Auto-Media.Info

Black, flat, strong: Volvo S60 T6 Design by Heico Sportiv

? Spectacular premium saloon with 330 hp (243 kW)
? Exclusive special edition of 100 cars

Cologne – A spectacular and attractive Volvo sedan: The Volvo S60 T6 Design by Heico Sportiv. The sedan powers up to 330 hp (243 kW) with only 100 models exclusively available as special editions in Sapphire Black metallic paint. The retail price is set to ?63968.00 (including 19% VAT). This spectacular four-door Volvo S60 has been in collaboration with the tuning specialist Heico Sportiv.
Continue reading →

Popularity: 1% [?]

New Volvo V60 sports wagon

- as sporty as the all-new S60

The Volvo V60 makes its entry onto the car market with its sights firmly set on giving the all-new S60 sedan model a tough match over the title of “The Most Dynamic Volvo Model Ever”.

“Many of the customers who had an advance look at the new V60 during the development process feel that its attitude is at least as sporty as that of the all-new S60,” says Volvo Cars Design Director Peter Horbury.
Continue reading →

Popularity: 2% [?]

The all-new Volvo S60 – sculpted to move you

The all-new Volvo S60 has its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show on the 2nd of March. It makes its entry into one of the automotive world’s toughest segments and is backed by an extroverted attitude that promises to deliver a thrilling driving experience, innovative safety and gorgeous design.

The all-new S60 has been sculpted to move you – both physically and emotionally.

It is without a doubt the most dynamic car model Volvo has ever introduced – and its Pedestrian Detection with Full Auto Brake is a groundbreaking safety feature.

“The sporty design delivers a visual promise of enthusiastic driving characteristics and I can assure you that the all-new S60 truly lives up to that promise,” says Volvo Cars President and CEO Stephen Odell. “Its driving properties are better than those of any previous Volvo. The all-new S60′s innovative new technologies help you become both a better and a safer driver.” With the all-new Volvo S60, Volvo Cars is advancing its position in one of the car world’s most competitive segments: CD Premium.

“The competition is razor-sharp and the customers know exactly what they want. The emphasis is on emotional stance, sporty design and dynamic driving properties. Success in this segment means a lot for the brand’s image and we are convinced that the all-new S60 will be one of the strongest contenders,” continued Odell.

Stunning coupe design with four doors

The all-new S60 is sportier and more dynamic than any previous Volvo. But it is still an unmistakable representative of Scandinavian design at its best.

“The S60 has been sculpted to move you. Every single line in its design is there to transport you both physically and emotionally. Its profile is very coupe-like so that the rear doors come as something of a pleasant surprise when you examine the car close-up,” noted Volvo Cars’ Design Director Peter Horbury.

The C-pillar of the all-new S60 stretches sensually all the way to the tail lamps – and the slim coupe-like roof line is accompanied by a new contour at the shoulders on either side of the lower body, creating a gentle yet powerful double wave that sweeps continuously from the headlights to the tail lights.

The dip in the middle of the double wave visually pushes the car down. This enhances the S60′s aggressive stance and makes the car look sleeker and lower. The sculpted hood and the short overhangs front and rear also emphasize the sports-car feel.

The most dynamic Volvo ever

The all-new S60 is much more than a beautiful study in design. It is without a doubt the most driver-oriented car model Volvo has ever presented.

“This project has been about pure passion for the task of driving Volvo’s chassis development expertise to its very pinnacle. We’ve crossed into territory where we’ve never been before,” commented Stefan S?llqvist, who is in charge of developing the chassis of the all-new S60.

In the U.S., it is planned that the all-new S60 will be offered with the sporty “Dynamic” chassis as standard, while other markets will be offered with a “Comfort” chassis as standard and the “Dynamic” chassis as an option.

The difference in ride and handling between the two chassis alternatives can be found in the dampers and the front and rear subframes. The Comfort variant has a somewhat softer setting to give a smoother ride on poorer road surfaces.

During the development process, the chassis team carved out a holistic solution featuring changes and refinements for virtually every single detail that influences a car’s driving properties. This includes improved steering, stiffer springs and bushings as well as more damping than in any previous Volvo.

The software in the All-Wheel Drive (AWD) system, which is standard on the S60 T6, has been modified to exploit the sporty new chassis to the limit. The all-new S60 can be specified with the advanced, self-adjusting FOUR-C active chassis. The FOUR-C active chassis has been modified and refined for better control and more comfortable feel compared to previous Volvos.

