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REVIEWS: First Drive: 2011 Volvo S60, Automotive Magazine
Ask most Americans what single word comes to mind when they think of Volvo, and they are likely to say, "safety." No other automaker has so burned the safety message into our brains than Volvo has over decades of advertising and brand management. Naturally, Volvo continues to capitalize on that reputation with the all-new 2011 S60, which integrates more active and passive safety systems than ever before, including a groundbreaking new pedestrian-protection system.
But Volvo wanted more for the new S60, which hits U.S. dealerships in mid-September 2010. Knowing how competitive the entry-luxury sedan market is, Volvo wanted the S60 to be as sexy as it is smart and as scintillating to drive as it is to look at. Peter Horbury, Volvo's former design director who returned to Volvo last year after a stint at parent Ford, led Volvo design in a new direction back in the 1990s with the S80 sedan. So, for more than a decade, Volvos have been fine-looking cars, whether we're talking sedans, wagons, SUVs, coupes, or convertibles. But they haven't come close to equaling other European makes in terms of their driving experience. Will the 2011 S60 change that? Keep reading.
Safety comes naturally, even for pedestrians. Volvo's all-new pedestrian-detection system is part of the $2100 Technology Package, which also includes adaptive cruise control, collision warning with full automatic braking, and warnings for maintaining distance and staying in your lane. But pedestrian detection is the unique offering here. Volvo's radar- and camera-based system can detect pedestrians in front of the car, warn the driver if anyone walks out into its path - and then automatically activate the S60's full braking power if the driver fails to respond in time.
How does it work? The system uses a newly developed radar unit integrated into the S60's grille, a camera fitted in front of the inside rearview mirror, and a central control unit. The radar's task is to detect any object in front of the car and to determine the distance to it while the camera determines what type of object it is. Pedestrian Detection with Full Auto Brake can avoid a collision with a pedestrian at speeds up to 22 mph if the driver does not react in time. At higher speeds, the focus is on reducing the car's speed as much as possible prior to the impact, to lessen its severity.
In a test that Volvo set up for us during our first drive of the S60 in Portugal, we drove at about 15-20 mph toward a stationary dummy, to mimic low-speed driving in a crowded urban area. "Just keep driving steadily toward the dummy," advised Tomas Andersson, senior manager for active safety electronics at Volvo. We did as we were instructed, and as we got closer to the dummy, the S60 sounded an urgent tone and flashed lights at us. Just as it seemed that the dummy's days were over, the car took the reins from us and slammed on the brakes. The S60 stopped in its tracks, the dummy's life was saved, and we were impressed. The radar's field of view is about 60 degrees, but the camera's field of view is only about 45 degrees, "so the limiting factor is the camera," explains Andersson. "We need redundancy to perform this kind of harsh maneuver." Meaning, both the camera and the radar must recognize the presence of a pedestrian at the same time, communicate this information with each other, and then take action by applying the brakes. The pedestrian-detection works up to 80 kph (50 mph) but does not work at night or in other low-light conditions.
The pedestrian-detection system is a follow-up to Volvo's existing collision-avoidance systems, including City Safe, standard on the new S60, which automatically brakes the car if the driver fails to do so when approaching another vehicle from behind.
Volvo also offers its blind-spot detection system as a $700 stand-alone option. Curtain air bags, seatbelt pretensioners, whiplash protection, and all the other safety systems we've come to expect from Volvo are also in play here.
At launch, standard six-cylinder and all-wheel drive. The 2011 Volvo S60 arrives in the United States with only one powertrain initially, but it's a good one: a turbocharged, 3.0-liter in-line six-cylinder producing 300 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque and mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is standard.
"We will introduce a less expensive volume engine as well," says Volvo Cars of North America brand manager Frank Vacca, "and it will be mated to standard front-wheel drive." Vacca won't confirm, but it's very likely that this second engine, which comes on-stream in the first quarter of 2011, will be the 203-hp turbocharged direct-injection 2.0-liter four-cylinder that Volvo is offering in the S60 in Europe from launch. It likely will be mated to a dual-clutch automatic transmission. For now, Vacca likes to point out that, with 325 lb-ft, the S60 has as much torque as the 4.4-liter V-8 in the XC90 SUV.
Volvo continues to employ several different suspension setups for the S60, its bestselling model worldwide. Volvo Cars of North America wisely chose the Dynamic suspension setup as standard equipment for the U.S. market; a softer Touring suspension is a no-cost option. The third available setup is the driver-controlled FOUR-C Active system, which is a stand-alone $750 option. Compared with Touring, the Dynamic setup has stiffer springs and bushings and allows more range of motion in the dampers.
