Autoblog

LA 2009: Ford Taurus and Volvo XC60 named International Car and Truck of the Year

Chris Shunk — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 16:58:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Sedan, Crossover, Ford, Volvo

Ford Taurus and Volvo VX60 named International Car of the Year - Click above for high-res image gallery

Hold onto your hats folks, because while magazine award ceremonies appear to be just about finished, the auto show trophies are just starting to be handed out. This time, it's the International Car of the Year at the LA Auto Show, and we've got two winners from within the Ford empire. The Ford Taurus took top car honors while the Volvo XC60 won as the best truck. Both vehicles have been well received by the press and early returns from customers appear to be positive, too. While the Taurus is outselling its bland and unexciting predecessor, the XC60 has helped Volvo achieve six consecutive months of year-over-year sales increases.

ICOTY creator and executive producer Courtney Caldwell claims that the winners aren't chosen based on performance, but instead on how the vehicles "reflect our personalities, lifestyles and self-image and how well the automaker achieves that goal through the design and marketing of the vehicle." Uh-huh. And while the ICoTY award isn't exactly one of the big-name trophies for the mantle, a win is a win, and both Ford and Volvo are proud recipients of the accolades. Hit the jump to read over the press releases from Ford and Volvo.

Gallery: LA 2009 COTY: 2010 Ford Taurus and 2010 Volvo XC60

[Sources: Ford, Volvo]

Continue reading LA 2009: Ford Taurus and Volvo XC60 named International Car and Truck of the Year

LA 2009: Ford Taurus and Volvo XC60 named International Car and Truck of the Year originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Dec 2009 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: U.S consortium now in lead for Volvo purchase

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 15:40:00 EST

Filed under: China, Ford, Volvo, Earnings/Financials, Rumormill

Just about a month ago, news hit the interwebs that Chinese automaker Geely officially became Ford's preferred bidder for Volvo once concerns over intellectual property were sorted out. Today, though, we're hearing that Crown, a consortium led by former Ford director Michael Dingman, former Ford and Chrysler LLC executive Shamel Rushwin and ex-Volvo CEO Roger Holtback, is gaining momentum in its bid for the Swedish automaker after submitting a revised proposal.

If reports from The Wall Street Journal and Reuters are accurate, Crown's new bid is "on par" with Geely's $1.8 billion offer and is backed by both Swedish and Chinese investors and banks. Not surprisingly, Ford has yet to comment on the speculation, though it has said that talks with Geely are already at an advanced stage. Stay tuned.

[Sources: The Wall Street Journal; Reuters]

REPORT: U.S consortium now in lead for Volvo purchase originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Dec 2009 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Disgruntled Volvo owner starts blog, crafts lament in her native Swedish tongue

Chris Shunk — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:29:00 EST

Filed under: Wagon, Videos, Volvo

Click above to watch the video after the jump

Freya Svensson feels like she's getting screwed. According to her blog postings, she owns a still new-looking Volvo XC70 that has had more than its fair share of problems: a faulty transmission and an internal coolant leak that could have been caused by a cracked cylinder head or head gasket. To make matters worse, Svensson says the transmission, cylinder head and motor mounts (twice) have been replaced by Rusnak Volvo in Pasadena, California. Svensson further claims that when the transmission was replaced, she told Rusnak that it still didn't feel right but the dealership allegedly wouldn't take a look at it again. Now that the supposed defective tranny is out of warranty, the dealership wants to repair it. None of this tale is funny, odd, or different from some of the dealer/warranty horror stories that we hear about all the time. So why are we bothering to report on this one? As you might have guessed from the viking helmet and acoustic guitar show above, Svensson has no issue in pulling out all the stops in order to get her message across. She's even got t-shirts. This amuses us.

