Autoblog Volvo http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog Volvo http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/favicon-v5.png Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/ Dan Roth, Zach Bowman and Jeff RossThe podcast by the people who obsessively cover the auto industry. <![CDATA[Volvo teases mysterious new small crossover]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/16/volvo-teases-mysterious-new-small-crossover/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/16/volvo-teases-mysterious-new-small-crossover/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/16/volvo-teases-mysterious-new-small-crossover/#comments Filed under: , ,

Volvo crossover teaser - video screencap

The image you see above is just about all we know of the new Volvo crossover that will be revealed at 8:30 pm Central European Time on May 17 (2:30 pm Eastern Standard Time). Volvo released three very short video teasers, all with the tagline "Leave The World Behind," all of which feature a member of the now-defunct band Swedish House Mafia - Axwell sits in a boat in the first, Sebastian Ingrosso walks toward cabin in the second and Steve Angello stares at the sea in a third.

A microsite, www.leavetheworldbehind.com, accompanies the teasers and it's been said that a short film by Lune will feature the band - Swedish Mafia had a hit in 2009 with the song Leave the World Behind. As for the vehicle, theories are that it could be something between the V40 Cross Country and XC60, the new XC90 or something else entirely. We don't have long to wait, and you can watch both teasers below.

Continue reading Volvo teases mysterious new small crossover

Volvo teases mysterious new small crossover originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 May 2013 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> leave the world behindswedish house mafiateaservideovolvovolvo crossovervolvo cuv Thu, 16 May 2013 10:45:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20571478/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20571478/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/16/volvo-teases-mysterious-new-small-crossover/20571478/article-detail.xml 20571478 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/volvo-crossover-tease_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/volvo-crossover-tease.jpg <![CDATA[Watch Polestar talk about the development of its super S60]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/03/watch-polestar-talk-about-the-development-of-its-super-s60/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/03/watch-polestar-talk-about-the-development-of-its-super-s60/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/03/watch-polestar-talk-about-the-development-of-its-super-s60/#comments Filed under: , , ,



Polestar is getting ready to deliver its first production car, the Volvo S60 Polestar. Letting the S60 stretch its legs, Polestar Racing driver Robert Dahlgren took the blue sedan from Barcelona, Spain to Jokkmokk, Sweden - stopping for wet-weather testing in Germany along the way.

Dahlgren narrates the journey of the "pilot project" that has 350 horsepower and around 368 pound-feet of torque, and will perhaps be the first in an era of hardcore Volvo production cars. It will go on sale in Australia this Summer, with other markets "under investigation." While we non-Aussies wait with fingers crossed, there's a video below to enjoy.

Continue reading Watch Polestar talk about the development of its super S60

Watch Polestar talk about the development of its super S60 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 May 2013 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> polestarrobert dahlgrenvideovolvovolvo s60volvo s60 polestaryoutube Fri, 03 May 2013 19:15:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20557109/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20557109/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/03/watch-polestar-talk-about-the-development-of-its-super-s60/20557109/article-detail.xml 20557109 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/polestar-s60-journey_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/polestar-s60-journey.jpg <![CDATA[Volvo planning Golf rival, 'breathtaking' C60 coupe]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/01/volvo-planning-golf-rival-breathtaking-c60-coupe/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/01/volvo-planning-golf-rival-breathtaking-c60-coupe/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/01/volvo-planning-golf-rival-breathtaking-c60-coupe/#comments Filed under: , ,

Volvo logo

Despite just having refreshed nearly its entire portfolio, Volvo is still in the middle of a big product offensive. Vehicles like the C30 hatchback and C70 convertible have been given the axe, but a brand-new platform is being developed in addition to the Scalable Platform Architecture (SPA) that will underpin larger vehicles. According to Automobile, this means some very interesting newcomers may be on tap for the brand.

Volvo, in collaboration with Geely, is said to be working on a new platform about the size of a Volkswagen Golf that will likely spawn both a sedan and hatchback. Automobile reports that while the automaker's new scalable architecture is quite flexible, it cannot be stretched (or rather, shrunk) to accommodate a smaller vehicle.

Instead, SPA will be used for the company's larger offerings, starting with the V40 on the small end. (Though to our eyes, the current V40 looks plenty Golf-sized to us.) A new XC40 is apparently in the works, as is an S90 flagship, and new versions of the XC60, XC90 and S60 will all be coming based on this new flexible architecture.

