly more if market interest takes off, the company says.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 07:58:10 +0000.

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New Volvo app allows remote checking and commands

Danny Tan — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 03:25:40 +0000

Volvo has released a mobile app for iOS and Android that allows the driver to “stay in touch” with a parked car via his/her smart phone. The free app is an extension of Volvo On Call, which originally focused on SoS calls in an emergency. It’s for owners of all new Volvo models (from MY 2012) with Volvo On Call.

Functions include a car locator (with digital compass, car horn/indicators can be used to help search), remote door lock, vehicle dashboard (with info such as fuel level, range, average fuel consumption, etc), car health check and driving journal. The latter includes data of each trip during the last 40 days can be downloaded and stored.

Besides the above, vehicle information such as model, registration number and VIN number can be displayed on the phone. If the car alarm is triggered, the driver is alerted via the mobile app as well. These are all in addition to the original Volvo On Call features.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 07:58:10 +0000.

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Volvo Flywheel KERS system – significant performance gains, with up to 20% less fuel consumption

Anthony Lim — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 06:09:57 +0000

Click to enlarge

Volvo is set to test a new system called Flywheel KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System), which it claims will make a four-cylinder engine feel like a six-cylinder and at the same time reduce fuel consumption by up to 20%. The company has received a 6.57 million Swedish kronor grant from the Swedish Energy Agency for development, in a joint project together with Volvo Powertrain and SKF.

The Flywheel KERS is fitted to the rear axle – during retardation, the braking energy causes the flywheel to spin at up to 60,000 revs per minute, and when the car starts moving off again, the flywheel’s rotation is transferred to the rear wheels via a specially designed transmission.

The combustion engine that drives the front wheels is switched off as soon as the braking begins – the energy in the flywheel can be used to accelerate the vehicle or to power the vehicle once it reaches cruising speed.

The flywheel’s stored energy is sufficient to power the car for short periods. How it will have a major impact on fuel consumption is this: based on calculations, the combustion engine will be able to be turned off about half the time when driving in a New European Driving Cycle mode.

Since the flywheel is activated by braking, and the duration of the energy storage (the length of time the flywheel spins) is limited, the technology is at its most effective during driving featuring repeated stops and starts, which means busy urban traffic.

Combining the flywheel’s energy with the combustion engine’s full capacity promises a significant boost in horsepower, and with swift torque build-up in attendance, this translates into rapid acceleration.

The flywheel – which spins in a vacuum to minimise frictional losses – that Volvo will use in its test car is made of carbon fibre, and weighs about 6 kg with a diameter of 20 cm. It’s not the first time flywheel propulsion assistance has been tested by the company – a Volvo 240 also did so back in the 1980s, but the heavy steel-based flywheel wasn’t very efficient.

Volvo also isn’t the first manufacturer to test flywheel technology, but it is in applying it to the rear axle of a car fitted with a combustion engine driving the front wheels. If the tests and technical development go as planned, expect cars with flywheel technology to reach the showrooms within a few years, the company says.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 07:58:10 +0000.

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CKD Volvo XC60 T5 Powershift replaces 2.0T – RM290k

Danny Tan — Tue, 10 May 2011 06:38:28 +0000

In November 2010, Volvo Car Malaysia introduced the first locally assembled XC60, the 2.0T Powershift.

Now Volvo has replaced the 2.0T with a more powerful variant with more features, the XC60 T5 Powershift, priced at RM289,950 OTR without insurance, which is RM8,000 costlier than the 2.0T. For that, one gets more power and more kit.

The ‘T5′ moniker may lead many to believe that it’s powered by a five-cylinder turbo, but these days the number in the name no longer denotes the cylinder count. So the XC60 T5 comes with a turbocharged four-pot from Volvo’s GTDI (Gasoline Turbocharged Direct Injection) range. It makes 240 hp and 320 Nm of torque, which is quite a jump from the 2.0T’s 203 hp/300 Nm.

It’s also good enough to haul the XC60 from 0-100 km/h in 8.1 seconds, eight tenths faster than the 2.0T. The engine is mated to a six-speed dual-clutch Powershift gearbox.

The equipment that the T5 gets over the 2.0T include Pedestrian Detection, Collision Warning now with Full Auto Brake, Adaptive Cruise Control with Queue Assist and a new Volvo Sensus infotainment system with a 7-inch colour screen.