For starters, Svensson started up her own website, Rusmackedvolvo.com, which details her problems with Volvo North America and Rusnak Volvo. She took to Facebook to friend Volvo North America President Doug Speck, offering to help him add to his paltry friend total of 24 in exchange for free repairs to her Scandinavian lemon. To add a little flair, Svensson then took to YouTube to provide a video play by play of what is going on with her cursed wagon. The blonde haired, blue eyed Svensson plays up the Swedish connection by even singing an original composition, "O Rusnak Volvo" in her native tongue. Hit the jump to watch the clip, and don't worry if you don't speak Swedish - Svensson has been thoughtful enough to provide English subtitles.

[Sources: Rusmackedvolvo.com; YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: Disgruntled Volvo owner starts blog, crafts lament in her native Swedish tongue

VIDEO: Disgruntled Volvo owner starts blog, crafts lament in her native Swedish tongue originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rendered Speculation: Return of the R for Volvo?

John Neff — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:26:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Volvo

Swedespeed has asked the question that anyone who follows Volvo is thinking: Will R cars return? After a tumultuous last couple of years that saw the Swedish brand suffer falling sales amidst parent company Ford's effort to sell the brand to the highest bidder (it's looking like Chinese automaker Geely at the moment), Volvo has gotten as far away from producing performance automobiles as a brand can. All the while, its competition from Germany, Japan and the U.S. have augmented their luxury lines with mid-level or super high-performance cars like the BMW 335i/M3, Audi S4/RS4 and Cadillac CTS-V. Volvo, meanwhile, put all its egg into a basket that touted refined design and safety. Unfortunately, every player in these segments has upped the ante with their designs and superior safety is no longer an island on which Volvo finds itself alone.

So back to the R cars. Volvo had some success with the 850R in the mid-Nineties, which was a mildly hotter version than the standard box sedan on which it was based. After that, the P2-gen S60R and V70R were downright scorchers with a complex Haldex all-wheel-drive system, 300-hp motor, adjustable 4C suspension and Brembo brakes. But then the R cars disappeared and were replaced by "R Design" packages that offered all of the visual potential for high performance but little else.

Swedespeed decided that proper R cars should return with the arrival of the all-new S60, and rather than being blow-the-doors-off quick, should offer mid-level performance like the original 850R did. What you see above is their rendered speculation of a reborn S60R. Click here to read more about it and catch an extra view. We think they're spot on and would love to see Volvo return to building R cars that make us think of more than safety and design when we're behind the wheel.

[Source: Swedespeed]

Rendered Speculation: Return of the R for Volvo? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Geely looking for 1M units from Volvo, plans Chinese factory

Jonathon Ramsey — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 16:59:00 EST

Filed under: China, Ford, Volvo, Geely

Should Geely succeed in its bid to purchase Volvo, the Chinese automaker does not plan to spend any time playing in its new Swedish sandbox. Ford moved about 380,000 Volvos around the world last year; Geely wants to sell 2.5 times that amount within five years. How so? By injecting "two or three bigger, more luxurious cars" into the lineup and working its home market of China, which Geely feels could be unlocked for 200,000 vehicles alone. Those units could be supplied by a Chinese factory capable of making 300,000 cars per year and would presumably be larger than the upcoming redesigned S60 (above).

Ford has designated Geely its preferred bidder for Volvo. However, in an echo of the tensions between General Motors and Magna's Russian bidding partner Sberbank, Geely will need to address Ford's intellectual property concerns among other issues to complete a sale. Volvo's technologies and reputation for safety are probably worth as much as the company's physical assets, so it's not surprising that Ford wants to negotiate the technology transfer. Assuming they can come to terms, closing the deal is expected to cost Geely $2 billion.