The electronically controlled FOUR-C, for its part, allows the driver to choose between so-called Comfort, Sport, and Advanced settings. We thought it was a relatively useless gimmick when an earlier version of it debuted on the 2004 S60R, and we still have our suspicions, but we didn't have an opportunity to drive a car equipped with it in Portugal so we will withhold judgment for now. Roger Wallgren, team leader for large-car vehicle dynamics at Volvo, claims that the latest version of FOUR-C (continuously controlled chassis concept) is greatly improved. "You cannot compare this 4C with the old 4C suspension," says the former Saab engineer, who moved to Volvo three years ago. "The basic idea with the 4C chassis is that you get three cars in one," he explains. "If you are on a long journey, you choose comfort mode. If you want to enjoy the car on a challenging road, you select advanced mode. Most of the time, you will be happy with the middle mode, sport." How does 4C work? "It's not all in the electronics," Wallgren says. "It's also in the hardware, specifically the damper valving." In fact, the S60 Dynamic and the S60 4C share the same mechanical chassis components---springs, anti-roll bars, and bushings---except the dampers.
A nice "welcome back" gift for Peter Horbury.
Volvo exterior designer Örjan Sterner was responsible for the stunning shape of the 2011 S60, and we'd have to say that he created quite a nice "welcome back to Volvo" gift for returning design director Peter Horbury. The new S60's lines clearly pay homage to the 21st-century design theme that Horbury laid down in the 1990s, before he moved to Detroit to run Ford's North American design operation, yet the car's styling moves briskly in a new direction. Horbury must have been absolutely thrilled to see Sterner's work when he returned to Sweden in mid-2009.
Indeed, Horbury says "I was an immensely proud 'father' of the first-generation S60 almost ten years ago. It took our design language a major step forward. Now we are taking an even bigger visual stride with more emotional and sporty dynamism. But the basic idea is and will remain the same: a coupe with four doors."
The S60 interior is equally compelling, and Volvo designers say they took their inspiration for it from an unlikely place: the racetrack. "A quick glance inside the car is enough for you to feel that this is a Volvo with a totally different dynamic presence than previous models," says Jonathan Disley, head of interior design. "The racetrack's dramatic yet harmoniously flowing lines can be traced in almost every interior detail. It's an interior for all your senses." This is all a bit of a stretch, we'd say, but the S60 interior is indeed very, very nicely executed.
Interior trim themes concentrate on modern beige and black hues, but Volvo resurrected Beechwood brown, a shade of leather upholstery that traces its roots to classic Volvo models such as the P1800 ES and 164. We spent time in an S60 in the official copper exterior launch color and a two-tone interior of black and Beechwood brown, a very nice combination, as well as an S60 with a black exterior and a black-and-beige interior, which was also very smart. The seats both front and rear are very comfortable, there's 2.1 inches of additional rear legroom, and the instrument panel finally has a properly integrated, modern infotainment screen; it's standard even if you don't get the optional navigation system. HD radio and six months of Sirius satellite radio are standard, as are a DVD player and USB, iPod, and AUX inputs.
They weren't kidding about the sportiness.
Let's face it: the outgoing S60 was never a class leader and was well past its sell-by date. The S60 development team was charged with creating "the sportiest Volvo ever," and we think they have definitely achieved that. Not only is the 2011 S60 a vast improvement over its predecessor, it's also now a true rival for cars like the Audi A4, Mercedes-Benz C-class, and Acura TL, even if it lacks the keen edge of the BMW 3-series (what car doesn't?). The S60 moves with a grace and sense of purpose that has eluded Volvos for years.
We found the Dynamic suspension setting to be ideal. Our test S60 was equipped with 235/40R-18 Continental ContiSportContact 3 summer tires, and the car had a supple ride yet excellent grip, thanks in part to the all-wheel-drive system. Volvo also uses a rudimentary torque-vectoring system at the rear axle to send more torque to the outside wheel in corners. "BMW and Acura are [sending more torque to] the outer wheel through a mechanical device," explains chassis engineer Wallgren, "whereas ours is a brake system [via the stability control electronics]." He claims that it is a different way of achieving the same thing. That may be wishful thinking, but the S60 did carve through corners very nicely on a freshly paved former rally road in the mountains above Lisbon.