The 2.0T’s CD player is upgraded to a DVD player with a MP3 decoder here, while the Bluetooth hands-free system now comes with audio streaming. This is in addition to City Safety, Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) and Roll Stability Control.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 07:58:10 +0000.

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Volvo S80 2.5T – limited units at an offer price!

Anthony Lim — Thu, 05 May 2011 17:32:29 +0000

Right, here’s the deal – Volvo Car Malaysia has a bargain in store for you if you’ve been eyeing the top-of-the-range S80 2.5T.

For a limited time only, Volvo’s authorised dealers are offering limited units of the 231 hp, 340 Nm beast at a special price. The company isn’t divulging what the price is, so you’ll have to find out more by heading over to the showroom. Do polish your negotiating skills – no two deals are going to be quite alike, given the fact that you’ll probably be trading in your old car for the purchase, that sort of thing.

To find out more, call or visit the participating authorised dealers, which are:

• Swedish Marque’s showroom in KL (1800-88 2222 / 03-9236 2822),
• Federal Auto showrooms in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Penang, Ipoh, Malacca and Johor Baru (03-2274 9300).
• In Sabah, contact the Volvo Gallery in Kota Kinabalu (088-485 544).

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 07:58:10 +0000.

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Volvo V70 R-Design – going for that extra sporty look

Anthony Lim — Wed, 04 May 2011 04:18:28 +0000

The S80 Executive mentioned previously is one of two special versions Volvo has just come up with, and here’s the other – the V70 R-Design, which has been developed for buyers who want an extra sporty look.

No change in the mechanicals or running gear with this one, but there are a number of specially-developed exterior and interior design details. The exterior features unique design cues in the front, and comes equipped with LED turn indicators integrated into the door mirrors with silk metal covers as well as a unique, diamond-cut 18-inch wheel called Ixion.

Inside, the car gets leather upholstery trimmed completely in off-black, with leather around the gear selector and black floor-mats with contrasting stitching being associated elements. The vehicle also features the Volvo Sensus infotainment system, which comes with a five-inch or seven-inch colour screen located in the upper part of the centre stack.

The R-Design package is available across all V70 drivelines, including the newly-launched 1.6 litre DRIVe diesel version.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 07:58:10 +0000.

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Volvo S80 Executive – the most luxurious one yet

Anthony Lim — Wed, 04 May 2011 03:14:14 +0000

Volvo has come up with two new variants, designed for buyers who want a car with that extra exclusive look and individual touch. The S80 Executive is the first of the two new takes, and there’s plenty of plush in this one.

Refinement is the word that comes with the Executive badging – the car is the first Volvo model with an instrument panel top in leather, available in espresso brown or off black. Other interior details include ventilated soft leather seats with massage function, leather door panels, an integrated analogue clock on the instrument panel and an aluminium centre console storage.

It also features specially designed, extra thick carpets, and there’s even an option to install a fridge in the rear seat, combined with a set of Swedish crystal glasses, all in the name of luxury.

The S80 Executive comes replete with the company’s latest Sensus infotainment system, which presents all information on a five-inch or seven-inch colour screen in the upper part of the centre stack, positioned high up to make it easy for the driver to keep his or her eyes on the road.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 07:58:10 +0000.

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2012 Volvo S60 R-Design to get more power – 325 hp!

Danny Tan — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 03:16:27 +0000

Click to enlarge

The 2012 Volvo S60 R-Design will get a significant horsepower and torque increase when it goes on sale later this year. Volvo’s T6 engine, a turbocharged inline six, will now produce 325 hp and 480 Nm, up from the standard 304 hp/440 Nm.

Volvo’s most dynamic model ever will also get a strut brace under the hood to stiffen up the body structure and improve steering response. At the rear, the R-Design features monotube dampers. Unlike the twin-tube dampers used in the T6, the monotube system features compression and return damping via the same valve, giving shorter and faster fluid flow. This translates to quicker response.

Click to enlarge

The springs have been shortened by 15 mm to give the car more visual attitude. Spring stiffness is 15% higher compared to the dynamic chassis in the S60 T6, while the bushings with which the rear dampers are attached to the body are 20% stiffer. The front tie-blade bushing is a massive 400% stiffer than before to counteract wheel bouncing and shaking.