Gallery: 2010 Volvo S60

[Source: Automotive News, sub. req'd]

Geely looking for 1M units from Volvo, plans Chinese factory originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Volvo goes after tween vampire demographic with New Moon promotion

Chris Shunk — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Crossover, Volvo

Click above to watch the video after the jump

Paying for product placement for big-screen movies can be a pretty risky business. If the movie is a flop, doing so could be a big-time waste of ad dollars that could have been better spent elsewhere. But if the movie turns out to be a global blockbuster, it can look like a very wise move, indeed. Volvo struck such gold with the first Twilight movie, as millions of teens saw Edward Cullen (played by Robert Pattinson) prancing around town in his silver C30. And the safety-minded Swedish automaker is looking for lightning to strike twice by getting its products noticed in Twilight sequel New Moon.

Cullen is a little older and a bit wiser in the sequel, so he appears to be stepping up from the C30 to the family-friendly XC60, although both models feature in the film. If you're thinking a crossover isn't exactly cool for the typical 17 year-old, try to remember that Cullen is over 100 in human years. Volvo's newest crossover makes perfect sense given the fact that it's the Swedish automaker's newest and freshest product, but we're having a bit of trouble trying to understand pushing a Volvo crossover in a vampire flick that gears towards teenage movie-goers.

Hit the jump to watch the 1:30 commercial, which doesn't begin until about 10 seconds into the YouTube clip. Volvo wants you to know that its vehicles give you the power to stand up for you what you believe in while also keeping what you believe in safe. If you're not into people haulers from Volvo, there are also plenty of dialog-free scenes from New Moon.

Gallery: Review: 2009 Volvo XC60

[Source: Volvo via YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: Volvo goes after tween vampire demographic with New Moon promotion

VIDEO: Volvo goes after tween vampire demographic with New Moon promotion originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lookin' Swede: Volvo reveals Geneva-bound 2010 S60 sedan

Noah Joseph — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:27:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Geneva Motor Show, Volvo

2010 Volvo S60 - Click above for high-res image gallery

A company's image can be a burden and a blessing. Volvo, for example, remains keen on ditching its image for boxy, lackluster automobiles, but it's eager to capitalize on its reputation for safety. With its sale from Ford's empire looming on the horizon, the Swedish automaker has been hard at work to spruce up its image, and this is the latest result.

Though predictably toned down for public consumption, the production-ready Volvo S60 sedan bears close resemblance to the stunning S60 Concept that debuted at the Detroit Auto Show nearly a year ago. Gone are the suicide rear doors and the flashy panoramic roof, and the shape of the headlights have been toned down just a touch, but the coupe-like roofline and the aggressive overall styling stay.

On the safety front, the new S60 features a new Pedestrian Detection system that - you guessed it - detects pedestrians and brakes the car to a full stop from up to 30 mph if the driver fails to react.

The new sedan will debut at the Geneva Motor Show next March, with production slated to begin at Volvo's plant in Belgium early next summer. Once out on the road, the new S60 will be gunning for the likes of the BMW 3 Series, Audi A4, Acura TL and Mercedes-Benz C-Class, all of which comprise of the most competitive segments in the industry. In the meantime, Trollhattan has released a pair of images you can view in the gallery below and a short press release which we've posted after the jump. Thanks for the tips, everyone!

Gallery: 2010 Volvo S60

[Source: Volvo]

Continue reading Lookin' Swede: Volvo reveals Geneva-bound 2010 S60 sedan

Lookin' Swede: Volvo reveals Geneva-bound 2010 S60 sedan originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford officially confirms China's Geely as preferred bidder for Volvo

Sam Abuelsamid — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:58:00 EST

Filed under: China, Ford, Volvo, Geely

Volvo S60 concept - click above for high-res image gallery

It's been rumored for months Chinese automaker Geely had the best shot at picking up the Volvo brand from Ford, and today, Dearborn has finally confirmed it. Geely was named as the preferred bidder this morning and the Blue Oval is proceeding with negotiations. However, this is not going to be an easy deal to close. Ford doesn't want to keep any stake in the Swedish company, although it does hope to continue some product cooperation.