The magazine states that the most interesting part of the whole puzzle is Volvo's hope to create a "breathtaking" C60 two-plus-two coupe. Not many details have been given, but MT says that after seeing some photos of early clay models, the C60 is "definitely a new Volvo worth waiting for."

Volvo planning Golf rival, 'breathtaking' C60 coupe originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 May 2013 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> volvovolvo c60volvo coupe Wed, 01 May 2013 14:15:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20554566/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20554566/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/01/volvo-planning-golf-rival-breathtaking-c60-coupe/20554566/article-detail.xml 20554566 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/10-2012-volvo-xc60-r-design-review_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/10-2012-volvo-xc60-r-design-review.jpg <![CDATA[Volvo testing F1-style KERS system, cites 25% fuel economy bump [w/video]]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/29/volvo-testing-f1-style-kers-system-cites-25-fuel-economy-bump/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/29/volvo-testing-f1-style-kers-system-cites-25-fuel-economy-bump/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/29/volvo-testing-f1-style-kers-system-cites-25-fuel-economy-bump/#comments Filed under: , ,



Volvo has been experimenting with flywheel propulsion systems since the eighties, but only recently has technology caught up with the possibility of real-world applications. In 2011, the Swedish carmaker was granted 6.57 million Swedish kronor (about $1M US) by the Swedish Energy Agency to work on a kinetic energy recovery system with Swedish bearing company SKF. Before it began trials, Volvo expected the fuel savings to be as high as 20 percent. After trials conducted last year on public roads the results were even better, Volvo finding that a KERS-equipped four-cylinder turbo performs like a six-cylinder turbo but gets up to 25-percent better fuel economy. It calls KERS "a light, cheap and very eco-efficient solution."

The test vehicle was an S60, its ICE driving the front wheels while the KERS - weighing six kilograms, measuring about 20 centimeters across and using a carbon fiber flywheel - was attached to the rear axle. Under braking, the four-cylinder engine is shut off and the KERS gathers rotational energy, spinning at up to 60,000 revolutions per minute. The stored energy is then used to get the car going again or to assist at cruising speeds. It's the same kind of vacuum-sealed flywheel design used by Audi in its R18 etron quattro, but with the opposite arrangement - in the Audi the diesel V6 drives the rear wheels, the KERS drives the front wheels.

Like the units in Formula One, it provides an additional 80 horsepower. When working with the four-cylinder ICE, the S60 with KERS can do the 0-62 mph dash in 5.5 seconds, a full 1.1 seconds faster than the S60 with the 3.0-liter T6 engine and all-wheel drive.

As we expect with hybrids, the greatest fuel savings came in urban environments with a lot of braking, Volvo suggesting that the combustion engine could be shut down "about half the time" on the New European Driving Cycle. A press release below has more details, along with a video Volvo released in 2011 to show how its system works.

Continue reading Volvo testing F1-style KERS system, cites 25% fuel economy bump [w/video]

Volvo testing F1-style KERS system, cites 25% fuel economy bump [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 29 Apr 2013 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> fuel economyhybridkerskinetic energy recovery systemstudyvolvo s60 Mon, 29 Apr 2013 09:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20549444/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20549444/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/29/volvo-testing-f1-style-kers-system-cites-25-fuel-economy-bump/20549444/article-detail.xml 20549444 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/volvo-kers-cf-flywheel_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/volvo-kers-cf-flywheel.jpg <![CDATA[Volvo won't go after S-Class, 7 Series market]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/22/volvo-wont-go-after-s-class-7-series-market/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/22/volvo-wont-go-after-s-class-7-series-market/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/22/volvo-wont-go-after-s-class-7-series-market/#comments Filed under: , ,

2013 Volvo V40

Volvo vice president of powertrain engineering, Derek Crabb, recently said that the Swedish automaker is developing smaller and smarter powertrain options that will "turn V8s into dinosaurs" - a statement that could have been our first indication that Volvo is no longer looking to create a luxury flagship sedan to take on German land yachts like the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Audi A8 and BMW 7 Series. Now Automotive News seems to be backing this up after speaking with CEO Hakan Samuelsson, who said that a big sedan wouldn't fit the brand's green image and, more importantly, might not even be a car that its customers would even consider.