As with the T6, the R-Design will have Volvo’s electronically controlled AWD system with Instant Traction and Corner Traction Control with torque vectoring, as well as safety highlights such as Pedestrian Detection with Full Auto Brake.

Click to enlarge

Looks wise, the R-Design will get a redesigned lower front fascia with a grille painted in glossy black, 90 mm twin pipes, exclusive 18-inch diamond cut wheels, rear trunk spoiler, standard Dual Xenons with Active Bending Lights and a special colour – Passion Red.

Inside, a number of new features help to further differentiate the R-Design. The front sports seats get new seat cushion with deeper side bolsters. The upholstery will be offered in off-black leather with contrasting stitch and a textured leather accent with embossed R-Design logo across the backrests. The dash also features a sport steering wheel with R-Design logo, gear selector, sports pedals, floor mats and a blue instruments.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 07:58:10 +0000.

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Volvo Concept Universe interprets next luxury Volvo sedan

Anthony Lim — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 04:47:45 +0000

Here is Volvo’s definition of what a uber-luxury sedan should be – it’s called the Concept Universe, and the large and lush vehicle is supposed to offer a preview of what to expect from the firm’s next top-of-the line sedan. It’s all rather removed from the current S80, which suddenly looks quite dowdy.

The company says that the Concept Universe – which was unveiled in Shanghai – has been designed to spark a subconscious desire and a feeling of eternal beauty, with a form exhibiting a new human-centric design language.

The shape is very much geared towards the future, with a coupe-like roofline and contemporary, solid rear defining things, but Volvo says it also echoes the company’s proud heritage by borrowing design cues from classic models of the past.

No specific technical details with this one, so it’s left to the imagination and visuals to hold court. There’s no shortage of Scandinavian design cues on parade though, especially in the cabin.

The interior has been designed to be user-focused but refreshingly uncomplicated, being driver-orientated in the front and comfortably relaxed in the rear, Volvo says. Features available to the driver are intuitive controls and a touch-screen that approaches the hand when the driver reaches towards it.

The seating on this one is inspired by ultra-comfortable chairs. Passengers at the back – enveloped by an interior that moulds into the rear seat and becomes part of the seating environment – are embraced by light-coloured seats offering pure comfort.

Displaying classic forms, materials and textures, all used with a twist to create a special contemporary luxury experience, the Concept Universe is very much a style-sampling exercise – the company is eager to hear what the most demanding Chinese customers think of this luxurious concept, ahead of taking notes from its European and American customer base. Well, China is very much the “home” market now, so it’s no surprise potential customers there get first dibs on exploring the new bits being bandied with this one.

In Shanghai, Volvo also announced that it is developing an all-new platform architecture called SPA (Scaled Platform Architecture) for its next generation of cars. When the next luxury sedan arrives in a few years, it will be among the first Volvos built on the SPA; the platform will eventually find its way on to all the company’s large and mid-size cars.

Gallery after the jump.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 07:58:10 +0000.

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Volvo S60 – accessory packages galore for the new boy

Anthony Lim — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 15:25:02 +0000

It’s already comprehensively equipped, the just launched second-generation Volvo S60 is, but if you think you’d like to personalise it further, well, here’s some lovely news – there’s a host of accessory packages you can strap on to it to make it even Sweder (okay, that’s a bad one).

There’s a skid plate for the front bumper to be had, as well as a deco frame. You can have a skid plate too at the back, and replace the standard exhaust tip with a rectangular end pipe.

Click to enlarge

Elsewhere, there are optional sports pedals, side scuff plates and a boot lid spoiler in the dress up list, and for infotainment and electronic assist gadgetry the list is made up of a multimedia RSE system and RTI navigation system in addition to a rear park assist camera and front blind view camera, the last only able to be installed to the car with 7-inch screen already fitted.

Update:The pricing list for the accessories package as issued originally by Volvo Car Malaysia has been revised (April 25), as in the graphic above – there were some errors in the initial list released, which have been corrected. The offer still runs until May 15; do check with your local Volvo dealer for more details.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 07:58:10 +0000.

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Volvo S60 launched locally – RM348k for T6, RM288k for T5

Anthony Lim — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 13:11:49 +0000

It’s tagged as the sportiest Volvo ever launched in Malaysia, and it’s here – Volvo Car Malaysia today introduced the all-new second-generation S60, and to get things going the model is available in two CBU variant forms, these being the 3.0 T6 AWD (all-wheel drive) and 2.0 T5.