First sedan with Advanced Stability Control

The dynamic new chassis in the all-new Volvo S60 is backed up by a range of electronic systems that sharpen the driving experience even further.

The S60 is the first sedan model on the market with Advanced Stability Control. With a new roll angle sensor, it is possible to identify any skidding tendency at a very early stage. This means that the Dynamic Stability and Traction Control (DSTC) can step in earlier and with greater precision. Advanced Stability Control is a great asset in dynamic driving involving considerable lateral forces, thus improving handling and rapid avoidance maneuvers.

Corner Traction Control for tighter cornering

Corner Traction Control is a new feature that uses torque vectoring so the car takes curves with agility and precision. This technology is a further refinement of the DSTC system. When cornering, the car’s inner driven wheel is braked at the same time as more power is transmitted to the outer driven wheel. This allows the driver to take the curve more tightly while reducing any tendency to understeer.

A highly advanced braking system is an important part of the dynamic driving properties of the all-new S60. The sedan is equipped with a number of features that interact to provide the shortest possible stopping distance in all scenarios.

Exquisite quality inside

The interior of the all-new S60 takes Volvo Cars to a new dimension in terms of exclusive quality. In addition, Volvo Cars’ designers have added excitement, contrast and playfulness to the clean simplicity of Scandinavian design tradition.

“The interior has a more extroverted attitude than before, but without losing any of its practical Scandinavian roots. The all-new S60 brings us up to a whole new level when it comes to the integral experience of color, form, material and technology,” said Horbury. Scandinavian design is often described with rational adjectives such as functionality, simplicity and clarity. When creating the all-new S60, the design team added a modern touch and details that generate excitement, contrast and playfulness.

The interior of the all-new S60 is lavish in terms of its driver-oriented details, but it is still a five-passenger car offering comfortable space for all its occupants. The sculpted outer rear seats give the passenger in the middle welcome side support. The all-new S60 benefits from a nearly 2.5-inch increase in wheelbase, from 106.9 inches to 109.3 inches over the previous-generation S60. This increase has a direct impact on rear seat leg room. Rear passengers will notice a 2.0-inch increase in leg room. Knee space in the rear seat has also increased by 1.2 inches compared with the previous-generation S60. The rear seat splits 40/60 and the trunk is 4.2 inches wider than in the previous S60.

Pedestrian Detection with Full Auto Brake

The sporty interior of the all-new S60 is also the most advanced vehicle ever offered to a Volvo driver.

“The interior of the all-new S60 is all about innovative design in two areas: form and technology,” noted Tomas Ahlborg, Project Director for the all-new S60. “The design is characterized by sporty freshness down to the smallest detail. The technological aspect includes smart solutions that contribute to a driving experience unlike that of any other Volvo – from collision avoidance safety and comfort systems to infotainment and audio excellence of absolute world class.”

Pedestrian Detection with Full Auto Brake is a groundbreaking technological solution. It can detect pedestrians who walk into the road in front of the car, warn the driver – and automatically apply full braking power if the driver does not respond in time.

“We are truly proud of our success in making our technology so reliable that we can offer a complete system that can avoid a collision with a pedestrian by detecting, alerting and applying full braking. It’s a world first, to the best of our knowledge,” noted Thomas Broberg, Senior Safety Advisor at Volvo Cars. “With this technology we have increased the braking force in our automatic braking system from fifty percent to full stopping power,”

Can avoid collision with a pedestrian at up to 22 mph

In an emergency situation the driver first receives an audible warning combined with a flashing light in the windscreen’s head-up display. At the same time, the car’s brakes are pre-charged. If the driver does not react to the warning and an accident is imminent, full braking power is automatically applied.

Pedestrian Detection with Full Auto Brake can avoid a collision with a pedestrian at speeds of up to about 22 mph if the driver does not react in time. At higher speeds, the focus is on slowing down the S60 as much as possible prior to the impact.

A lower speed of impact means that the risk of serious injury is significantly reduced. For instance, if speed is cut from 30 mph to 15 mph, Pedestrian Detection with full auto brake is expected to reduce the fatality risk by as much as 20 percent and in some cases by up to 85 percent.

City Safety standard

The all-new Volvo S60 also features City Safety as standard.

With City Safety, the car automatically brakes if the driver fails to react in time when the vehicle in front slows down or stops – or if he or she is driving too fast towards a stationary object. The system can lessen or even entirely avoid low-speed rear-end impacts at speeds up to 18 mph.