In spite of the lack of shareholding, Ford doesn't want Volvo to wither on the vine and wants whoever buys it to have the resources to make it a going concern - unlike what happened when BMW dumped Rover. Perhaps the toughest nut to crack will be intellectual property concerns. Any time a sale like this happens, the seller is be concerned about leaving too much information lying around, and that concern is understandably amplified when dealing with an up-and-coming Chinese company. There is no word on when a deal might be closed, so in the meantime, busy yourself with the official release after the jump.

Gallery: Detroit 2009: Volvo S60 Concept

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Ford officially confirms China's Geely as preferred bidder for Volvo

Ford officially confirms China's Geely as preferred bidder for Volvo originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Volvo gives sneak preview of new S60 sedan... to a blind artist

Noah Joseph — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:58:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Sedan, Geneva Motor Show, Videos, Volvo

Click above to watch the video after the jump

With debuts for new vehicles scheduled months in advance, automakers like to keep us on our proverbial toes with sneak previews. Sometimes they give them to us, and we in turn pass them on to you. Sometimes they give previews to its top customers, who are sworn to secrecy. But whoever they want to show the car to in advance, those people need to, you know...actually see the car.

Volvo, on the other hand, has decided to do things a little differently. The Swedish automaker invited an artist by the name of Eşref Armağan to see the upcoming new S60 sedan, scheduled for its public debut at the Geneva Motor Show next March. The catch? Armağan is blind, and has been since birth.

In order to captivate our imaginations, Volvo's released a series of blurry videos chronicling Armağan's encounter with the S60, the first of which you can view after the jump with more available on Volvo's Facebook page. As far as social media campaigns go, they're worth a watch. And if you squint, you can almost make out what the sedan might look like.

[Source: Volvo via YouTube and Facebook]

Continue reading VIDEO: Volvo gives sneak preview of new S60 sedan... to a blind artist

VIDEO: Volvo gives sneak preview of new S60 sedan... to a blind artist originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Geely's plans to buy Volvo from Ford unravelling over intellectual property concerns?

Chris Shunk — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Ford, Volvo, Earnings/Financials, Geely

Ford has been trying to offload the Volvo brand since December of 2008, but after years of rumors and speculation those 10 months feel more like a decade. China's Geely has been speculated as the number-one bidder for the Blue Oval's Swedish luxury brand, but a report by Bloomberg asserts that the long-awaited accord could be shelved due to concerns over Ford's intellectual property.

Because Volvo is so tightly integrated into Ford's product development, any buyer of the safety-minded car maker would have inside knowledge of the Blue Oval's future product plans and access to its latest and greatest technology. The buyer would also have direct access to Ford's vehicle architectures, since so many are shared between itself and Volvo. If Geely does in fact purchase Volvo, those platforms, which pass both European and U.S. crash test standards with flying colors, it could give China's largest automaker a better chance of entering the coveted U.S. market. And helping Chinese automakers enter the States probably isn't at the top of the list of things Ford wants to do right now.

U.S. and European automakers have had their hands full in attempting to curb China's lax intellectual property rules. Some vehicles built by Chinese automakers and sold in the land of the Great Wall are nothing more than carbon copies of vehicles from American., Japanese and European automakers... save for a new logo. Ford is also dealing with the case of Xiang Dong Yu, an ex Ford engineer who stole 4,000 sensitive and confidential documents from the Dearborn, MI-based automaker. The sticky-fingered engineer reportedly pilfered the documents in an effort to get a job at Shanghai Automotive but he was instead hired by Bejing Automotive.

The other issue Ford could be facing is the bargain-basement price tag Volvo is rumored to be offered at due to years of recessing sales volume and mounting losses. Ford purchased Volvo in 1999 for over $6 billion, but sources familiar with the brand's sale estimate that the Swedish automaker could now fetch as little as $2 billion. While that sum is nothing to sneeze at, Ford could be better off waiting until the automotive market heats back up gain. The new XC60 crossover has helped curb Volvo's sales woes here in the U.S. to the point that the Swedish Automaker realized a 16% sales climb versus last September. Next year's intro redesigned S60 coupled with several mid-cycle face lifts could continue to help Volvo's short-term prospects.