The T6 powertrain is also a winner. Smooth, progressive, seamless power and torque are on tap, and the six-speed automatic works pretty well, although it's sometimes just a tad slow to respond to manual-mode upshifts. There are no shift paddles. Fuel economy figures haven't been finalized, but Volvo expects to achieve a 17/26 city/highway fuel economy rating.
The S60 exhibits a crispness and a confidence that will surprise current drivers of Volvo sedans. With it, Volvo has improved not only on its traditional strength, safety, but also has made an even bigger styling statement. Most important, the S60 finally is competitive in terms of its driving dynamics.
A relative bargain The 2011 Volvo S60 is also a
relative bargain. With a base price of $38,550, the S60 includes 18-inch
wheels, leather sport seats, lots of standard safety equipment, and a
five-year, 60,000-mile warranty that includes all scheduled maintenance.
Here is a list of option packages and prices: Premium Package - $1,500
Power glass moonroof
Power passenger seat
Dual Xenon gas discharge headlights with Active Bending Light (ABL) Climate Package - $800
Heated front seat
Heated windshield washer nozzles
Headlight washers
Rainsensor wipers
Interior Air Quality System (IAQS) Multimedia Package - $2,700
Volvo Premium Multimedia Sound System with MultEQ XT by Audyssey, Dolby
ProLogic II, 650 watts, 12 premium loudspeakers
Rear park assist camera
Navigation system with real time traffic updates
Map Care with two complimentary navigation updates Technology Package -
$2,100
Pedestrian Detection with Full Auto Brake
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Queue Assist
Collision Warning with Full Auto Brake
Distance Alert
Lane Departure Warning Single Options
Metallic paint - $550
Premium Electric Silver paint - $675
Urbane Wood inlays - $300
Front and rear Park Assist - $500
Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) - $700
Personal Car Communicator (PCC) - $550
Touring chassis - N/C option
FOUR-C (Continuously Controlled Chassis Concept) Active Chassis - $750
17-inch "Njord" alloy wheels - N/C option
17-inch "Njord" alloy wheels with self supporting tires - $500 SPECS Base Price: $38,550
On Sale: September 2010 Powertrain Engine: Turbocharged 3.0-liter DOHC 24-valve I-6
Horsepower: 300 hp @ 5600 rpm
Torque: 325 lb-ft @ 2100 rpm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Drive: All-wheel Measurements L x W x H: 182.2 x 73.4 x 58.4 in
Legroom F/R: 41.9/33.5 in
Headroom F/R: 38.3/37.4 in
Cargo capacity 12.0 cu ft
Curb Weight: 3901 lb
Estimated EPA Rating (city/highway): 17/26 mpg
'The Twilight Saga: Eclipse' Volvo 'Lost in Forks' contest announced
Volvo is stepping up again after their successful "What Drives Edward" contest for The Twilight Saga: New Moon (300,000 entrants!) to bring forth their "Lost in Forks" sweepstakes for The Twilight Saga: Eclipse.
Once again, the company is using an interactive gaming challenge to offer fans the chance to win Edward Cullen's Eclipse XC60.
They're also hosting an Eclipse premiere sweepstakes at their website (see here), and the gaming session for the Eclipse vehicle giveaway begins on June 22nd.
Here's a clever quote from a Volvo CEO about it: "Edward and Volvo are a great match because Edward is a protector, yet at the same time, he's a fan of great style and speed."
Here's the "Lost in Forks" game's objective, according to a recent press release: "The objective of the game is to reach the Cullen's house in the shortest number of 'forks in the road.' Everyone who reaches the Cullen's in the shortest number of forks will be invited back for the finalist round, which will start July 13 and end July 15."
Good luck to all who enter!
2011 Volvo S60 T6 AWD - First Drive Review with Car and Driver
As hard as it may be to believe, there have been sporty Volvos in the past. The Swedish brand, now under the stewardship of Chinese carmaker Geely, won its share of rallies on the backs of cars like the PV, and the 850T-5R was stunningly quick in its goings and haltings. But those cars were aberrations, rare instances when the Nordic penchant for drinking lighter fluid exerted itself on the product-planning process.
Now, however, Volvo is dead sober about running amid Autobahn-bred competition with its 60-series vehicles, a designation the brand hopes to make synonymous with athletic driving behavior. We had inklings of this when the powerful, fluid-handling XC60 impressed us in a comparison test last summer, and the S60 continues in that vein. Makes sense: When every other carmaker is touting its safety bona fides and honing in on Volvo's self-declared turf, the Swedes need to dig a little deeper and find something new.
"Create the Sportiest Volvo Ever."