More powerful T6 version offered in the U.S.

In the U.S., the all-new S60 will be initially offered with a more powerful version of the T6 engine currently offered in the XC60 premium crossover. All T6 models come standard with Volvo’s all-wheel-drive system.

The turbocharged T6 displaces 3.0 liters and has been improved still further, primarily thanks to lower internal friction. It now pumps out 300 hp and no less than 325 lb.-ft. of torque. Acceleration from 0-60 mph takes 6.2 seconds and top speed is electronically limited to 155 mph.

The engine’s power is delivered to the wheels via Volvo’s second-generation six-speed automatic Geartronic transmission. New valves and lower friction mean faster gear changes than before.

New infotainment system – and world-class audio system

The all-new S60 gets an all-new infotainment system where information from the audio unit, navigation system, Bluetooth-enabled phones and other functions are presented on a seven-inch high-resolution color screen (U.S. models) in the upper part of the center console. The screen is installed high in the instrument panel to make it easy for the driver to keep his or her eyes on the road.

“We are one of the few manufacturers to give the driver access to all infotainment functions via controls in the steering wheel,” noted Ahlborg,

The audio experience in the all-new S60 has been enhanced compared with previous models.

One of the first car models with MultEQ

The Volvo S60 is one of the first car models in the world to use Audyssey Laboratories MultEQ technology, the standard for room equalization in the home and professional theater markets. MultEQ removes distortion caused by the car cabin’s acoustics, enabling crisp, clear sound with improved sound quality for everyone in the car.

“Our most advanced system, Premium Sound, has a class-D digital 5x130W amplifier with circuits from Sweden’s Anaview, Dolby Digital in combination with Dolby Pro Logic II Surround, the award-winning MultEQ from Audyssey Laboratories and 12 loudspeakers. All this creates an audio experience of absolute world class,” said Ahlborg.

In addition to the top-of-the line Premium Sound, the all-new S60 is available with a choice of three other audio systems.

Annual target 90,000 cars globally

The initial annual target for the all-new Volvo S60 is 90,000 cars. The customer base is spread unusually uniformly throughout the world. Europe (including Russia), North America and the rest of the world will each account for about one-third of total sales.

The all-new S60 is built at the Volvo Cars factory in Ghent, Belgium. The first cars will be delivered to European customers this September, with U.S. S60s arriving late 2010. Pricing for the all-new S60 will be announced closer to the car’s on-sale date in the U.S.

“Irrespective of whether the customers are in the USA, Europe or elsewhere in the world, they all prioritize the same characteristics. Now we are giving them an entirely new S60 that has a unique appeal to even the most discerning of buyers,” says Stephen Odell.

Popularity: 1% [?]

First car on YouTube in 2010 – the official new Volvo S60 video to be released on New Year’s Eve

The very first video footage of the all-new Volvo S60 will be released exclusively in social media. Volvo’s Facebook fans were the first to see it exclusively already in 2009. The video will then be released to the general public on YouTube as soon as the new year begins.

“We will ensure that this is the first car video on YouTube in 2010. It will be released on Volvo Car’s channel on YouTube a few seconds after we have entered the new year,” says Olle Axelson, Senior Vice President Public Affairs at Volvo Car Corporation.

The first photos of the all-new Volvo S60 were released to the world press on 10 November 2009. But no TV or video footage was released at that time. Instead Volvo Car Corporation has decided to release a video only in social media at this point.

“We want to acknowledge all the Volvo enthusiasts around the world by giving them an exclusive pre-view of this video on the Volvo Cars Facebook fan page. Then it will be available to everyone through Volvo Cars’ channel on YouTube right after midnight on New Year’s Eve,” says Olle Axelson.

The all-new Volvo S60 video will be released to the public on the YouTube channel VolvoCarsNews www.youtube.com/volvocarsnews a few seconds after midnight on Jan 1, 2010 CET (Central European Time).

It can already be viewed by members on the Volvo Cars Facebook fan page: www.facebook.com/volvo

The all-new Volvo S60 will be unveiled to the public for the first time at the Geneva Motor Show in early March 2010. Production of the sporty sedan model will start in early summer 2010 at the Volvo Cars’ plant in Ghent, Belgium.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Volvo Cars increases the development of cars powered by electricity – builds electric test fleet

At the Detroit Motor Show, Volvo Cars is presenting a complete battery electric Volvo C30 with a range of 150 km.
The next step forward is to build a test fleet of at least 50 electric Volvo C30s, which will be used in real-life traffic from 2011.