The T6 AWD is equipped with a 3.0 litre inline six-cylinder twin-scroll turbocharged engine that offers 304 hp at 5,400 rpm and 440 Nm of torque from 2,100 to 4,200 rpm. Volvo’s most powerful six-cylinder is coupled with Instant Traction AWD and mated to a second-generation six-speed automatic Geartronic transmission, and performance specs include a 0-100 kph sprint time of 6.5 seconds and a 250 kph top speed.

As for the T5, it wears a 2.0 litre four-cylinder turbo mill, here mated to a six-speed Powershift gearbox. Figures include a 240 hp at 5,500 rpm output and 320 Nm of torque at 1,800 to 5,000 rpm as well as a 0-100 kph time of 7.5 seconds. We tested this one sometime back during a drive preview of the car, covered in Danny’s comprehensive report.

The S60 T6 comes with a self-adjusting Four-C (Continuously Controlled Chassis Concept) chassis with three settings – Comfort for cruising, Sport for those naughty moments and Advance to increase driving dynamics. At the heart of Four-C is Volvo’s semi-active suspension with continuously controlled Monroe-Öhlins shock absorbers.

The T5 has a Dynamic chassis as standard, but both variants boast improved steering, stiffer springs and bushes as well as more damping than any previous model. Both versions also feature brake energy regeneration.

The Dynamic Stability and Traction Control (DSTC) now features Advanced Stability Control and Traction Torque Vectoring as part of the kit. The ASC anti-skid feature makes it possible to identify skidding tendencies at a very early stage, thus improving handling and allowing for rapid avoidance manoeuvres.

Meanwhile, Corner Traction Control by Torque Vectoring balances the torque between the front wheels during acceleration while cornering – the torque is distributed from a spinning inner wheel to reduce understeer and increase traction.

Safety-wise, the S60 is every inch a Volvo, with more safety components than any brand in its segment. The piece de resistance is the groundbreaking Pedestrian Detection with full auto brake feature.

A world’s first, the system detects pedestrians who walk onto the road in front of the car and warns the driver. If there’s no intervention from the driver, the system automatically applies full braking power. Pedestrian Detection – working in tandem with City Safety – can avoid a collision with a pedestrian at speeds of up to 35 kph.

Now, Pedestrian Safety may be the cherry on the cake, but there’s the usual host of active preventive safety kit to be found on the new ‘un, and besides Blind Spot Information System (BLIS), there’s Collision Warning with Auto Brake (CWAB), which warns and automatically brakes if the car risks hitting another vehicle from behind.

Then there’s Driver Alert Control (DAC), which detects and alerts tired and distracted drivers and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Queue Assist, a radar-based adaptive cruise control system which automatically maintains a set gap to the vehicle in front. It’s operable up to 200 kph with repeated speeding up or slowing down, including speeds below 30 kph.

The T6 gets an additional feature, Lane Departure Warning, which alerts the driver if the car runs across the lane markers without the turn indicator being used. As for wheels, the T5 comes with five-spoke 17-inch Balder design alloys, while the T6 wears 18-inch Sleipner seven-spoke ones.

Inside the new S60, you’ll find a new infotainment system called the Volvo Sensus, which allows the driver to get up close and personal with high-tech features without having to read the owner’s manual (always a welcome thing, no?). Sensus presents information from the audio unit, navigation system and other functions on a 7-inch colour screen installed high in the centre console and is accessible via steering-wheel controls.

The T6 also boasts a Premium Sound system, replete with a class-D digital 5 x 130 watt amplifier, Dolby Digital (in combination with Dolby Pro Logic II Surround), the award-winning MultEQ from Audyssey Laboratories and 12 loudspeakers.

A whole palette of exterior colours (15 in all, based on the listing) as well as seven leather interior combinations are available for the S60 T5 and T6, with two brand new shades, Vibrant Copper and Flamenco Red, in the mix. The T6 is priced at RM348,000 while the T5 sells for RM288,000 (both prices on-the-road, without insurance).

For more information, visit the Volvo Car Malaysia website.

Live gallery of launch pix after the jump.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 07:58:10 +0000.