That was the engineering brief. But because Volvo knows that many of this volume model's customers might not autocross their S60s on the weekends, it offers three chassis tunes: Dynamic, Touring, and Four-C. All begin with the strut-front/multi-link-rear Y70 platform that underpins the XC60 and S80, as well as the previous generation of Volvo's mid-size sedan and wagon. The Dynamic chassis, shod with 18-inch wheels, will be standard for the U.S. market. It boasts springs that are almost 35-percent stiffer, stouter bushings, and harder suspension mounts versus the S80. A new steering column uses thicker tubing relative to its platform-mates, and the whole path from the steering wheel to the rack roughly doubles in stiffness.
The gentler Touring setting is a no-cost option in the U.S. It is a tweak to the Dynamic setting, with more relaxed damper valving and softer front and rear subframe bushings. For $750 you can get the third option, called Four-C (Continuously Controlled Chassis Concept). In it, adaptive dampers deliver three driver-selectable modes: Comfort (analogous to Touring), Sport (Dynamic's equivalent), and Advanced, for the flattest, stiffest response.At launch there will be four engine options worldwide, ranging from a hobbit-ready 161-hp diesel four to the turbocharged, 3.0-liter inline-six from the XC60, here putting out a very competitive 300-hp and 325 lb-ft of torque. We will get S60s with just this engine initially, but expect a version of Volvo's 2.5-liter inline-five within a year. The six, designated T6, hooks up to a six-speed automatic with manual shift control but no shift paddles. It feeds power through a Haldex AWD system, which defaults to 95/5 front/rear torque distribution but can send all of its power to the rear in cases of extreme loss of front grip. The S60 uses its traction-control sensors and braking system to act as torque-vectoring hardware, clamping the inside wheels during hard cornering to help the outside wheels put more churn down. Unlike more-sophisticated mechanical systems such as the one in the BMW X6, this so-called Corner Traction Control only works under acceleration, but its goal is the same: negate understeer and help carve a tighter line through a turn.
Safety Second?
Don't worry: Volvo's protective impulses still fire away underneath, and safety systems abound. The big news for the 2011 S60 is the so-called Pedestrian Detection with Full Auto Brake. It uses front-mounted cameras to pick out a person crossing in front of the car, and will slam on the brakes if the driver doesn't heed its warning. It's a novel concept, especially considering that about 10 percent of U.S. traffic fatalities involve a pedestrian, but the system hit us with a false positive. You can get it as part of the $2100 Technology package that also includes Collision Warning, Adaptive Cruise Control with Queue Assist, Distance Alert, Driver Alert Control, and Lane Departure Warning. We'd opt to skip all that and stick with the standard safety suite: City Safety-which mitigates low-speed collisions-plus inflatable side curtains, stability control, side-impact protection, and whiplash-protective seats.
Better than IKEA
It all comes wrapped in an undeniably handsome exterior, with a Swedish take on the "four-door coupe" envelope that has become so popular with European (and therefore Korean) carmakers. There's a welcome sense of Scandinavian simplicity and integration in the bodywork, as the shapes flow into each other. The C-pillars bend down to incorporate the taillamps; angled LEDs flank the grilles; and cursive shoulder lines connect the whole car and anchor its stance.
The new S60 is about an inch longer than the outgoing one-the track also is one inch wider in front and nearly two in the rear-but its wheelbase gets a 2.3-inch stretch, which translates into a little more rear-seat room.According to Volvo, curb weight rings in at about 3900 pounds. That's a lot of lard relative to the rest of the segment, but its 300-hp engine provides a pounds-per-horsepower ratio of 13.0 that absolutely demolishes the 211-hp Audi A4 2.0T. Both are trounced by the 328-hp Infiniti G37, though.
Inside, the surprises are a welcome few. The waterfall center console and two round main gauges will be familiar to those who've been in Volvos of recent vintage. But the quality of the materials is better than before. Thick, pebbled leather is everywhere, and the seats are comfortable and supportive. And here's something we won't miss: the convoluted navigation system controlled alternately by a remote control or buttons on the back of the wheel. Both are gone, and the seven-inch central screen (standard with or without navigation) is simply operated by two round dials on the center console or redundant controls on steering wheel. These novel round things also grant access to the car's driver-selectable steering weights, in low, medium, and high effort.