Volvo presented a driveable electric car prototype in September 2009. The C30 now being shown in Detroit takes the company one step further in the development process. It features both a complete interior and full instrumentation, as well as enhanced battery packaging.

“The first prototype helped us identify the main technological challenges, such as battery packaging and safety issues. We have addressed these challenges without compromising the C30′s cool and fun-to-drive personality. I am very happy with the result. The electric C30 in Detroit is a much more complete product,” says Lennart Stegland, Director of Volvo Cars Special Vehicles.

The next step in 2010 is a factory-built series of test cars. Selected users will drive the test fleet during a two-year trial period in order to provide Volvo Cars with valuable experience. Not just technical but also behavioural.
The Swedish Energy Agency is supporting the project by contributing SEK 150 million towards its funding.

Valuable field data
A pure electric car has different characteristics compared to a car with an internal combustion engine. Now Volvo’s experts will have the opportunity to study how users handle these differences.
“Our test fleet data will be valuable in Volvo Cars’ development of electric cars. It will also provide crucial input for the infrastructure planners and help define which services are needed to make rechargeable cars the most attractive choice in the future,” says Lennart Stegland.

New instruments and graphics
The electric C30 looks like a regular Volvo C30 and it offers the very same safety, comfort and roominess as the standard car.
The most obvious difference inside the car is the new instruments facing the driver. The gauges and graphics are somewhat different to those in a conventional Volvo. The cool and user-friendly combined instrument shows in principle only road speed and energy consumption. However, it also integrates a number of new symbols such as a gauge for battery charge status and other relevant information for this type of vehicle.

The driving experience is also different to that in a conventional car. The electric C30 has no gears and the motor’s power is delivered seamlessly, with full power available immediately.
“Sailing along virtually without a sound is a very special experience. The power is there instantaneously. We need to spend a lot of time verifying a transmission system that is both comfortable and safe for the driver to handle and at the same time utilizes the battery’s capacity optimally at different speeds,” says Lennart Stegland.

Like a regular C30 – all the fun but with no emissions
An electric motor uses about one-fourth as much energy as an engine running on fossil fuels. This superior energy efficiency suggests that interest in electric cars will increase as fuel prices rise and demands for low CO2 emissions become increasingly stringent.

The Volvo C30 shown in Detroit is powered by Lithium-Ion batteries that can be recharged via either a regular household power socket or special roadside charging stations. Charging the battery fully takes about eight hours,
If the car is recharged with renewable electricity, CO2 emissions could be almost zero in the well-to-wheel perspective.

Top speed with a fully charged battery pack is about 130 km/h (81 mph). Acceleration from 0 to 60 mph takes less than 11 seconds. The car’s range is up to 150 km (94 miles). This covers the daily transport needs of more than 90 percent of all motorists in Europe.

As safe as all other Volvos
The electric motor is fitted under the bonnet while the batteries (24 kWh) are installed in the propshaft tunnel and in the space normally occupied by the fuel tank, outside the passenger compartment and away from the deformations zones.

“What is more, they are well encapsulated and the structure around them has been reinforced. Electric cars represent yet another interesting challenge in our dedication to building the world’s safest cars. An electrically powered Volvo must be as safe as all other new Volvos. And the very same standards also apply to ownership, driving and protection in the event of an accident,” says Thomas Broberg, Senior Safety Advisor at Volvo Cars.

Market prospects for electric power
When it comes to electric-only cars, there are several factors that determine their appeal in the future.
“The consumers must feel that this type of car is attractive both to drive and own. That is why electric cars have to be as comfortable and safe and offer the same sort of performance as cars with other power sources,” says Paul Gustavsson, Director of Electrification Strategy at Volvo Cars.

He continues:
“We believe in this technology and our field test aims to demonstrate that electric cars have considerable market potential. However, offering an attractive car is not enough. What is also needed initially is a system of subsidies to make the electric car’s expensive battery technology financially viable for the car buyers. We hope that the authorities and the rest of the society will follow Volvo Cars in our “Drive Towards Zero” – Volvo Cars’ journey towards zero emissions.”

Technical specification Electric C30

Popularity: 1% [?]