Rather than trying to compete in a small, established market against rear-drive, 12-cylinder sedans, Volvo is looking at the emerging, higher-volume premium small car segment to take on its German rivals with the all-new Volvo V40 (shown above). Not wanting to abandon the big-vehicle segment altogether, a next-generation XC90 is due out within the next couple years (and was spotted in some recent spy shots), and it will ride on the new Scalable Platform Architecture (SPA), which will be shared with the new S80 according to the AN article.

Volvo won't go after S-Class, 7 Series market originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Apr 2013 17:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> volvovolvo flagshipVolvo scalable platform architecturevolvo v40 Mon, 22 Apr 2013 17:46:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20546778/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20546778/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/22/volvo-wont-go-after-s-class-7-series-market/20546778/article-detail.xml 20546778 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/2013-volvo-v40-fd_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/2013-volvo-v40-fd.jpg <![CDATA[First production Volvo S60 Polestar shown off]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/18/first-production-volvo-s60-polestar-shown-off/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/18/first-production-volvo-s60-polestar-shown-off/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/18/first-production-volvo-s60-polestar-shown-off/#comments Filed under: , , ,



With the Volvo S60 Polestar going on sale in Australia this June, Volvo has finally released images and specs for the production version of the performance sedan. While no official build number has been announced, one image of the car's steering wheel shows a serial number plaque that says "No. 000/100" indicating that production will likely be limited to just 100 units in Australia. The press release states that the Australia run of Polestar-tuned S60s is a "pilot project" and that other potential markets are "under investigation."

Although it looks very similar to the S60 Polestar Concept we first saw at the LA Auto Show last year, the production version of the car sports a few changes. Visually, the front and rear fascias have been slightly modified from the concept car, as have the matte-black wheels. Inside, we see a different steering wheel that adds the aforementioned build sequence plaque but loses the suede leather accents, and there is also a sportier looking shift lever with a chrome handle that features a Polestar logo.

As for performance figures, rather than the 508-horsepower of the S60 Polestar Concept, the production version will be limited to 350 hp and more than 368 pound-feet of torque, which is still an improvement of about 25 hp and at least 14 lb-ft over a 2013 S60 R-Design. Polestar also tuned the six-speed automatic transmission and Haldex all-wheel-drive system for optimal performance leading to a top speed of 155 miles per hour and a 0-62 mph time of 4.9 seconds. The production S60 Polestar will still get suspension, brake and aerodynamic upgrades.

For the full list of vehicle specs, scroll down for the official press release, and while pricing has yet to be announced, it will likely be far less than the $300,000 someone reportedly paid for the S60 Polestar Concept.

Continue reading First production Volvo S60 Polestar shown off

First production Volvo S60 Polestar shown off originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> polestarvolvovolvo s60volvo s60 polestar Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20543554/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20543554/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/18/first-production-volvo-s60-polestar-shown-off/20543554/article-detail.xml 20543554 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/volvo-s60-polestar_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/volvo-s60-polestar.jpg <![CDATA[Volvo S60 Polestar entering limited production in Australia [w/video]]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/10/volvo-s60-polestar-entering-limited-production-in-australia-w-v/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/10/volvo-s60-polestar-entering-limited-production-in-australia-w-v/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/10/volvo-s60-polestar-entering-limited-production-in-australia-w-v/#comments Filed under: , , ,



The Volvo S60 Polestar Concept may be entering limited production in Australia and, depending how the Aussies take to this Swedish super sports sedan, could then be made available worldwide. The news comes from Austrlia's GoAuto, which claims to have received early info from its sources inside Volvo and its tuning/motorsport arm, Polestar.

Polestar released a short teaser video this week (watch it below) of what appears to be the S60 Polestar Concept clipping the snowy apex of an ice track's turn. The only information given with the teaser were the words "Limited Edition. Soon in Australia." Unveiled last June, the S60 Polestar concept has since made the rounds at auto shows, visited Jay Leno's Garage, played on the track with its future competition, and even secured a home for itself with a buyer who reportedly is paying Volvo some $300,000 to own it.

The S60 Polestar Concept is about the meanest machine one can imagine making out of Volvo's sports sedan. Packing 508 horsepower and 424 pound-feet of torque from its heavily modified T6 engine, then routing those revolutions through a six-speed manual transmission to all four wheels, the S60 Polestar is said to cover the sprint to 62 miles per hour in 3.9 seconds. A lower and wider body, brakes by Brembo, suspension bits by Ohlins and a diet to delete some weight make this car a serious issue for M3 and C63 AMG owners everywhere. GoAuto's sources say the production version's performance will be dialed back a bit from the concept's, but we'll have to wait until Volvo and Polestar make this sedan's production official to find out by how much.