Guess what? It's Kinda Sporty
Speaking of steering, all three weights are linear and accurate. There is little distinction between high and medium efforts, and the low setting didn't quite jibe with the heft of the body, but all modes returned very direct responses from even tiny inputs. Though the steering is not brimming with feedback, the car goes around corners very cleanly, helped immensely by the Corner Traction Control system that refuses to let the front end wash out. Ride is stable and composed, but wheel impacts can be a bit jarring. We drove a Dynamic-chassis car, and its transient behavior wasn't best-in-class-the S60 didn't rebound out of turns with the same finely calibrated sense of speed and control of the BMW 3-series or Audi A4. But it sure beats that of the old S60.
As does the engine. Full torque comes on at a low 2100 rpm and the inline-six pulls smoothly and sonorously to 5000 revs. It's a useful power band, but it never felt like it was making the same 300 hp as classmates such as the Lexus IS350 and the BMW 335i. Blame for this lies with the transmission. Although reprogrammed from its prior applications in the Y70 line, it is still power-sapping and clunky at step-off. The shifts aren't harsh, but they are a bit hesitant in some on-/off-throttle applications. Volvo has a dual-clutch transmission it uses in its European diesels, but it says that gearbox would be too coarse for this kind of car. While probably true that statement reveals something important about the 2011 S60: Though it's arguably the most fluid and poised Volvo of all time, it is not the sportiest. In its fine balance of comfort and sport, the bias is slightly toward the former.When? And How Much?
The 2011 S60 goes on sale this September with a base price of $38,550, including all maintenance, service, and wear and tear for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Option packages are: the $1500 Premium package with a power sunroof, power front-passenger seat, and Xenon lights; the $800 Climate package with heated front seats, rain-sensing wipers, and heated windshield washers; the $2700 Multimedia package with Dolby ProLogic II and the distortion-canceling MultEQ system, navigation, and rear camera; and the $2100 Technology package as noted above. There are stand-alone options galore, but we've already covered the most significant one, the Four-C chassis. Figure a well-equipped S60 will ring in somewhere in the low-$40,000 range, which is a lot for a Volvo, but several grand less than a comparably kitted-out BMW 335i xDrive.
The company wants to sell 90,000 of these things a year, with volumes split evenly between America, Europe, and Asia. That means that Volvo will have to essentially double its mid-size car volumes from last year. The S60 looks good enough to sell that strongly-and just wait for the S60 wagon in 2012-and it finally drives well enough to appeal to that segment of European-car buyers for whom pretty sporty is just perfect.2011 Volvo S60 - Driving Impressions with Road and Track
Lisbon, Portugal-When you think of a Volvo, emotional appeal hardly comes to mind. Known mostly for safety, the Swedish carmaker is trying to change the consumer's perception of its brand by adding a little styling flair and performance pep to its newest car-the 2011 S60-in hopes of supercharging the marque's lackluster worldwide sales. After having spent a day in the new 2011 Volvo S60 on country roads near Lisbon, I can assure you the car does not disappoint.
The all-new S60 4-door sedan comes equipped with a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6 engine rated at 300 bhp and 325 lb.-ft. of torque. Power is put to the ground through a 6-speed automatic gearbox mated to an all-wheel-drive system. Thanks to peak torque available as low as 2100 rpm, the new Volvo scoots away from a stoplight or passes slower traffic with ease. Putting the transmission in sport mode means you can select gears yourself or have the gearbox hold gears until higher rpm before before shifting.
To compete with the likes of the Acura TL, Audi A4, BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, or even the Lexus IS, Volvo engineers have paid special attention to dampers and bushings to give the S60 added composure in corners. Push the new Volvo a bit more aggressively around the turns and it reacts progressively to steering input. And thanks to torque-vectoring using computer-controlled left/right brake actuation, the S60 also tracks in and out of bends with excellent accuracy. With the Four-C Active Chassis, the S60 has three suspension modes (Comfort, Sport and Advanced), which allow the driver to choose a supple ride or two increasing levels of handling prowess.
In tune with Volvo's intense focus on safety, the new S60 features the world's first Pedestrian Detection with Full Auto Brake. This system identifies people in front of the car, and slows the car automatically with full brakes if an impending collision is detected. This optional system can stop the car from speeds as high as 22 mph, which is incredibly helpful if you are traveling in crowded cities where people can be hidden behind other vehicles and suddenly dart out onto the street.
Overall, the S60's peppy performance matches well with the car's stylish exterior. The front slopes downward for that road-hugging appearance. And the rear tucks in nicely with a taut, short overhang. Inside the car, the infotainment is new, complete with satellite radio, Bluetooth connectively and multiple music format compatibility. Accessing the accessories can be done via various buttons on the steering wheel, or on the center console, or even voice-activated.