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Volvo S60 “Naughty Level 4″ Teaser Videos

Paul Tan — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 14:37:24 +0000

Volvo Cars Malaysia have uploaded a few teaser videos for the upcoming Volvo S60 onto their Youtube channel. The videos feature a hot red Volvo S60 in some pretty impressive precision driving. Enjoy the videos (1 above, the rest after the jump), and we’ll get back to you with a launch report from the Volvo S60′s launch happening tomorrow.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 07:58:10 +0000.

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VIDEO: Volvo S60 Street Art Painting Time Lapse

Paul Tan — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 08:01:22 +0000

Volvo produced this very cool video to promote the new Volvo S60 as part of the Volvo Art Session series. Basically, 10 street artists (C-line, Yummy Industries, Daim, Pius Portmann, Donovan & Onur, Blackyard, Nevercrew, Michel FR, Sukibamboo and Wes21) spent 5 days painting a few designs on a canvas made of a completely snow white Volvo S60 against a plain white background.

A few different designs were painted over the car, and the entire process over the whole 5 days is presented in this time lapse video. Enjoy!

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 07:58:10 +0000.

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Volvo to invest $10 billion and build cars in Chengdu, targets 20% of China’s premium segment in 2015

Danny Tan — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 05:19:54 +0000

Volvo, which is now owned by Chinese carmaker Geely, has revealed its ambitious plans in China, which is now the world’s largest and most promising market. The Swedish brand will allocate $10 billion in investments over the next 5 years to achieve 20% market share in China’s luxury car segment in 2015.

To make one in five premium brand cars in China a Volvo, the Swedes need to sell 200,000 vehicles in China by 2015, compared to just 39,000 sold in 2010. Volvo also has plans to expand its dealer network to 220 by 2015 from the current 106.

To achieve that goal, Volvo will open a new plant in the southwest city of Chengdu in 2013. The facility will include assembly, engine and transmission plants, and will be sitting next to a Geely factory. The Chengdu plant will also house Volvo’s new centres for research, parts procurement and sales in western China. Volvo is also looking at having another factory in Daqing, northeast China.

“That’s one of the benefits which we have here being a Chinese company and enjoying most of the benefits of labour,” Volvo CEO Stefan Jacoby told CNN. “Geely is a manufacturer offering cars for the lower-end of the auto industry and Volvo is definitely a premium and a luxury brand at the upscale segment of the auto industry. We have no intention to bundle this or to combine this,” assured the ex-head of VW America.

His employers sang in the same tune. “We continue to uphold our principle of Geely is Geely and Volvo is Volvo,” Geely board chairman Li Shufu said. The company also assured that its new plants will not affect operations and employment in Europe, so Chinese output is likely to be just for local consumption.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 07:58:10 +0000.

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Volvo V60 is the world’s first diesel plug-in hybrid

Danny Tan — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 02:40:55 +0000

Diesel loving Europe hasn’t embraced the hybrid car in a big way, not when modern oil burners are as frugal without the aid of batteries. So how about a plug-in diesel hybrid? Wouldn’t that be the ultimate in performance (in EV terms) and efficiency? Meet Volvo’s V60 diesel plug-in hybrid, a world’s first that will debut in Geneva.

The fruit of co-operation between Volvo Cars and Swedish energy supplier Vattenfall, this production-ready V60 combines the best qualities of electric and diesel power. It will hit the market in 2012. Headline figures include a fully electric range of up to 50 km, C02 emissions averaging at just 49 g/km (current small car benchmark is around 100 g/km) and a combined output of 215 + 70 horsepower, 440 + 200 Nm of torque and 0-100 km/h in just 6.9 seconds.

The front wheels of the V60 will be driven by a five-cylinder 2.4-litre D5 engine with 215 hp/440 Nm, while the rear axle features ERAD (Electric Rear Axle Drive, an electric motor) with 70 hp/200 Nm. ERAD is powered by a 12 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. The car features a six-speed automatic gearbox.

The plug-in hybrid can be charged via a regular household electricity socket at home or elsewhere. A full 10A charge takes 4.5 hours. The time is shortened to 3 hours with 16A, while a charge in a 6A socket takes 7.5 hours.

The driver chooses the preferred driving mode via buttons on the instrument panel: Pure, Hybrid and Power. In Pure the V60 runs only on its electric motor as much as possible. Hybrid is the default mode when the car is started. The engine and electric motor interact to provide the best balance between required performance and low emissions.