Continue reading Volvo S60 Polestar entering limited production in Australia [w/video]

Volvo S60 Polestar entering limited production in Australia [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Apr 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> australiavolvovolvo 260 polestar conceptvolvo s60volvo s60 polestar Wed, 10 Apr 2013 11:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20536184/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20536184/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/10/volvo-s60-polestar-entering-limited-production-in-australia-w-v/20536184/article-detail.xml 20536184 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/03-volvo-s60-polestar-concept-la-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/03-volvo-s60-polestar-concept-la-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Volvo promises new diesels, 8-speed auto]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/09/volvo-promises-new-direct-injected-diesels-8-speed-auto/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/09/volvo-promises-new-direct-injected-diesels-8-speed-auto/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/09/volvo-promises-new-direct-injected-diesels-8-speed-auto/#comments Filed under: ,



As a part of eliminating its dependence on Ford platforms and powertrains, Volvo has previously announced information about its Volvo Engine Architecture (VEA) and Scalable Platform Architecture (SPA), but now we're finally getting some details about what will power some of the Swedish automaker's next-generation products.

The biggest key to VEA on the diesel engines is a new technology Volvo calls i-ART. This system uses unique injectors at each cylinder capable of monitoring fuel pressure and adjusting accordingly to maximize fuel economy and performance and reduce emissions. Looking ahead, Volvo says its four-cylinder engines will be able to offer the power of a six-cylinder and eventually, mixed with some sort of electrification, will be able to rival the performance of a V8 and "turn V8s into dinosaurs."

More details about the new diesel injection technology is posted in the press release below.

Continue reading Volvo promises new diesels, 8-speed auto

Volvo promises new diesels, 8-speed auto originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Apr 2013 10:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> volvovolvo 8-speed automaticvolvo dieselvolvo engine architecturevolvo i-art technology Tue, 09 Apr 2013 10:33:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20534140/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20534140/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/09/volvo-promises-new-direct-injected-diesels-8-speed-auto/20534140/article-detail.xml 20534140 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/volvo-engine-architecture_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/volvo-engine-architecture.jpg <![CDATA[Automotive April Fools' joke roundup [w/videos]]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/01/automotive-april-fools-joke-roundup-w-videos/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/01/automotive-april-fools-joke-roundup-w-videos/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/01/automotive-april-fools-joke-roundup-w-videos/#comments Filed under: , , , , , ,



Happy April, everyone. And we all know what this first day of the month means: April Fools' Day. Today is a national holiday for pranksters with the Internet acting as a serious enabler, and it's always fun to see what kind of vivid imaginations exist out there in the automotive world. The abundance of fake news gets a little old as the day rolls on, but we did manage to get in a few chuckles thanks to a handful of major automakers and automotive news outlets that got into the pranking spirit this year

Some of our favorites this year includes Subaru showing what happens when you combine a bunch of rumors, a Corvette some may have already thought was a joke or Honda providing some in-car innovation circa the late 1980s. Honestly, we're still waiting for official confirmation from Mitsubishi that the recently introduced 2014 Mirage is an elaborate April Fools' joke using a failed design intended for the 1995 Geo Metro. We dug up as much "official" OEM foolishness we could find, as well as some of our other favorites, and posted them all below.

Continue reading Automotive April Fools' joke roundup [w/videos]

Automotive April Fools' joke roundup [w/videos] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 01 Apr 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> april foolsApril Fools Daybmwhondaministage 3 motorsportssubaruthink geekvolvo Mon, 01 Apr 2013 19:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20524725/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20524725/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/01/automotive-april-fools-joke-roundup-w-videos/20524725/article-detail.xml 20524725 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/hondahair_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/hondahair.jpg <![CDATA[Volvo rolls out new R-Design versions of S60, XC60 and new V60]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/27/volvo-s60-xc60-v60-r-design-new-york-2013/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/27/volvo-s60-xc60-v60-r-design-new-york-2013/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/27/volvo-s60-xc60-v60-r-design-new-york-2013/#comments Filed under: , , , , ,

2014 Volvo S60 R-Design

Volvo has put together R-Design packages for its newly facelifted S60, V60 and XC60 models, and for those who want more bark to go with them, there's a power upgrade for the S60 and V60 courtesy of Polestar performance. The aesthetics start with new front and rear fascias, the grille going frameless and Tech Matte Black with a silk metal diagonal bar, the back end getting a finned diffuser and round R-Design tailpipes. On top of that, the S60 and V60 are lowered 15 millimeters and can be fitted with 19-inch versions of the company's Ixion wheel pattern.