Volvo is counting on the new S60 to be its volume seller, spearheading
the charge out of its recent worldwide sales slump. Available in U.S.
dealers in mid-September, the S60 will start at $37,700.
Source: Road and Track
Prestige Volvo in NJ continues their excellence in customer satisfaction with a perfect 5 out of 5 score on DealerRater.com.
Prestige Volvo in NJ is ranked a perfect 5 out of a 5 score with DealerRater.com, a worldwide car dealer review website. The site currently features more than 24,000 US and International car dealers and 65,000 user reviews.
Prestige Volvo is a DealerRater.com Certified Dealer. During the past 24 months, 15 reviews were posted to DealerRater.com in favor of Prestige Volvo. The 15 positive reviews combine to give Prestige Volvo a perfect 5 out of 5 score. The DealerRater.com Certified Dealership program is a car dealer partnership program. Dealerships that qualify for this program must be in good standing with DealerRater.com and must be committed to quality customer service.
NJ Volvo owners who purchased or serviced their car with Prestige Volvo ranked the dealer high in all review areas including customer service, quality of work, friendliness, and overall experience. Customers described the dealership and its employees using statements like 'very accommodating', 'above excellent service', 'by far the best service', and 'could not be more pleased'. These reviews can be seen online with DealerRater.com at http://www.dealerrater.com/dealer/Prestige-Volvo-review-11072/
Prestige Volvo offers the largest selection of new and Certified Pre Owned Volvo cars and SUVS as well as a state-of-the-art service and parts center that is open for customers 6 days a week. Additional dealer reviews can also be seen on the Prestige Volvo website at http://www.prestigevolvo.com/dealership/testimonials.htm
Volvo Awarded Best Certified Pre-Owned Automotive Program Among Luxury Brands for 2010
We are very pleased to announce that for the 3rd consecutive year IntelliChoice.com has awarded Volvo the Best Certified Pre-Owned Automotive Program among Luxury Brands for 2010!
The top 5 ranked luxury
manufacturers as recognized by IntelliChoice.com:
1. Volvo
2. Saab
3.
Cadillac
4.
Jaguar
5. Hummer/Lincoln/Audi
(tie)
IntelliChoice.com is the industry's only report card for Certified Pre-Owned Vehicle programs and is a trusted source for non biased information among consumers.
IntelliChoice.com initiated its Certified Pre-Owned awards program eleven years ago to address the significant growth of the CPO offering and consumer demand for comprehensive analysis. Programs are rated on a set of eight criteria that consumers identify as having the most value:
- Extended manufacturer warranties
- Title verification
- Certification inspection process
- Roadside assistance-Special Financing
- Return exchange policies
- Program/Dealer compliance
- Brand Value
Among the various criteria Volvo scored 100% on the Certification Inspection process. This combined with competitive scores in all metrics gave Volvo the overall award among Luxury makes.
Volvo's CPO program, with its award-winning value has been ranked among the top three in the IntelliChoice.com CPO Awards every year since 2001!
First Images of the New Volvo S60 Sedan
Here are the first official pictures of the all-new Volvo S60 - sportier and more dynamic than any previous Volvo car.
"The all-new Volvo S60 is sculpted to move you. It looks and drives
like no other Volvo before and the car's technology will help you to be
safer and more confident behind the wheel," says Stephen Odell,
President and CEO at Volvo Cars.
The Volvo S60 can be equipped with Pedestrian Detection - a
groundbreaking safety feature that can detect pedestrians in front of
the car and brake automatically if the driver doesn't react in time.
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The all-new Volvo S60 will be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in the beginning of March next year. Production of the sporty saloon will start early summer 2010 at Volvo Cars' plant in Gent, Belgium.
"The customers in this segment want emotional appeal, sporty design and dynamic driving properties. The S60 has it all. We are convinced that it will be one of the strongest contenders around," says Stephen Odell.
Source: Swedespeed.com
Volvo Demos Pedestrian Protection System
ROCKLEIGH, NJ - On a small test course adjacent to its headquarters here, Volvo Cars of North America LLC demonstrates its new pedestrian-protection technology with full autonomous braking.
The new system, which is engineered to automatically stop cars from hitting pedestrians at speeds of up to 16 mph (25 km/h), will be introduced in the ?11 Volvo S60 sedan that goes on sale in September.
The system consists of a camera behind the rearview mirror and a radar unit installed behind the front grille of the car. Camera optics are similar to the human eye.
