AutoShortNews » Volvo

Volvo to launch new performance line with production C30 PCP

Admin — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 06:45:35 +0000

A couple of weeks ago, we brought you a report that indicated Volvo was forging a closer relationship with Polestar, the racing outfit that fields the company’s entries in the Scandinavian and World Touring Car Championships. Volvo, it seemed, had already turned to Polestar to squeeze a bit of extra juice from its S60 and XC60 R-Design models, and according to the report, was prepared to utilize Polestar’s talents even more in the future.

A clearer picture of that that partnership is now emerging, and so far, it looks promising. Their first collaborative project is tipped to be a production version of the baby-blue, 400-horsepower, all-wheel drive C30 hatchback unveiled last year. If given the go-ahead, we could be looking at a limited run of 500 cars priced around £50,000 in the UK – about the same as a BMW M3.

[Source: What Car?]

Volvo Concept Universe previews next range-topping sedan from Sweden

Admin — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 10:51:35 +0000

Volvo is looking to gain a foothold in the fast-growing Chinese auto market, and the Swedish automaker is hoping to pique interest in the brand with a range-topping luxury sedan concept. The design aims to incorporate the simplicity of Scandinavian design while also trying to discern what the modern luxury car buyer really wants.

The Concept Universe bows at the Shanghai Motor Show to show what Volvo can do near the top-end of the large luxury sedan market. And although this vehicle is definitely a design study, Volvo doesn’t seem interested in hiding its intention of going upscale. Volvo CEO Stafan Jacoby calls the concept “a sneak preview of what people can expect from our next top-of-the-line sedan.” More photos…

[Source: Volvo]

Volvo considering insanely high $2,100/month lease for C30 Electric

Admin — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 16:03:28 +0000

A trial fleet of around 400 Volvo C30 Electrics is coming, and anyone who wants one had better have an awful big piggy bank. Speaking at a media launch near Indianapolis, IN today, the president of Volvo Car Special Vehicles, Lennart Stegland, said that, while the final price for the car hasn’t been set, Volvo will not sell the EV, but instead offer the car through a three-year lease for around 1,500 Euros. Per month.

1,500 Euros comes out to about $2,129.85 at today’s exchange rates, so if you stick it out for the full 36 months, you get to spend $76,674 to not buy a car. Even worse, Stegland said that Volvo will lose money on the deal. Ouch. Developing electric vehicles for mass production (which, on Volvo’s schedule, will happen sometime around 2013 or so) is more than mildly expensive.

2011 Volvo S60 Review

Admin — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 16:52:14 +0000

During the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show keynote, Volvo CEO Stefan Jacoby discussed his plans to shift the Swedish automaker away from the rest of the premium segment. This doesn’t mean that the quality of materials or craftsmanship is going to suffer, but instead of creating products that are specifically engineered to compete with the likes of Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, Volvo will be working to reaffirm its own unique Swedish brand identity.
The 2011 Volvo S60 points the way forward for the brand’s new groundwork. The ‘naughty’ new sedan is stylish, luxurious and has the guts of a true sporting sedan, but it just doesn’t come close to the sort of precision we find in an Audi A4 or BMW 3 Series. Fine, then, that the Volvo has plenty of other impressive qualities to give it a unique edge over the competition. Consider it a premium sport sedan for people who don’t want the stereotypical premium sport sedan.
We recently welcomed a Blazing Copper S60 to the Autoblog Garage to see if Volvo’s recipe for uniqueness has created a delicious dish of Swedish engineering.

Source: AutoBlog

Volvo boosting XC60 production

Admin — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 07:49:17 +0000

New Volvo CEO Stefan Jacoby has stated publicly that the Swedish automaker plans to double global sales to 800,000 units per year by 2020. That’s a significant increase by any measure, and the company’s popular XC60 crossover appears to be a big part of those plans. Automobile reports that the Geely-owned automaker plans to increase production of the popular crossover to 100,000 units globally, with quite a few of those extra units reserved for the rebounding U.S. market. Volvo is reportedly optimistic that it can increase XC60 sales by eight percent over 2010 levels.

[Source: Automobile]

2011 Volvo XC60 R-Design Review

Admin — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 19:15:00 +0000

Despite the company’s storied rally history, Volvo seems to have eschewed building its line of R-Design vehicles into street-legal racers in favor of simply creating design packages that give the company’s sedans, crossovers and hatches some much-needed attitude. In the case of the 2011 XC60 R-Design, that means the vehicle evolves from a mild-mannered high-rider into a machine begging to be seen delivering a load of equally well-dressed ladies to an exclusive night spot. It may not be able to reduce its tires to a cloud of carcinogens or successfully execute a Scandinavian flick, but this CUV is a much more attractive offering than its straight-laced siblings.

Source: AutoBlog

Volvo S60 – Blindfolded Test Drive

Admin — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 18:51:02 +0000

Now tests are not what they were. One of the hottest races in New Zealand pilots tried the new Volvo S60 on a circuit in Auckland, not able to see anything.

First Drive: 2011 Volvo S60

Admin — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 15:18:42 +0000

If this S60 is ‘naughty,’ it’s probably in the same way that going to prom with your mother is ‘naughty.’ It’s wrong, certainly… particularly for the couple sharing your limo. It might even be a bit dangerous – for your social life – but at the end of the day, the core wholesomeness of both mothers and Volvos can’t be denied, right?

Source: AutoBlog

Volvo’s new chairman wants 7-Series

Admin — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 13:38:26 +0000

Geely isn’t wasting any time in shaping up its newest acquisition’s product line. The Chinese automaker officially completed its deal to purchase Volvo from Ford earlier this week, and already the Swedish brand’s new chairman is making noises about a new large luxury sedan to go toe to toe with the likes of the BMW 7 Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Li Shufu, Volvo chairman and co-chair of Geely, said that the brand already competes with luxury German carmakers in most markets, but lacks all of the hardware to do so effectively. To remedy the problem, Li wants to put the rush on a new saloon to take the fight to the Bavarians.

[Source: Financial Times – reg. req.]

2011 Volvo S60 hands-on demonstration [video]

Admin — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 18:37:36 +0000