Archive for Volvo

The latest company rumoured to be interested in buying Volvo and Land Rover from Ford is Magna. Well, not exactly the two brands, but they’re more interested in the plants that belong to the two brands.

Auto Motor und Sport reports that Magna wants to use the plants of the two marques to build models from other companies, which will help achieve full capacity. All that unused plant capacity lying around is a wasted investment anyway. Magna does contract assembly - it’s subsidiary Magna Steyr manufactures the current generation BMW X3 in Austria but lost the job to assemble the next gen X3.

While Ford has hired Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and HSBC to evaluate the future of it’s Jaguar and Land Rover brands, effectively putting them on the table for possible sale, it hasn’t said anything about possibly selling Volvo. Volvo seems to be doing well recently, reporting that it is heading for a record amount of cars sold globally, despite a slowdown in major markets like Germany and the US. Sales are expected to surpass the previous 456,000 unit record in 2004.

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Volvo fans were disappointed when Volvo announced earlier that it would drop it’s R performance car series, with cars like the 850R and the recent S60 R being the latest of it’s kind. It recently announced the R alphabet would be brought back again, but not as a line of performance cars, but instead a line of sporty aesthetics-focused bodykits.

Not particularly exciting, but here are the first in a line of R-DESIGN parts. They are for the Volvo C30, S40 and V50 platform sharing trio and include R-DESIGN badges on the grille and steering wheel, as well as a full bodykit with rear roof spoiler, five-spoke alloy wheels in both 17 and 18 inch sizes and an R-DESIGN interior.

More photos after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of Volvo R-DESIGN bodykits for C30, S40, V50

Volvo has added a new variant to it’s line-up of the Volvo S80 - the Volvo S80 T6 Turbo AWD. The T6 Turbo engine variant is slotted in between the normally aspirated 3.2 liter inline-6 aluminium engine and the 4.4 liter normally aspirated Yamaha V8 engine.

With a displacement of 3.0 liters, it makes 285 horsepower and 400Nm of torque from as low as 1,500rpm, remaining constant throughout the rev range. This is thanks to a twin-scroll turbo, fed by two streams of exhaust gas from two banks of 3-cylinders each. It is less complicated than a twin turbo setup but offers similar benefits.

All Wheel Drive comes standard with this new S80 variant, using an electronically controlled hydraulic clutch to distribute drive between the front and rear wheels. The AWD system features something Volvo calls Instant Traction, which shifts power at lightning speed from the front to the rear wheels when starting on a slippery or loose surface.

Click here to read the rest of New Volvo S80 T6 AWD

Volvo has launched the new facelifted versions of it’s Volvo S40 sedan and the Volvo V50 stationwagon. The styling cues have been updated to reflect Volvo’s new design cues that started with the new latest model S80 sedan and V70 stationwagon.

There is increased differentiation with the front ends of the two cars. Both cars use different bumper designs, and the V50 grille is now sportier with a black egg-crate design and a larger Volvo iron mark. Tail lamps for both cars are slimmer by 30mm, have a new graphic layout and now use LEDs to light up. The exhaust tailpipes have also had their shape and position altered.

As for the interior, there is now extra space on the front door inside panels thanks to reshaped speakers. There is now a new large compartment that can fit an A4 book, an upright drinks can or a water bottle lying down. The iconic slim center console that has been copied by other manufacturers now feature an optional real wood trim called Nordic Light Oak, which can be seen in the photos after the jump. It looks really weird, I prefer the normal brushed aluminium. Some safety enhancements include hazard lights that automatically come on when airbags are activated, and all three brake lights flashing five times a second during emergency braking or ABS function activation. Also, ISOFIX points in the rear seats are now standard.

Two models have engine enhancements - the 2.5 liter turbocharged T5 model’s horsepower is up by 10 to 23 horsepower, while the Euro V-compliant 400Nm D5 turbodiesel engine now comes with a 6-speed manual.

More photos after the jump, or read my road test report on the Volvo V50 T5.

Click here to read the rest of Volvo S40 and V50 facelifted

Volvo’s R badge was originally intended to change the public’s perception on Volvo. While being known for safety is a great branding achivement by itself, it wanted people to know that Volvo is just not all about boring old safety. Thus the R badge was born, first born by the 850 T5 R and later continuing on the new S60 R and V70 R.

The new generation R duo featured turbocharged engines making 300 horsepower, and went from 0 to 100km/h in 5.4 seconds, putting all those 300 horses to the ground through a Haldex all-wheel-drive system.

While Volvo’s R badged vehicles were delicious beasts to begin with, sales figures did not meet expectations. Annual sales targets were set at 3,800 for the S60 R and V70 R, but only managed to hit 1,098 S60 R and 528 V70 R in 2006. Thus the R badge will be dropped beginning 2008 onwards, but Volvo intends to cook up more performance versions in the future, just without the R badge.

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Volvo shares something in common with Audi, the fact that their stationwagon models usually garner more excitement than the sedan models, or at least that was the norm sometime in the past. Things might have changed somewhat now.

The Volvo V50, like other stationwagons in it’s class (3 Touring?) is a somewhat peculiar offering. A stationwagon usually means utility and lots of space, however C-segment vehicles are usually too compact to have the word spacious associated with them.

Read my report on the Volvo V50 T5, courtesy of Volvo Malaysia, after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of Volvo V50 T5 Test Drive Report

Aston Martin will be procuring Volvo’s help to develop the Aston Martin Rapide 4-door sedan’s safety system. Volvo’s safety engineering expertise was also used previously on the DB9 and V8 Vantage models. Volvo will develop a stiff aluminium structure for the Aston Martin Rapide. This includes designing the B-pillar and side-members to optimise occupant safety during side impact collisions.

Aston Martin hopes the new Rapide will add on about 1,000 to 2,000 units to the niche carmaker’s current production levels, helping with economies of scale as well as sales. It intends to launch the new Aston Martin Rapide in late 2008, hopefully before Porsche launches it’s competitors the Porsche Panamera.

Click here for more details on the Aston Martin Rapide concept.

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