"If you can see it, the camera can see it," says Adam Kopstein, manager, automotive safety and compliance for VCNA. The camera detects objects 164 ft. (50 m) ahead of the vehicle and has a 45-degree field of view.
The radar has a 60-degree field of view and can "see" 500-650 ft. (150-200 m) down the road.
Both the camera and radar are always on when the S60 is moving. Volvo engineers worked for a decade with Delphi Corp. to create the system. Algorithms were devised to recognize human head, neck, legs and shoulders of all sizes and shapes.
In a test drive, the system works as advertised - ultimately. That's because it's difficult to restrain reflexive braking when approaching an obstacle - even a dummy - in the road ahead.
Volvo's pedestrian safety system.
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The new pedestrian safety system stops the vehicle without the driver stepping on the brake. In the test at 16 mph, full braking force is applied to stop the vehicle about 4 ft. (1.2 m) in front of the dummy.
Kopstein says that the new system will reduce speed by 16 mph, regardless of how fast the vehicle is traveling. But it will only fully stop the vehicle from 2 to 16 mph.
The pedestrian-detection system differs from Volvo's City Safety System that's available only in the XC60 model at this time. City Safety applies 50% of braking force to prevent frontal collisions with another vehicle. It is not capable of recognizing and stopping for pedestrians.
Volvo says there shouldn't be concerns about potentially adverse effects from the radiation emitted by the radar unit in the pedestrian system.
"The emitted power from the radar is significantly below the legal thresholds of any region of the world," says Thomas Brobeg of the Volvo Safety Center in Gothenburg, Sweden. "Vehicle and pedestrian detection in the 76 GHz band requires only little radio power output.
"The radar that is used for pedestrian detection in the coming S60 puts out significantly less power than a standard Bluetooth headset. A hundred Volvo S60s with pedestrian detection will emit less radio power than one cell phone."
The pedestrian safety system brings Volvo a step closer to its announced goal of preventing auto fatalities completely in any Volvo by 2020.
Kopstein says 4,700 pedestrians were killed in the U.S. by motor vehicles in 2007, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Admin. data.
In many urban areas, pedestrian fatalities
occur in collisions with vehicles traveling at relatively slow speeds,
the auto maker says.
Source: Wardsauto.com
2011 Volvo C30 and C70 Make North American Debut
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The South Florida International Auto Show comes just weeks following the global unveil of the exciting 2011 C30 and C70 at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. Both cars have undergone significant styling enhancements on the outside and a number of interior upgrades as well. "We're confident these improvements will continue to attract new buyers to the Volvo brand," said Doug Speck, President and CEO of Volvo Cars of North America, LLC (VCNA).
"In a city like Miami, a convertible such as the Volvo C70 is almost a given," continued Speck, "But the C30, with its completely new look, is the kind of car that causes jaws to drop and heads to turn." Final pricing for each car has not yet been announced. VCNA plans to announce pricing closer to the vehicles' availability at Volvo retailers.
2011 Volvo C30
When the C30 landed in the U.S. in 2007, it ushered in a bold new design language for Volvo, particularly from the rear. But up front it was sometimes difficult to determine the difference between the C30 and an S40. For 2011 that's no longer an issue. Reminiscent of the 2010 Volvo XC60, the new C30 ushers in an aggressive new face that is far more suited to the dynamic rear lines of this trend-setting sport coupe.
The 2011 C30 has a radical new front appearance that incorporates a new hood, fenders, trapezoidal headlights and a lower front valance. In the middle of the grille is the new, larger iron mark that made its debut on the XC60. The air intake has also grown in size and the C30 gets a unique grille.
Although the biggest design changes have taken place at the front, the rear also sports the same deep new lines and detailing. The contours are wavier and more dynamic than before. The previous black plastic panels have been replaced with body color panels, in the same or a contrasting color, to forge a closer visual contact between the car and the road surface.
The 2011 Volvo C30 on display* at the show features a new accessory styling that gives the C30 even more attitude. The kit includes foglamp décor, a front skidplate, side scuff plates with engraved C30 logo and a rear skidplate with a stylish aluminum look. The C30 T5 incorporates two 90 mm tail pipes in polished stainless steel to underline the powerful 227 horsepower engine.
2011 Volvo C70
With its new front clip, the 2011 Volvo C70 reveals traces of the S60 Concept Car that was unveiled in early 2009. The C70 now relates more closely to the design language of the larger cars in the Volvo model range. The 2011 C70 made its global debut at the recent Frankfurt Motor Show in September.