The R-Design sport chassis stiffens things up, items like the rear dampers getting 20-percent stiffer while front bushings get a whopping 400-percent stiffer. Inside there's a black headliner, perforated leather mixed with nubuck and contrasting stitching on the sport seats, or a full leather option for those who love their cow, and the Adaptive Digital Display gets a blue hue when set to the Elegance appearance theme.

Buyers of the 3.0-liter T6 engine can add the Polestar performance option, which cranks things up to 329 horsepower instead of the standard 304 hp, and an exclusive accelerator pedal comes with it. More detail can be found in the press release below.

Continue reading Volvo rolls out new R-Design versions of S60, XC60 and new V60

Volvo rolls out new R-Design versions of S60, XC60 and new V60 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Mar 2013 20:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 2013 new york auto show2014 volvo s602014 volvo v602014 volvo xc60new yorknew york auto showpolestarr-designvolvovolvo s60volvo v60volvo xc60 Wed, 27 Mar 2013 20:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20520409/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20520409/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/27/volvo-s60-xc60-v60-r-design-new-york-2013/20520409/article-detail.xml 20520409 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/2014-volvo-s60-r-design-ny-1364412732_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/2014-volvo-s60-r-design-ny-1364412732.jpg <![CDATA[Volvo confirms return of the wagon with V60 headed to US]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/27/volvo-v60-wagon-headed-to-us/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/27/volvo-v60-wagon-headed-to-us/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/27/volvo-v60-wagon-headed-to-us/#comments Filed under: , ,



Turns out that promised new production Volvo model for the United States is indeed the V60 wagon, as we had previously predicted. And it's not terribly surprising, as Volvo has a long and storied history of wagon sales in the US, from the old, loveable 240 to the more recent high-performance V70R. And yet the automaker hasn't had a proper non-XC, non-crossover-style wagon in the US since it pulled the V70 away at the end of the 2010 model year.

"The new Volvo V60 is for people who want the handling of a dynamic sports sedan but need the versatility of a wagon," says Volvo, highlighting the reason many of us on the Autoblog team harbor such fondness for wagons in general.

Volvo is currently showing off the R-Design package for its entire model line, including the V60, at the New York Auto Show. We don't know for sure if the V60 will launch with the R-Design package or if it will come at a later date, and we also see no mention of a Polestar edition, though we're hopeful.

Of course, we're on our knees pleading that Volvo will see the light and decide to offer its latest V40 and XC40 wagons in the US, too. But back to the news at hand - we don't yet have pricing or final specifications, but Volvo says the V60 will hit the States early in 2014. Check out the image gallery above for visuals, and feel free to read through the brief press release below.

Continue reading Volvo confirms return of the wagon with V60 headed to US

Volvo confirms return of the wagon with V60 headed to US originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Mar 2013 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 2014 volvo v60volvovolvo v60 Wed, 27 Mar 2013 17:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20520583/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20520583/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/27/volvo-v60-wagon-headed-to-us/20520583/article-detail.xml 20520583 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/002-2014-volvo-v60-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/002-2014-volvo-v60-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Volvo uncovers widespread cheating by its Chinese dealers]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/26/volvo-uncovers-widespread-cheating-by-its-chinese-dealers/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/26/volvo-uncovers-widespread-cheating-by-its-chinese-dealers/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/26/volvo-uncovers-widespread-cheating-by-its-chinese-dealers/#comments Filed under: , , ,

Volvo dealer sign

According to a report in Reuters, the findings of an internal investigation conducted by Geely-owned Volvo is that its Chinese dealers vastly overreported their sales numbers in 2011, then even more vastly underreported their 2012 sales figures. About "half the dealers" out of the 151 total outlets gamed the system in order to get incentives for reaching volume objectives, falsely recording about 7,000 more units sold than was actually the case. Instead of 47,140 cars sold in China in 2011, the real number should have been 39,871.