Volvo – The Game, the free game that surpasses all expectations

Volvo – The Game was launched on May 26. By December 1, it had already been played on more than 850,000 computers the world over. About 20,000 new players take up the challenge every week. ?”Interest in Volvo – The Game has surpassed all expectations. Using this communication channel, we have succeeded both in renewing our brand name and in reaching out with our new S60 model far beyond our regular customer groups,” says Michael Persson, director of market communication at Volvo Cars.

Sometimes 1+1 really does add up to 3. That’s the way it was with the launch of the free game, Volvo – The Game, a joint venture between game development company SimBin and Volvo Cars. An amazing 850,000 people have so far played the game, and the number increases all the time. More than 300,000 people have watched YouTube films about the game.

So just why has this game become so popular? After all, not all free games are such a huge success story. ?”Volvo – The Game is of exceptionally high quality even though it is a free game,” says Magnus Ling, executive vice president of SimBin. “We generally say that a game from SimBin should be easy to drive but hard to master, so the player grows with the challenge. It is typically difficult to find the best braking points and track your ideal line in the beginning, but after a couple of laps most players have control over their driving and frustration is replaced by pleasure,” he explains.

The cars and the tracks are also extremely realistic. Both the Volvo C30 and the Volvo S60 Concept are eye-catching new cars. For enthusiasts of older cars there are classics such as the Volvo 855, Volvo 240 and several more to choose between. Each car has its own unique driving feel, and is “built” to replicate the original as faithfully as possible.

Don’t be tempted to assume that it is only youngsters who are playing this electronic game, because it has a dedicated following of men and women aged 30 or 40 and up.
The Chayka Racetrack in Kiev in the Ukraine was an entirely new venue in the car game context. It has also helped boost the appeal of Volvo – the Game.

Irrespective of whether the game inspires a sequel or not, today’s Volvo – The Game is sufficiently challenging and continues to attract many new players six months after its release.
Facts:?Volvo – The Game was launched on May 26 2009 and can be downloaded for free from www.volvocars.com/game.

About Volvo Car Corporation?Volvo Car Corporation develops, manufactures and sells Volvo cars. In 2008 about 375,000  Volvo cars were sold. Volvo Cars is represented in approximately 100 countries globally. Research and development is located in Gothenburg, with production in Sweden, China, Belgium, Thailand and Malaysia.

About the SimBin Group?The SimBin group is a privately owned group of Swedish companies active in the Video game and Entertainment industry. ?In the SimBin portfolio of developed games you will find award winning titles like “GTR – The FIA GT Racing Game”, “GT Legends”, “GTR 2 – The FIA GT Racing Game”, “RACE – The WTCC Game”, “RACE 07 – The WTCC Game”, “GTR Evolution” and “STCC The Game”. GTR and RACE are registered trademarks owned by the SimBin group.

Popularity: 1% [?]

“TWILIGHT” VAMPIRE EDWARD CULLEN’S VOLVO XC60 STANDS IN AT L.A. AUTO SHOW

ROCKLEIGH, N.J.(Dec. 2, 2009) ­­- Volvo is giving fans a chance to experience The Twilight Saga: New Moon up close and personal at this year’s L.A. Auto Show, December 4-13 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Just like the exciting XC60 seen in “Twilight,” fans who visit the Volvo booth (booth # W-307) will be able to see, smell, touch and take pictures with a replica of vampire Edward Cullen’s sexy Volvo crossover.

“Twilight fans are some of the most enthusiastic around, and Volvo is happy to provide them with another chance to connect with the movies and books they love,” said Doug Speck, President and CEO of Volvo Cars of North America. “Just like Edward, the XC60 is powerful, striking and offers unrivaled protection.”

As in the movie, this Volvo XC60 is complete with a Saville Grey metallic exterior, a sandstone beige/espresso interior, a cream leather steering wheel, 19-inch Achilles diamond cut wheels and exterior accessories such as side scuff plates, a front bumper bar and rear skid plates.

Fans are welcome to try their luck at winning a Twilight poster by correctly answering trivia questions about Volvo and its 2010 model lineup. Up to 4,500 posters are up for grabs.

Also at the L.A. Auto Show, Volvo will host the North American debut of the new XC60 R-Design. Showgoers will also have the opportunity to see the exciting S60 Concept car and the redesigned 2011 C30 hatchback and C70 convertible.

Fans who want their own Volvo XC60, just like the one Edward drives, can visit a local Volvo retailer or go to www.volvocars.com/us and build their own.

The Los Angeles Convention Center is located at 1201 S. Figueroa Street.

Popularity: 1% [?]