[Source: Bloomberg | Photo: Sven Nackstrand/AFP/Getty Images]

REPORT: Geely's plans to buy Volvo from Ford unravelling over intellectual property concerns? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Autoblog tries out Volvo City Safety on boss's BMW

John Neff — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Safety, Videos, Crossover, Volvo, Luxury

Autoblog tries Volvo City Safety on XC60 - Click above to watch video after the jump

A number of bloggers on our team actually have real jobs, those crazy 9-5 things we full-time bloggers hear so much about. Sure, an actual 40-hour work week can tie one arm behind your back when trying to be a power blogger, but our own Dan Roth gets around this by incorporating his two incomes to achieve a task we set out for him.

The charge was simple: Try out Volvo's City Safety technology that comes on the new XC60. City Safety is Volvo's new active safety technology that uses an optical radar mounted at the top of the windshield to measure the speed and distance of any objects in front of the car. It does these calculations around 50 times per second, and in the event of an imminent collision with said objects, will automatically apply the brakes. It only works when the XC60 is traveling between 2-18 mph, though.

Dan's response: "Great, I'll set up some cardboard boxes and we'll see if it stops."

Our response: "Lame."

Dan went back to the drawing board and wound up producing the video after the jump. We expected him to up the ante beyond sacrificial boxes somehow, but he gets our mad respect for going this far. Oh, and in case you think we set up multiple cameras to shoot all those angles, think again. Dan got so comfortable with this test that he ran it five times to get all the angles.

Continue reading VIDEO: Autoblog tries out Volvo City Safety on boss's BMW

VIDEO: Autoblog tries out Volvo City Safety on boss's BMW originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Next-gen Volvo S60 takes Active Safety to next level with people sensing?

Jonny Lieberman — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 18:28:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Safety, Technology, Volvo

Click above to view video after the jump

For decades now, Volvo has been staking its claim in the automotive landscape by being the safety brand. And honestly, that's smart marketing. When a family (especially a young family) goes car shopping and safety is high on their list of concerns, tying your product to their desire to see their children live is a good way to move metal. Problem is, the car world has changed considerably since Volvo first started making bones about being four-wheeled life preservers 25 years ago. All cars are pretty safe these days. Some are even safer than Volvos. So how do you stand out from the pack? Keep innovating.

Which is precisely what Volvo's doing with their new City Safety system. Essentially, using some fairly sophisticated radar technology (see above) Volvo is able to pick out pedestrians from other objects like cars and trees. Nifty, huh? And quite similar (and ironic) to how the the Terminator viewed his surroundings. Sadly, it would seem when the system encounters a mother pushing a baby carriage, it identifies the mother as more important. Though that's probably win-win as long as the car doesn't hit either. Point is, should the Volvo get too close to a human, on clamp the brakes for a full, computer-controlled stop.

This radar tech is actually very closely related to the system Ford is using for active cruise control, blind spot warning and parking lot avoidance alerts on the new 2010 Taurus (which, coincidentally, is based on a Volvo platform). We got to see a behind the scenes peak at the Taurus's radar system on the launch and what you're looking at is essentially what Ford showed us, though cranked up a notch. There's a video of the next S60 running the system after the jump, as well as a machine-translated story explaining it all (kinda). Tip of the hard hat to Joakim.

[Source: Teknikensvarld]

Continue reading VIDEO: Next-gen Volvo S60 takes Active Safety to next level with people sensing?

VIDEO: Next-gen Volvo S60 takes Active Safety to next level with people sensing? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: American-led consortium to bid against Geely for Volvo

Sam Abuelsamid — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 09:58:00 EST

Filed under: Technology, Ford, Volvo, Geely

With General Motors and Ford both trying to divest themselves of underperforming operations that aren't core to their U.S.-based businesses, the automakers are finding things tougher than simply locating someone willing to write a check. As automakers have rationalized their operations, they have done a lot of platform and technology sharing among the brands under their umbrellas, making extracting individual marques a difficult business. Because automakers around the world are struggling, finding buyers is even more problematic, and the world's most willing bidders seem to be in places like China and Russia - locales where respect for intellectual property rights is dubious.

The Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co. bid for Opel was killed because of such concerns. Magna's bid has faced similar worries because much of the financing is coming from Russia.

The lead bidder for Ford's Volvo unit is currently Chinese automaker Geely, but Ford is apparently having second thoughts because it doesn't want to share too much of its technology with the potential buyer. A second potential purchaser has entered the picture, a U.S.-based group with backing from several private equity funds. The Crown consortium has reportedly offered less up-front money than Geely but made similar investment commitments to the Swedish brand. If things don't work out with Geely, Ford could turn to the American group, but no one is talking publicly right now.

[Source: Financial Times]

REPORT: American-led consortium to bid against Geely for Volvo originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What's Worth What? AdAge looks at values of automakers' marketing accounts

Dan Roth — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 18:40:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Audi, BMW, Buick, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, GM, Infiniti, Jeep, Kia, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mini, Saturn, Toyota, Volkswagen, Volvo

Although auto industry money is a bit tight at the moment, in order to sell vehicles, automakers have to buy advertising. Lots of advertising, in big, expensive campaigns with high production values and creative that's at the vanguard of style. Advertising agencies that can handle the needs of giant clientele with international brands are still happy to welcome automotive accounts through the doors.

Advertising Age has taken a look at the still-big auto advertising business and what fifteen assorted manufacturers drop on advertising per year. Landing one of these big vehicular fishes would surely make an account executive smile, though AdAge rightly posits that some of are sexier than others. Toyota spends the most at more than $800 million, with Ford coming in second at nearly $700 million. The biggest accounts don't seem to be in any danger of having their deals come up for review, however, so it may be easier to poach someone who's already looking, like Chrysler or Volvo. Hit the link for all the figures.

[Source: Advertising Age]

What's Worth What? AdAge looks at values of automakers' marketing accounts originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 18:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Volvo buys full-page ads to pledge support for distracted driving legislation

Chris Shunk — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 18:01:00 EST

Filed under: Safety, Volvo

Volvo has publicly stated that it would like to eradicate accident-related injuries and deaths per year by the year 2020; an extraordinarily lofty goal that would obviously save countless lives. But in the next ten years, hundreds of thousands of drivers will die in traffic accidents in the U.S. alone, and Volvo feels that anti-distracted driving legislation passing through Washington right now could save quite a few.

To support the legislation, Volvo took out full-page ads in yesterday's Washington Post and USA Today. Volvo points out in the ads that it has long been committed to avoiding distracted driving accidents, and safety tech like adaptive cruise control and lane departure warning are evidence of the Swedish automaker's track record. The ads are purposely being run at the same time law makers, safety advocates, law enforcement and transportation officials converge in Washington for a distracted driving summit.

Volvo Cars North America President and CEO Doug Speck underscores his company's commitment to distracted driving laws, stating the need for "reasonable laws that help focus a driver's attention on the road will help reduce collisions, just as laws to enforce seat belt use have helped save lives." And when Volvo is talking about distracted driving, it's not just worried about text messaging and cell phones. The Swedish automaker also counts passengers, rubbernecking, driver fatigue, reading newspapers, books, and maps, adjusting the radio and looking at scenery as potential driving hazards.

We're definitely with Volvo with the book reading and the rubbernecking, but we'll take majestic scenery wherever we can get it. And if Volvo wants to eradicate map reading in the car, it can start by improving its own cloyingly contrived navigation system interface. Hit the jump to read the Volvo press release.