Volvo corporate books a sale once it ships a car to a dealer, so that meant there were 7,000 more cars in inventory than there should have been. To restore the balance, the dealers underreported their 2012 sales while they unloaded those extra cars since, naturally, they couldn't claim the sale again. That made it look like sales declined by 11 percent in 2012, even though they actually increased year-on-year. The adjusted sales number for 2012 totalled 45,896.

Volvo has met with its dealers and told them to stop the deceitful practice. The discrepancies weren't so great that the company plans to restate its historic numbers, but from now on, it apparently plans to occasionally check inventory to make sure the numbers match and that it has a true picture of how individual models are selling.

Volvo uncovers widespread cheating by its Chinese dealers originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Mar 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> chinacrooked dealerdealer scamdealershipsalesscamvolvovolvo china Tue, 26 Mar 2013 16:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20516235/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20516235/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/26/volvo-uncovers-widespread-cheating-by-its-chinese-dealers/20516235/article-detail.xml 20516235 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/volvo-dealer-sign_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/volvo-dealer-sign.jpg <![CDATA[Volvo confirms unnamed US model reveal for NY show]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/21/volvo-confirms-unnamed-us-model-reveal-for-ny-show/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/21/volvo-confirms-unnamed-us-model-reveal-for-ny-show/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/21/volvo-confirms-unnamed-us-model-reveal-for-ny-show/#comments Filed under: , ,



Tucked into the press release for the "display debut" of the Volvo V60 Plug-In Hybrid at the New York Auto Show, Volvo snuck in a single line announcing that it will also be introducing a new model for the North American market. As much as we'd love to see the svelte V40 on American roads, we're pretty sure the automaker is looking to fill its US station wagon void with the V60.

The 2014 Volvo V60 is part of a comprehensive lineup update that was unveiled earlier this month in Geneva, and it would give Volvo dealers a conventional wagon (not including the XC70) for the first time since the V70 and V50 were killed off. We'll still be keeping our fingers crossed for the stylish V40 hatchback or the fuel-efficient V60 diesel hybrid, but we have to wait until next week to find out for sure.

Continue reading Volvo confirms unnamed US model reveal for NY show

Volvo confirms unnamed US model reveal for NY show originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Mar 2013 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 2014 volvo v60new yorknew york 2013new york auto shownyias 2013volvovolvo v60 Thu, 21 Mar 2013 11:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20512551/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20512551/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/21/volvo-confirms-unnamed-us-model-reveal-for-ny-show/20512551/article-detail.xml 20512551 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/2014-volvo-v60_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/2014-volvo-v60.jpg <![CDATA[2015 Volvo XC90 mule spotted testing in the snow]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/21/2015-volvo-xc90-mule-spotted-testing-in-the-snow/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/21/2015-volvo-xc90-mule-spotted-testing-in-the-snow/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/21/2015-volvo-xc90-mule-spotted-testing-in-the-snow/#comments Filed under: , ,



The Volvo XC90 was a big step for the Swedish automaker in 2003, but the midsize crossover has changed very little since its introduction. All that's about to change as Volvo starts its initial development on the 2015 XC90, which we see for the first time in these spy shots showing a cobbled-together XC70.

Like the current XC90, the next-generation model will be both longer and wider than the XC70 - judging by the modifications made to this mule's body - which will continue to allow Volvo's flagship crossover and provide three rows of seating. The next XC90 will ride on a new platform that will eventually make up around two-thirds of all Volvo sales, called the Scalable Product Architecture (SPA).

Our shooter managed to find out the registration number for this mule, which indicated that it was powered by a five-cylinder diesel, but we expect the automaker to start stepping away from its current powertrains with a big push toward smaller engines courtesy of the new Volvo Engine Architecture (VEA). Rumor has it that the future engine lineup for the XC90 will rely heavily on turbocharged four-cylinder engines and eight-speed automatic transmissions, which will likely eliminate or lessen some of the current mills available like a straight-six or V8.

The automaker previously stated that the new XC90 would debut in late 2014, but it sounds like delays could push the launch into early 2015.

