The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration is investigating older Volvo XC90 models for potential faulty electronics that could cause the headlights and turn signals to fail. So far, the government isn't aware of any crashes resulting from the fault, but 21 owners have filed a complaint. The defect manifests itself on 2004-2005 XC90 SUVs, and NHTSA says that 93,487 vehicles are potentially impacted by the problem.
Fortunately, should the NHTSA issue a recall, the problem is a relatively easy fix. Regulators say that simply replacing a bad control module is enough to set everything working again. So far, there are no reports of similar problems occurring in any other Volvo models of similar vintage, but you can bet your eyes that the NHTSA will be taking a closer look at the company's line up from four years ago just to make sure.
Vovlo tests the world's naughtiness - Click above to watch video after the jump
Some habits die hard. Swedish manufacturer Volvo has always been one for extensive research. The company's reputation for safety is based largely on its understanding of the mechanics of a collision thanks to impossibly thorough field studies. So it should come as no surprise that when we all thought Volvo was putting down the clipboard in favor of a cocktail glass by throwing a slew of parties in some of the world's most iconic cities, the carmaker was actually studying human behavior. Go figure. Why? The move was part of the quest to unearth the Naughty Capitol of Europe as part of the S60 marketing campaign.
Each of the company's parties included a few clandestine experiments designed to test participants' naughtiness, including seeing how many people would try to talk their way into a fake VIP room, hit on an actress who was pretending to be married or sprint through a well-manicured flower bed. Volvo held the same experiments in Berlin, London, Milan, Paris and Madrid. Not surprisingly, the City of Light took the crown by a wide, wide margin. Hit the jump for a look at a video of Swedish sins.
We're all pretty excited about the launch of the 2011 Volvo S60 - the sedan that could make or break Volvo's worldwide appeal. We haven't driven it yet, but the shapely new S60 certainly looks like it means business. We hope that it retains that solid "Volvo-ness" that we've come to love, while adding a welcome dose of driver involvement.
Even though the S60 hasn't quite hit the road yet, Volvo tuner Heico Sportiv already has plans for its first modified version of the new sedan. These renderings show an S60 with sharper, more aggressive design elements, including hot new wheels, a revised front fascia, and a rear diffuser that encompasses quad tailpipes. Mechanically, Heico plans to rework the suspension and exhaust, as well as boosting output to around 330 horsepower - 30 more ponies than the standard S60 T6. We'll take one in matte black, please.
2011 Volvo S60 T5 in action - click above for high-res image gallery
An impact with an automobile will crack a human's bones like lobster claws at a clambake; an outcome Volvo aims to fight with technology. Pedestrian Detection with Full Auto Brake, a system that uses radar and cameras to stop the car and avert mauling pedestrians, makes its debut on the 2011 Volvo S60. While a visit to the recent Wellesley, Massachusetts stop of the Naughty Volvo Tour at Lee Imported Cars didn't net us any wheel time, we got our first chance to get hands-on with the new S60 outside of a convention hall.
Ford Motor Company is making changes at the top of its organization, including an expanding roll for up-and-coming marketing chief Jim Farley. A new Detroit Free Press report indicates that the former Toyota marketing whiz will be elevated to the roll of global marketing chief effective August 1. That's significant in part because this will be the first time The Blue Oval has ever had a head of global marketing - in the past the job was handled on a regional basis.
In other FoMoCo management moves, Stephen Odell, vice president and CEO of Volvo Cars, will move over to the top spot at Ford of Europe as soon as the sale of Volvo is completed. The move will free current head of Ford Of Europe John Flemming to concentrate on his other role as head of global manufacturing and labor affairs. The top spot in labor figures to be a particularly important post in the near-term due to the 2011 contract negotiations scheduled with the United Auto Workers.
2011 Volvo V60 - Click above for high-res image gallery
Volvo and Geely have taken another step toward holy matrimony. The European Union has officially approved the Chinese company's takeover of the Swedish manufacturer. The EU found that the move wouldn't stifle competition within its borders and gave all of the interested parties the green light. Ford originally agreed to sell Geely its former ward in March of this year, and the $1.8 billion dollar purchase is well on its way to becoming reality.
The move is a big one, not just for Volvo and Geely, but the whole of the Chinese auto market. According to Reuters, the buy is the largest overseas automotive acquisition any Chinese company has made to date. We would be surprised if it were the last, though.
Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!