Bodywork details such as the front fender have also been redesigned, contributing to the decidedly altered appearance. The nose is more wedge-shaped and has been given added three-dimensional depth by moving some elements of the front both longitudinally and vertically. The new headlamps and the décor around the foglamps, for instance, have been angled offset up and to the rear, at the same time as the detailing of the lower grille has been enhanced.
From head-on, the front forms an open, inviting "V." The enlarged iron mark and the new, larger air intake reinforce the self-assured stance. Flamenco Red Pearl is a new paint for 2011.
The exclusive high-tech LED lamps, similar to what's found on the Volvo XC60, are the most noticeable update at the rear. The entire lamp unit is clearly integrated with the oval that frames the new C70's rear panel.
The interior has been updated in several respects to create a unique ambience in the Volvo C70. The instrument panel has been redesigned, giving it a wider, sleeker look and the surface of the panel has a new texture that enhances the feeling of quality. The exclusive new instruments, with gauges and graphics specific to the C70, are yet another example of how the car's premium feel has been enhanced.
A new color, Flamenco Red metallic is shown on the display car*. A new Cranberry leather interior is also offered.
VCNA provides marketing, sales, service, technology and training to Volvo automobile retailers in the U.S. and Canada. For more information on the 2011 C30, C70 and the entire Volvo product line please refer to the Volvo Cars of North America, LLC, public relations website at: http://www.volvocars-pr.com/.
*The 2011 Volvo C30 and C70 on display at the South Florida International Auto Show is a European model and may contain features not available in the U.S. market.
Source: Auto123.com
Volvo Expects Second Consecutive Month of Sales Growth, Credits "Understanding of Buying Motivations"
"We're headed in the right direction," said Doug Speck, VCNA president and CEO, "and it's because we're tapping into consumers' mindsets. Today, when consumers find a car they want, their focus turns to peace of mind and validation. They're planning on owning the car longer and they want to be sure it will last - and that service and repair costs are reasonable."
Speck thinks Volvo is well-positioned thanks to the all-new XC60 crossover and the timely introduction of the Safe + Sound Coverage Plan, an extended warranty and coverage program.
"Showroom traffic began to noticeably increase when the XC60 went on sale in March," he said. "Buyers embraced the uniqueness of City Safety, coupled with all of the other premium features offered as standard. The XC60 immediately accounted for 16 percent of our sales in April and 17 percent in May. Our overall sales also increased by 24 percent during that time.
"After we launched the Safe + Sound Coverage Plan in June, our closing ratios improved by nine percentage points, sales increased by 25 percent from May to June, and we even saw our first year-over-year improvement since January 2008. We extended Safe + Sound through the end of August and believe we'll see even better numbers at month's end now that the program has had more time to gain momentum."
The Safe + Sound Coverage Plan is a complimentary coverage program for MY2009 vehicles that wraps a comprehensive list of benefits into one package. Volvo has combined additional time and mileage limits on warranty repairs and roadside assistance coverage, and has increased wear-item coverage and factory scheduled maintenance coverage. Specifically, it provides:
5 years/60,000 miles of New Car Warranty
5 years/60,000 miles of Complimentary Factory Scheduled Maintenance
5 years/60,000 miles of Wear and Tear Coverage
5 years/Unlimited miles of Volvo On Call Roadside Assistance.
"Safe + Sound appeals to consumers who are wary of purchasing new vehicles because they can appreciate the value of not needing to worry about maintenance costs on top of the expense of paying for the car. Owners get the benefit of having a safe, reliable vehicle they can enjoy for years at little cost," Speck said.
A recent survey conducted by automotive research firm AutoPacific showed 59 percent of new-car buyers indicated that they would not be shopping for a new vehicle for four years or more (an increase of more than 12 percent from those surveyed in 2005). Additionally, according to Edmunds.com, the average mileage on vehicle trade-ins has increased by 15 percent in the past 18 months. (Vehicles traded in to dealers currently average 65,883 miles on the odometer as compared to 57,079 miles in January 2008.)
Prestige Volvo in East Hanover, N.J., was a top-selling retailer in May and June. According to General Manager Matthew Haiken, Safe + Sound brought more consumers to the showroom. "People were waiting for the right deal to come along before deciding to buy," Haiken said, "and this was too good a deal to pass up. I've even noticed that we're converting owners of non-luxury imports into Volvo customers. Volvos may be more expensive to purchase, but having the safest car on the road - and virtually no expense to maintain it - makes it the greater value in the end."
Source: Swedespeed.com