[Source: Volvo]

Continue reading Volvo buys full-page ads to pledge support for distracted driving legislation

Volvo buys full-page ads to pledge support for distracted driving legislation originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Frankfurt 2009: Facelifted 2010 Volvo C30 gets it right

Jonny Lieberman — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 11:01:00 EST

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Europe, Hatchback, Volvo

2010 Volvo C30 - Click above for high-res image gallery

When you're an auto ~~journalist~~ blogger, you're constantly, incessantly bombarded with a series of questions. Usually it's, "What's the best car you've ever driven?" (Personal answer: Superformance Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe, followed by blank stares.) The other question we get more frequently than, "How you doing?" is, "What car should I buy?" Sorta like the initial question, we have a a few boilerplate responses. One of them just happens to be the sadly invisible but highly desirable Volvo C30. Really, if you're in the market for a small, stylish car under $30K, you can't do much better. Usually, we're totally ignored. Though one friend did heed our advice -- she also happens to own a 1972 Datsun 240Z. In other words, a woman with taste.

For 2010 Volvo has updated the C30. The biggest change is that the small hatch's snout is now up to snuff with its rear. We especially dig the new grill (also seen on the 2010 C70). Kinda looks like an upside down Aston Martin front end, no? The long, arching headlights are major improvement, too. We even like the the mirrors. Inside, the song remains very much the same -- think icy, Scando fortress of solitude. And of course, the rear end is as killer looking as ever. Sure it harkens back to the P1800's stern, but the C30's isn't slavishly derivative. In fact, the 2010 model's reworked bumper makes it look even better. Long story short, as long as Volvo's around, we'll keep recommending the C30. Especially since it's as close to we can get to a shooting-brake.

Gallery: Frankfurt 2009: 2010 Volvo C30

Frankfurt 2009: Facelifted 2010 Volvo C30 gets it right originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Sep 2009 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Frankfurt 2009: 2010 Volvo C70 works best in San Diego

Jonny Lieberman — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 07:34:00 EST

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Convertible, Europe, Volvo

2010 Volvo C70 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Why San Diego? That way you could maximize the amount of time your new C70 spends with its top down. More than three hundred days a year -- probably. We say this because we saw some leaked shots of Volvo's latest hardtop droptop a couple of weeks ago and it looked real nice with the roof stowed. Elegant even. But dude, is this Swede funny-looking with the top up. Viewed from the side, it's hard to tell which end is which. Only the arching, over-sized headlights lend a clue.

There are some good points, like those aforementioned headlamps. And we really dig the new grill. The mirrors, wheels and rear end treatment (check those LED lights) all pass the smell test, too. But what's up with those cheapo fog light surrounds? And you simply have to check out the thick rubber antennae to understand how awkwardly it's placed. And again, speaking of awkward, with the top up the C70's proportions are bizarre. We're talking Volkswagen Eos bizzare. Make of it what you will, but we're left with the impression that Volvo took a styling step backwards this time out.

Gallery: Frankfurt 2009: 2010 Volvo C70

Frankfurt 2009: 2010 Volvo C70 works best in San Diego originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Sep 2009 07:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Frankfurt Preview: Volvo C30 R-Design doesn't just look sporty

Chris Shunk — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 13:29:00 EST

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Hatchback, Volvo

2010 Volvo C30 R-Design - Click above for high-res image gallery

There was a time when putting the words 'Volvo' and 'Design' in the same sentence was the punchline to a bad joke, but the Swedish automaker has come a long way since then. The C30 may be the best evidence to date that Volvo can make an attractive, sporty looking hatchback, and the little four-seater is about to get more interesting at this year's Frankfurt Motor Show.

Volvo has already released pics of the upgraded C30, complete with a more expressive front end and cleaner rear fascia, and the Swedish automaker is planning an R-Design variant of its funky little hatch that features R badges and a body kit treatment with front and rear spoilers. The C30 R-Design will also sport 17-inch Cratus aluminum wheels (18s optional) and chrome-plated sports tailpipes. On the inside, Volvo continues its tradition of going big on the R badging with R-Design emblems on the front seats, center stack, steering wheel and panel inserts. The gear level is now trimmed in aluminum and leather and the sports pedals get the aluminum treatment as well.