Chris Shunk, Alex Nunez, Chris Paukert and Dan Roth wrap up the 4th of July long weekend with Episode #185 of the Autoblog Podcast. Topics are Toyota's valve-spring recall, a new engine in the Mercedes CL-Class, the Bugatti Veyron's speed record, and the newly teased Volvo V60 Wagon. We go off on a Saab tangent and finish up by responding to your questions before wrapping at an hour and twenty minutes. Thanks for listening, see you next time!
Autoblog Podcast #185 - Valve Springs, Speed Records, Wagons and Tangents
Get the podcast:
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes
[RSS] Add the Joystiq Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator
[MP3] Download the MP3 directly
Feedback:
Email: Podcast at Autoblog dot com
Voicemail: 734-288-8POD (734-288-8763)
Review the show in iTunes and take our survey
2011 Volvo V60 - Click above for high-res image gallery
Volvo has just sauntered into the battle to convince the world that wagons are as cool as they are functional with a new launch video for the company's very sexy V60 long-roof. The car's hobbies appear to be rocking out across the open desert and hustling family and cargo across town in a hurry. Globally, the company is offering a number of engines in the V60, including a new 2.0-liter direct-injected four with around 203 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque. Sadly, we wouldn't exactly hold your breath waiting for that one to show up on this side of the world.
But all may not yet be lost - Volvo has been kind enough to supply the car with a turbo 3.0-liter T6 with 304 Swedish ponies and 324 lb-ft of torque - a powertrain that sounds more like what the automaker might consider for North America (if indeed it gets the nod at all). In either case, the blown six-pot would would no doubt have us double-checking to make sure our groceries are secured. With that kind of grunt, Volvo says the wagon will scoot up to 60 mph in a scant 6.6 seconds. All-wheel drive is standard, and the only gearbox available on the T6 is the company's six-speed automatic. Volvo will offer no less than eight different engines in the V60, so it's hard telling exactly which will show up here in the States should the time come.
Until then, the company has given us one sweet launch video and a bevy of images to drool over. Be sure to hit the jump for the press release and to check out the short flick after you roll through the high-res gallery.
2011 Volvo V70 R-Design by Heico Sportiv - click above for a high-res image gallery
A Volvo wagon from a tuner can't help but sound exciting to us. Externally, the Volvo V70 T6 R-Design by Heico Sportiv delivers what you'd expect for an exclusive Euro express, carrying an eye-watering €70,193 price tag (that's more than $86,000 USD). Metallic sapphire black is the only color available for the limited-edition run of 100 cars. Ride height is lowered by 30 millimeters over attractive five-spoke 19-inch wheels, a sport exhaust system is fitted and there's an ever-important viking-helmet emblem affixed to the car's rump. Heico also re-tunes the turbocharged six cylinder engine, which jumps from its standard 304 horsepower to 330.
Volvo's R-Design dress-up parts are applied liberally, as well. Matte metal accents in and out and sport leather upholstery further set this special wagon apart. The aesthetics are without fault, but then there's the performance details. Despite increased horsepower and claims of "apparently limitless power reserves," the resulting numbers aren't terribly impressive for a car with such sporting overtones and lofty price. 0-62 mph arrives in 5.9 seconds, which is quick, but for about the same money, an Audi S6 Avant packs a 429 pony wallop that reaches 62 mph in just 5.2 seconds, and we're guessing that it'll outhandle the Swede as well. BMW's 535i SE Touring is a veritable bargain, ringing up a €48,000 price tag (just under $59k) and delivering a nearly-identical run 6.0 second run to 100 km/h from its 306 hp engine. On this side of the Atlantic, you could pick up an Ecoboost-powered Ford Flex for $37,000 and get more space and similar pace (Ford's three-row scorcher ran to 60mph in 6.0 seconds for a Car and Driver shoe).
Despite the number-crunching, there's little doubt that this Heico-tuned V70 is among the sportiest Volvo wagons extant, but exclusivity and styling will have to sell this car. It's out-sprinted by a V6 Nissan Altima, and even the Toyota RAV-4 V6 will give it a hard time - not exactly what you'd expect from a "tuner" car.
According to a report out of Germany, President and CEO of the Volkswagen Group of America Stefan Jacoby is set to leave the automaker this August to take the top spot at Volvo.
Jacoby, who has led VW's U.S. arm since 2007 and enjoyed a brief stint at Mitsubishi Motors Europe, is set to replace Volvo's current CEO Briton Stephen Odell. Odell will reportedly become the new head of Ford's European operations when Jacoby takes over the Geely-owned Swedish marque in August.