In the EU combined cycle, this car is rated at 53.1 km/l and the range is nearly 1,200 km. Volvo says that fuel cost will be one third of a normal V60. In Power mode, both engine and motor go all out for the best acceleration.

Using the car setup menu, the driver can key in the planned route’s distance (short, medium or long). The control system calculates the balance between diesel and electric power to obtain the lowest possible CO2 emissions for the given distance. The driver can also switch off hybrid functions to save battery juice for later use, a full city route for instance.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 07:58:10 +0000.

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Second Generation Volvo S60 2.0T Test Drive Review

Danny Tan — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 19:40:26 +0000

I still remember the day when I first set eyes on the original Volvo S60 – a black T5 with those gorgeous multi-spoke rims. As with most young men, Volvo wasn’t a brand that I had lust for (I was attracted to the allure of the four rings then), but the turbocharged S60 with 250 horses was a different kind of beast. Actually, the so called ‘Revolvolution’ started with the S80 before that, but the more compact S60 wore those shoulders better. Sexy, almost.

That was a full decade ago. They took their time but Gothenburg has finally given the world a new S60. Like how the original attempted to change people’s views of the brand, the new S60′s mission is to change one’s perception that Volvo’s are dull to drive. This car is the most sporting Volvo has ever made. Heard that before? We’ll find out if it truly is, but one thing is for certain – this S60 looks the part.

Continue reading the report after the jump.

Like the old S60, this new one doesn’t debut a new design direction. The production XC60, which is a faithful rendition of the XC60 Concept of 2007, had the honour. Design chief Steve Mattin, whose team came up with this new look, describes it as “pumping up visual volume” for Volvos to be a “magnet for the viewer’s eyes.” His goal in words is this: “If you say that you recognise a Volvo from 50 metres today, I want to get to the point where you will instantly spot it from twice that distance in the future.”

The XC60 is an eye catcher all right, but the S60 takes it a step further. It has the same face, but trades the crossover’s more upright front for a slim, low and wide nose that reminds this writer of a snake. Like the XC60, the S60 also has a twin LED bar arrangement for the driving lamps, but the headlamps are more swept back on the saloon and feature “eyebrow” indicators. With highly sculpted bumpers/air intakes, it’s quite an imposing sight in rear view mirrors.

If the head is serpent like, the profile looks slippery. Volvo’s trademark shoulders have evolved from arrow straight to a gentle wave, not unlike that on the Audi A5. Overhangs have become unfashionable since the old S60 debuted, so the wheels are pushed more to the corners of the car, although not as much as a 3-Series.

“Four-door coupe” is in vogue these days, and also very overused, although none can accuse Volvo of doing so – the S60′s roofline is more sweeping than some real coupes, and the C pillar flows straight down to the tail lamps without flattening out.

At the rear, the elements that will catch your eye are the tail lamp clusters. Instead of the usual blocky items, the S60′s are cut into a curve. They house two lines of red strips that seem to be inspired by Puma shoes. There are two exhaust pipes – one on each side – jutting out from the must-have “diffuser style” rear bumper.

The overall look is sporty yet graceful and sleek, not overtly muscular or aggressive, just like how a modern Volvo should be. Size wise, the S60 doesn’t stray far from the compact exec template set by BMW and Mercedes, which is the segment this Swede is aiming at. The S60 has a slightly bigger footprint though; its 2,776 mm wheelbase is 16 mm longer than the the identical measurement of both the E90 and W204, and the Volvo’s overall length breaches 4.6 metres, unlike the sub 4.5-metre Germans.

The most dynamic Volvo ever? Certainly, if based on looks alone, but how about the meat in the pie? Volvo Car Malaysia gave us a go at these Singapore registered units recently and we got to experience the S60 on both highways and B roads. It was a very pleasant drive, and quite a revelation, if not exactly mind blowing.

Looks aside, the S60 made a very good first impression. Step in the cabin and you’ll find a typically warm and inviting Volvo interior, although it’s all very modern. Volvo’s brand of Scandinavian minimalism and ergonomics is easier felt than explained with words, but we’ll try.

Although it looks fresh, the layout and elements are familiar. The floating centre console – now angled slightly towards the driver – features four big knobs and a cluster of buttons for the audio and climate.