In the recent past, Volvo has veered away from providing more powerful powertrains for its R-badged vehicles, and the C30 is no different. The C30 does, however come with an upgraded steering and chassis package that Volvo says was tested on the twisty roads of England and the high-speed highways of the German Autobahn. Volvo engineers added stiffer bushings and quickened the steering ratio to provide 10% quicker responses. The R-Design C30 will also have 30% stiffer springs to give the Volvo hatch sportier driving characteristics. Hit the jump to read over the Volvo presser, and click on the gallery below to get a closer look at the Volvo C30 R-Design.

Gallery: Volvo C30 R-Design

[Source: Volvo]

Continue reading Frankfurt Preview: Volvo C30 R-Design doesn't just look sporty

Frankfurt Preview: Volvo C30 R-Design doesn't just look sporty originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 Sep 2009 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Next-gen Volvo S60 caught completely uncovered

Dan Roth — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 10:57:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, Volvo, Luxury

The gestation period for a new Volvo model has always been rather languid. Back in the 1950s, when tailfins were making annual progress toward low earth orbit, Volvo was cranking out PV444 and 544s. Those cars spent a good part of a decade looking like 1940s Fords, and so it's gone with Volvo's models. The iconic 200 series was in production for nearly 20 years, so while the current S60 was first teased nearly ten years ago, the fact that it's still on sale isn't that surprising given the brand's history of model longevity.

All the way back to Volvo's original stylist Jan Wilsgaard, the Swedish automaker has had good looking cars that stand up over time. Of course, a glance at the latest S60 sales figures might indicate that the public is using the car as an illustration of "long in tooth." Most of Volvo's range has been recently refreshed, but its important bread and butter sedan has been soldiering on largely unchanged from its 2005 mid-cycle freshening. Until now, that is.

The next S60's production styling has been captured by spy photographers, and the new duds follow the styling themes laid out by the recent XC60. The front end is smoother and more chiseled at the same time, and the bodysides pick up a character line where the current car wears a smooth radius. We think it looks good, it's a nice evolution of the original S60's handsome and well-proven styling, and should make Volvo a more attractive purchase when Ford eventually relents and admits it's for sale. Follow the source to see the new S60 in full. Thanks for the tip, Casey!

[Source: Straightline, Photo: Brenda Priddy & Co.]

Spy Shots: Next-gen Volvo S60 caught completely uncovered originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 10:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Refreshed Volvo C30 peeks out ahead of Frankfurt

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 12:31:00 EST

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Coupe, Hatchback, Volvo

2010 Volvo C30 - Click above for high-res image gallery

As expected, Volvo will do the nip tuck on its entry-level model, the C30 hatchback, for the 2010 model year. The first official pictures and an accompanying press release have just been unleashed ahead of the car's upcoming debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show, and, not surprisingly, the updates focus mainly on the front and rear fascias and closely mirror the modifications made to the C70 hardtop convertible.

Up front, an interesting mixture of sharp angles and creases join organic shapes and headlamps that are stretched well back into the fenders. Prominent badging puts Volvo's iron mark front and center in the shapely new grille. At the rear, the brand name is spelled out in larger script on the C30's trademark glass hatchback.

Besides the refreshed appearance, the 2010 C30 will also sport a bevy of new color options, including an Espresso/Blond interior combination. Chassis mods start and end with an available Sports package that lowers the car by 10 millimeters, adds stiffer bushings, dampers and stabilizer bars and a quicker steering ratio. Want more? Check out our gallery below and hit the jump for the U.K. press release.

Gallery: 2010 Volvo C30

[Source: Volvo]

Continue reading Refreshed Volvo C30 peeks out ahead of Frankfurt

Refreshed Volvo C30 peeks out ahead of Frankfurt originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Sep 2009 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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