Filed under: Wagons/Estates, Crossovers/CUVs, Volvo
Volvo thinks it needs more crossovers and wagons
And as a new father in need of a larger vehicle, I agree. Volvo has long been known for their safe, sensible wagons and last year almost half its total sales came from this class of vehicles.
Volvo Car Corp. COO Steven Armstrong tells Autoweek that his company sees plenty of wagon and crossover-type market gaps that need filling. Lex Kerssemakers, Volvo Car senior vice president of brand business and product strategy (we hope he gets paid by the syllable, btw) is a little more specific, saying that if the company were to target those gaps, it would likely be in the V or XC range.
Again, as the new daddy, I'd love to see Volvo reintroduce the V90 as an ultra luxury wagon to give the class a more upscale image. But as a practical new dad (hey, diapers ain't cheap) I say bring on a fuel-efficient 5-seater crossover simiilar to, but smaller and cheaper than, the upcoming XC60 (pictured above). But as the father who still craves some excitement now and then, I would, of course, opt for the European delivery with the Nurburgring package.
With so few automakers competing in the U.S. in the wagon segment, we see Volvo snagging lots of new customers. But the Swedes need to be quick before Honda and Toyota decide to re-enter with Accord and Camry wagons.
[Source: Autoweek]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
PJ 7:10PM (1/17/2007)
I'd be happy to see Volvo return to the template it followed when designing my beloved 740 Turbo wagon: rear-drive, beefy control efforts, an airy greenhouse, strong turbo power--7.8 seconds 0-60 wasn't bad in 1990--and a solid, substantial feel.
While I admire Volvo's efforts to sex up the brand with sleek styling and upscale convenience, today's front-drive Volvos have diluted the brand's driving character to nil. The limp-wrist steering, squashy ride quality, and wispy handling of the current S60 and V70 remind me more of a Toyota than anything else.
Ever-increasing government regulations have negated the safety part of Volvo's appeal: every car is unusually safe compared to their 10-or-15-year-old contemporaries. What Volvo can still capitalize on is the *feeling* of security afforded by their old "tank" wagons.
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PJ 7:17PM (1/17/2007)
Almost forgot. Another disappointment with the current V50 and V70: they're now among the least roomy cars in their respective classes, especially in the back seat.
The 700- and 900-series Volvos were not only roomy cars in their day, but still provide wider front footwells and better rear legroom than the current wagons. If anything, switching to front-drive should have allowed a step forward in interior packaging.
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emulous1974 7:26PM (1/17/2007)
I say what Volvo needs is a V50R with the V70R's powerplant stuffed under the hood. I would of easily skipped the manual tranny '05 Legacy GT Ltd Wagon I bought and gone directly for a manual V50R, as the V50 awd T5 just didn't have enough grunt for me, especially when it was priced well over the Subbie which offered more power and more room in a tighter handling package. I would of easily paid an extra 5K for a 300hp Volvo Wagon, where the V70R just didn't have the right looks at the right price for me.
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big jimmy 7:32PM (1/17/2007)
just what the market needs more front wheel drive Volvos
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Jim 8:12PM (1/17/2007)
"before Honda and Toyota decide to re-enter with Accord and Camry wagons"
I only wish this were going to happen soon. Or even a few years ago!
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Stphane Dumas 10:03PM (1/17/2007)
speaking of wagons, Ming, a member of the forums GMInsidenews writed a good rant about wagons, SUV at
http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/showthread.php?t=43456 or you can also read it on his blog at
http://mingsplace.blogspot.com/2007/01/conspiracy-theory-of-day-wagons-hurt.html
PJ mentionned some good points, I think it would be nice to see a RWD Volvo sedan and wagon back! Now which platform could suit for a future RWD Volvo?
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John P. 10:15PM (1/17/2007)
This is the best looking volvo in a LONG time, I hope the production model keeps some of this.
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Volvo S40 11:42PM (1/17/2007)
I Agree, this is very nice looking! Volvo needs a change.. alot of there older cars look blah.. this is a good direction for a new generation!
www.s40forums.com
Volvo For Life!
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Owain Ozymandias Buck 9:19AM (1/18/2007)
Yes, more wagons!
Two wishes:
1. I wish the V50 was rear wheel drive
2. I wish they offered a stripper package with less weight and unneeded frills.
--Wagon Evangelist
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Bill 11:00AM (1/18/2007)
I would buy a retro-Volvo if one was made. Straight angles, RWD, built like a tank.
I always loved them, but I could not afford them when they were new. Now I could, but theres nothing that really turns me on.
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AK 11:39AM (1/18/2007)
Hopefully Subaru'll get wind of this and rethink their termination of the Legacy wagon.
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Keith M 5:50PM (1/18/2007)
What was always attractive about Volvo’s is they didn't put form over function. I always thought their purposeful engineering was attractive in its own right.
Alas with the XC60 concept it looks like they are chasing the likes of Acura, Infinity... rather than differentiating themselves - it’s a direction Volvo will not win.
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CarExpert 6:30AM (2/01/2007)
That’s a good concept. I know Volvo could make it up with the demands and trend these days. The quality of their parts is getting better and better. They’ve proven it with this Volvo brake dust shield I have in my car.
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CarExpert 7:29PM (2/01/2007)
That’s a good concept. I know Volvo could make it up with the demands and trend these days. The quality of their parts is getting better and better. They’ve proven it with this Volvo brake dust shield (http://www.swedishpartsshop.com/volvobrakedustshields.html)
I have in my car.
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