The humanoid shape is genius and there’s no diving into menus or multiple steps for simple everyday functions. Sounds elementary, but you’ll be surprised that not everyone gets it right. The brushed metal trim is fit for a fine timepiece, and the dials are as legible as a good watch should be.

One new element is the colour screen above the centre console, which has displaced the air con vents into a rather unusual layout. It displays menus, settings and camera views from both ends of the vehicle, which can be shown together on a split screen.

The vital contact points are fine, too. Volvo seats are among the most comfortable in the business – they’re big, cushy and perfect for long journeys, although those who are used to firmer and grippier German chairs may not like them. True, a tighter hug wouldn’t have gone amiss, but one can’t have it all.

The inviting rear seats are deeply scalloped but the middle section is relatively flat, so the third person won’t have it that bad. The sloping roofline may lead one to think otherwise, but rear headroom isn’t an issue. Volvo actually designed two cutouts where rear passengers’ heads would be, freeing up a few extra centimetres.

I didn’t have a ruler on hand, but the three-spoke steering felt smaller than usual for a Volvo, and is nice in the hands. Not so sure about the cream coloured inner rim though. Bear in mind that the trim colour of this Singapore spec car may not make it here; we’re likely to get a more sober palette.

But we are getting a very high spec CBU cars at launch, so expect a fully loaded S60 with memory electric seats, keyless entry, xenons, big wheels and a host of safety toys. The latter includes Pedestrian Detection with full auto brake, City Safety, Rollover Protection System, Collision Warning with Auto Brake, Driver Alert Control, Blind Spot Info System (BLIS) and Advanced Stability Control. It’s a Volvo after all!

Speaking of safety, Volvo prepared a demo run for us involving an inflatable doll. The objective was to try for ourselves the effectiveness of Pedestrian Detection. PD not only detects human presence in front of the S60 (via radar on the grille and camera on the windscreen – radar detects object, camera determines if it’s human), but will fully brake the car if the driver somehow doesn’t react to audible and visual warnings. It works.

The S60′s new dual-mode radar’s wider field of vision ensures that pedestrians about to step into the frame can be detected early on. The higher resolution camera makes it possible to detect the pedestrian’s pattern of movement. It works to prevent collisions at speeds of up to 35 km/h. At higher speeds, the system will engage to slow down the car as much as possible to minimise impact and injury.

This is actually a development of City Safety, which made its debut on the XC60. This means that besides humans, full auto brake also responds to vehicles in front that are either at a standstill or moving in the same direction as the S60. It all sounds like magic, but Volvo designed these aids to backup a driver if he loses attention, not as a replacement for good defensive driving and full attention on the road. At the end of the day, the most effective safety equipment is the driver himself.

We didn’t fall asleep at the wheel that’s for sure. These Singapore registered units were 2.0T models with a 2.0-litre turbo four-pot producing 203 hp and 300 Nm of torque from 1,750 to 4,000 rpm (320 Nm on overboost) – putting it well above the 320i, 323i and C200 CGI in the numbers game. 0-100 km/h is done in 8.2 seconds and top speed is 230 km/h. That 0-100 time beats both BMWs and matches the Merc’s.

It’s also a modern downsized engine from the GTDi family that sends off the familiar five-cylinder engine from the old S60 to retirement. If there’s anything we miss, it’s the old lump’s tunes, not its fuel consumption. This one is rated at 8.3 litres per 100 km on the mixed cycle, or 12 km/l.

Numbers aside, the engine itself is par for the course. Like other modern direct injection turbo motors, there’s no shortage of low end go and one doesn’t need to work it to the max to go fast – even if you do explore the 6,500 rpm redline, it’s smooth and unstrained at the top end. The 6-speed Powershift dual-clutch transmission performs as expected, which is very good but ultimately not as slick as a DSG. By the way, there are no shift paddles.

Volvo has two suspension settings for the S60 – Dynamic and Comfort, with the difference in shock absorbers and anti-roll bar thickness – and Malaysia will get Dynamic. We didn’t get to try Dynamic because the test cars were in Comfort spec, but they performed very well throughout, which left us wondering if the “sportier” suspension will be too uncompromising – only time will tell.