Polestar Volvo C30 - Click above to watch the video after the jump
Earlier this year, Volvo and Polestar debuted the C30 Polestar Performance Prototype hot hatch, showing what would happen if a Swedish touring car were tuned down for road car use. It's a menacing little devil, what with its turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-five boosted to 405 horsepower, Haldex all-wheel drive, massive brakes and raft of other performance add-ons.
The team at Autocar recently had the chance to flog the Polestar C30 around Volvo's proving grounds, saying that the hatch feels like a well-sorted version of Mitsubishi's Lancer Evolution or even a "junior Nissan GT-R." High praise, indeed, and we don't doubt them. Obviously, we won't be seeing a production version of the vicious C30 anytime soon, but this exercise mostly shows what sort of performance machines could come from a partnership between Volvo and Polestar. This would certainly give BMW's M and Audi's S/RS divisions a run for their money, and we'll never complain about having too many hot hatches on the market.
Follow the jump to watch Autocar's test of the Polestar C30, and head back to our earlier post to read all the details about the road-ready touring car.
With Volvo forever separated from Ford, the Swedish automaker needs of a new leader, and a report from Automotive News shows that that search may start and end in the country's own back yard. Swedish Business daily Dagens Industri claims Jan Ake Jonsson, the current CEO of Saab, is on the short list of names who could one-day run Volvo. Volvo's current CEO, Stephen Odell, will reportedly leave the Swedish automaker for a post as head of Ford Europe.
The Swedish paper reports that Jonsson has already been contacted for the position, though the current Saab boss told the news outlet that he promised Spyker CEO Victor Mueller that he'd stay on a while longer. That doesn't sound like a long-term commitment to Saab, but it doesn't say that Jonsson has his bags packed, either. We're sure, though, that new Volvo owner Geely would calm a lot of nervous Swedes by appointing the native Jonsson to the top Volvo spot.
2011 Volvo S60 - Click above for high-res image gallery
The Volvo S60 has been priced: $37,700 plus $850 in destination charges is all you'll need. What happens when you put a comparably equipped S60 priced at $41,400 up against the BMW 335i xDrive, Mercedes-Benz C350, Lexus IS350 and Audi A4? The S60 undercut the BMW and Merc, while coming in above the the Lexus and Audi. Of course, none of those other cars include Volvo's Safe + Secure plan that offers five-year/60,000-mile warranty, maintenance wear-and-tear and roadside assistance coverage, so there's that.
The Volvo is also the most powerful of the bunch with a standard turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine producing 300 horsepower and 325 foot-pounds of torque, six-speed Geartronic transmission and standard all-wheel drive of the torque vectoring variety. But wait, there's more: The Volvo also has Pedestrian Detection and City Safety systems that the others don't offer. Follow the jump for a press release with all the details, and see if the Swede has what it takes to get your lux dollars.
Safety is expected when you're Volvo, and when something goes wrong it's particularly embarrassing. Such was the case this week when media were invited to a demonstration of one of Volvo's latest latest safety technologies. The collision warning system on the S60 is supposed to detect an impending impacts and then autonomously apply the brakes to bring the vehicle to a halt, like this. Except it didn't!
The S60 was launched at 30 mph toward the back of a parked truck and the crowd watched as it rolled straight into it without ever braking. Volvo representatives later claimed human error in the preparation of the vehicle for the test. On the plus side, the car showed no apparent damage to the passenger compartment, again demonstrating that, even if a Volvo does crash, it will protect its occupants. In the meantime, we'll just to go back to being active participants in the driving process. Check out the video after the jump. Hats off to all the tipsters!
Volvo C30 Polestar Performance Prototype Concept - Click above to watch video after the jump
If you've been itching for a closer look at the Polestar Performance Volvo C30 Performance Concept Prototype, you're in luck. The Swedish carmaker has rolled out a tasty little video that includes a complete walk-around of the hopped-up hatch and an interview with Derek Crabb, the brand's vice president of powertrain engineering and the executive director of motorsports engineering. There's even a few clips of the genuine C30 racers going fender to fender in the Swedish Touring Car Championship.
Christian Dahl also makes an appearance in the quick video. Dahl is the managing director at Polestar, and brought along his own insights into what it takes to build a 400 horsepower, all-wheel drive C30. According to Polestar, the team was able to build the C30 Performance Concept Prototype well above what the standard racing regulations allow, which allowed parts like those massive Brembo brakes to make their way into the creation.
All in all, it's a lot of work for a one-off car designed to do nothing more than build Volvo enthusiast's awareness of the Polestar brand. Now if only Geely would sign off on a limited production run. Head past the jump to see the video for yourself.
Now that the snow has melted and buds have popped on trees and flowers, millions of people are suffering from itchy eyes and runny noses as the atmosphere fills with pollen. The usual remedy to these immune system overreactions is to start popping allergy pills.
Volvo would like to recommend a non-pharmaceutical alternative. In several vehicles, the carmaker already offers micro-filtration systems that are claimed to capture the particles that cause seasonal allergies. An automatic ventilation system in the S80, XC60, V70, XC70 and S60 apparently flushes the interior air when the doors are unlocked.
The Swedish-Chinese automaker has also been putting a lot of effort into using hypo-allergenic interior materials like chromium free leather. While all of this might work to minimize pollen exposure while driving, at some point everyone has to get out of the car. If Volvo could just find a way to get their cars to absorb the atmospheric pollen, then we'd really be in business.
Grynch raps a tribute to "My Volvo" - Click above to watch video after the jump
Rapper Grynch isn't about Maybachs and Phantoms - he's straight up all about a 1986 Volvo 240 DL... wagon. So much so, in fact, he's penned a song and made a video for it. One never knows what to expect when told to check out a rap video about a Volvo, but we found it a lot cooler than we think we had a right to. Follow the jump for the rhymes, but be ready before you click - Grynch says "I'm gon' need you to feel me on this..."
Volvo and Polestar are set to officially unveil the C30 Polestar Performance Concept Prototype this weekend. Designed to be an exercise in what would happen if a race team was allowed to do what they do best without the burden of a regulatory body looming over them, the wicked hatch is about as far from what's available at your local Volvo dealer as you can get.
The base C30 gets its power from a 2.5-liter, 227-horsepower turbocharged five-cylinder, and the Polestar version bumps that same mill up to a heavenly 405 ponies thanks to a larger turbo, massive intercooler and custom internals. The pistons, connecting rods and camshaft are all unique units build just for the project.
The Haldex all-wheel drive system stays in place, though mechanical differentials, front and rear, have been fitted to add a little control to the chaos. Polestar also dropped in a quick-ratio steering rack and an Ohlins suspension. Brake work gets handled by epic Brembo six-piston calipers up front and four-piston units out back.
Obviously Volvo doesn't have any plans to bring a Polestar C30 to production, though it is cool to see a road-going version of a Swedish touring car come to life. Hit the jump for the press release.
Volvo FMX - Click above for high-res image gallery
No, we didn't miss a decimal point. Volvo (well, Volvo Trucks, to be more precise) has just pulled one very big sheet off of a new heavy-duty construction truck called the FMX. The leviathan bears a host of features designed to help it excel on the manufacturing and construction sites of Europe, including impressive ground clearance, substantial skid plates and one badpush-bar. Of course, there's also that impressive engine.
Volvo will let you equip your very own FMX with either an 11-liter powerplant capable of anywhere between 330 and 450 horsepower or a 13-liter lump with 380-500 horsepower depending on configuration. The larger of the two engines produces around 1,800 lb-ft of torque - more than both the 2011 Ford Super Duty and 2011 Chevrolet Duramax combined.
The FMX also comes with i-Shift - unique gearbox programming that senses the truck's load, then adjusts gear ratios accordingly to climb or descend hills. It will also let you rock the vehicle back and forth to get free of sticky mud or loose sand.
Yes, Volvo says the FMX is built to boost the company's presence in the construction market, but we're thinking those three- millimeter-thick bumpers would stand up well in your run-of-the mill post-apocalyptic scenario. Zombies, militias, recession-induced governmental collapse - the FMX could handle it all. Hit the jump for the press release.
Volvo truck during crash testing - Click above for high-res image
New research has revealed that up to 50 percent of European truck drivers don't buckle up when they hit the road. A study by CEASAR Research Institute discovered that seatbelt use among truck drivers varies widely from country to country - from as little as 10 percent to better than 70 percent - it all averages out to the fact that around half of the long-haul drivers don't use their belts.
The study also attempted to figure out why the usage rates were so low. Not surprisingly, there's something of a stigma attached to strapping yourself into a big rig, with some drivers believing they're safer in a large mass vehicle compared to a small passenger car. Even so, the CEASAR study claims that traffic fatalities among truck drivers could be decreased by as much as 40 percent if drivers simply took the time to click it.
Of the countries surveyed, France had the highest seatbelt usage - 70 percent - thanks largely to the fact that the country has legislation on the books to encourage drivers to be safe. Driving without a seatbelt in France will net you points on your license. Too many points, and you're walking to work. Hop the jump for the full press release.