The S60 feels refreshing and miles better to drive than its predecessor and big brother S80. In both high speed highway cruising and lumpy B roads that would’ve caused the S80 to bottom out, the S60 (in Comfort spec, remember) held on well. Body roll isn’t a distraction while body control is surprisingly decent. It’s a softer, better damped ride than a 3-Series that’s for sure, which is a desirable trait in my opinion.

Very surefooted and stable, the impression it gave me was similar to when driving the Mk6 Golf TSI flat out for the first time on a dark and wet Icelandic morning – not overtly sporty in nature but good to drive fast and without any vices. The smaller steering wheel is nice and the rack is precise and quicker than before, although there’s not much absolute feel transmitted. Grip is good, too. Good enough for most people most of the time, but there are better entertainers in the class.

The most dynamic Volvo ever isn’t a hollow boast. The S60 shows that its creators has got hold of how a modern Volvo should drive – turbocharged speed, safe, secure and not awkwardly out of element when hustled. Add in a stylish and comfy cabin and you’ll have a competent premium saloon that offers something different from the usual German suspects. A good addition to the class, we say.

The S60 will be launched in Malaysia at the end of March, and will come in two variants – this 2.0T and a range topping T6 powered by a 3.0L turbo in-line six with 304 hp/440 Nm, paired to a six-speed Geartronic (torque converter) auto ‘box. The T6 will also ship with Volvo’s self adjusting FOUR-C active chassis. Estimated pricing is RM350k for the T6 and RM290k for the T5. Local assembly is planned for the third quarter of the year, and will most likely include smaller engines from the GTDi family.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 07:58:10 +0000.

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Volvo S60 to be launched in March – CBU T6 for RM350k

Danny Tan — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 06:54:21 +0000

As we’ve told you before, the all new Volvo S60 is coming to town, and now we know that it will be officially launched next month (March 2011). Typical for Volvo Car Malaysia, new models initially arrive as a top-spec CBU, before local assembly kicks in to offer smaller engines and more affordable pricetags.

The same goes for the S60, which will be available at launch in T6 and T5 guises. Local assembly is scheduled to start in the third quarter of this year, and cars that roll out of Shah Alam will likely come with Volvo’s turbocharged direct injection 1.6-litre GTDi engine. This downsized motor will be badged T3 or T4. Bear in mind that in Volvo’s new naming scheme, the number after the T doesn’t denote the cylinder count – the bigger the number, the higher it sits in the particular family.

The T6 is powered by a 3.0L in-line six turbo engine with 304 hp and 440 Nm of torque from 2,100 to 4,200 rpm. This all aluminium engine is paired to a six-speed Geartronic auto. The T5 meanwhile is a 2.0L four-pot turbo model with 203 hp and 300 Nm (overboost to 320 Nm). The T6 comes with Volvo’s self adjusting FOUR-C active chassis. For the new S60, Volvo has two suspension settings – Dynamic and Comfort, with the difference in shock absorbers and anti-roll bar thickness – and Malaysia will get Dynamic.

Both cars are fully loaded CBUs and safety kit includes Pedestrian Detection with full auto brake, City Safety, Rollover Protection System, Collision Warning with Auto Brake, Driver Alert Control, Blind Spot Info System (BLIS) and Advanced Stability Control. Full specs will be revealed at the launch.

Estimated pricing is RM350k for the T6 and RM290k for the T5.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 07:58:10 +0000.

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Volvo V60 Plug-In Hybrid to debut in Geneva

Anthony Lim — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 06:04:18 +0000

Volvo will unveil its V60 Plug-in Hybrid at the Geneva Motor Show in March, and says that the debutant is virtually production-ready. Developed in close cooperation with Swedish energy supplier Vattenfall, the vehicle is set to make its market debut in 2012.

The company adds that it will be the first manufacturer to go on the market with a hybrid featuring a turbodiesel pot driving the front wheels and an electric powertrain drivng the rear.

A D5 five-cylinder 2.4 litre turbodiesel, offering 215 hp and a maximum torque of 440 Nm, works the front rubbers of the V60 Plug-In Hybrid, while at the back zip is provided by an Electric Rear Axle Drive (ERAD) system, in the form of an 52 kW electric motor and 12 kW lithium-ion battery pack combination.

The sports wagon, which will ship with a six-speed automatic transmission, will be able to go for up to 50 km on pure electricity.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 07:58:10 +0000.

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Paul Tan's Automotive News » Volvo

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