2015 Volvo XC90 mule spotted testing in the snow originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Mar 2013 09:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 2015 volvo xc90spy shotsvolvoVolvo scalable platform architecturevolvo xc90 Thu, 21 Mar 2013 09:27:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20512985/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20512985/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/21/2015-volvo-xc90-mule-spotted-testing-in-the-snow/20512985/article-detail.xml 20512985 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/2015-volvo-xc90-spy-shots-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/2015-volvo-xc90-spy-shots-628.jpg <![CDATA[Polestar says goodbye to Volvo C30 in video tribute]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/12/polestar-says-goodbye-to-volvo-c30-in-video-tribute/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/12/polestar-says-goodbye-to-volvo-c30-in-video-tribute/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/12/polestar-says-goodbye-to-volvo-c30-in-video-tribute/#comments Filed under: , , , ,



The Volvo C30 was put to its eternal bed a few months ago, but the tuners at Polestar have a little more eulogizing to do. The Swedish house of speed that has raced and reworked the little hatch since its introduction in 2006 wants the world to know what they've been through together, so it has encapsulated seven years of around-the-world action into three minutes and 28 seconds of track footage and champagne.

We're still waiting on word of a replacement for the funny little hatch, and while we lament what could have been, the video below proves that the C30 provided plenty of thrills for those outside of the US. And as you can read in our recent review of the Polestar-enhanced road-going C30, it provided a decent amount of fun for those of us in the States, as well.

Continue reading Polestar says goodbye to Volvo C30 in video tribute

Polestar says goodbye to Volvo C30 in video tribute originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Mar 2013 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 2013 volvo c30c30polestarvideovideosvolvo Tue, 12 Mar 2013 19:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20496121/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20496121/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/12/polestar-says-goodbye-to-volvo-c30-in-video-tribute/20496121/article-detail.xml 20496121 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/volvoc30polestartribute_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/volvoc30polestartribute.jpg <![CDATA[Volvo considering offering V60 wagon in the US]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/12/volvo-considering-offering-v60-wagon-in-the-us/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/12/volvo-considering-offering-v60-wagon-in-the-us/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/12/volvo-considering-offering-v60-wagon-in-the-us/#comments Filed under: ,



For the 2014 model year, the Volvo product line is shrinking to just five models in the United States: the S60, S80, XC60, XC70 and XC90. This comes following the death of the C30 hatchback and C70 convertible, which are being discontinued after the 2013 model year. The S40 sedan and V50 wagon were axed two years ago, as was the larger V70.

That may not be the case, however. According to Automotive News, Volvo is rethinking its decision to not sell the V60 wagon, pictured, in the United States. The automaker had originally decided to not offer the V60 in our market due to declining American wagon sales. A decision is expected to be made sometime in the next quarter, and if approved, sales of the V60 could begin in the US within the next year.

At the Geneva Motor Show last week, Volvo showed off refreshed versions of nearly every vehicle in its lineup. In the US, these will be the only changes coming to the Volvo brand over the next two years. The next big product launch in the States will be the all-new XC90 crossover, developed under new parent company Geely. The range-topping SUV will ride on the company's new flexible SPA platform, which will also underpin the next-generation versions of the S60, S80 and XC60.

In the meantime, these overhauled 2014 models are expected to help Volvo gain more market share in the US. In 2013, the company's sales only improved one percent in a market that as a whole grew 13 percent. Volvo executives are hoping for a five-percent increase this year, following the 2014 models hitting dealerships this June.

Volvo considering offering V60 wagon in the US originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Mar 2013 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 2014 volvo v60v60volvo Tue, 12 Mar 2013 09:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20497429/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20497429/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/12/volvo-considering-offering-v60-wagon-in-the-us/20497429/article-detail.xml 20497429 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/007-2014-volvo-v60_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/007-2014-volvo-v60.jpg <![CDATA[Five vehicles named Top Safety Pick+ including new Civic, MKZ]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/08/five-vehicles-named-top-safety-pick-including-new-civic-mkz/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/08/five-vehicles-named-top-safety-pick-including-new-civic-mkz/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/08/five-vehicles-named-top-safety-pick-including-new-civic-mkz/#comments Filed under: , , , ,



In an attempt to help push vehicle safety to a higher level, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety created a stricter Top Safety Pick+ rating last year, which incorporates a brutal small overlap test and requires cars to get Good ratings in four out of the five categories (and no less than Acceptable in the fifth). Joining the list of the safest cars of 2013, the 2013 Volvo XC60, Lincoln MKZ, Honda Civic (sedan and coupe) and the 2014 Mazda6 have all received the coveted TSP+ rating.

The Mazda6 and Lincoln MKZ have both been completely redesigned, and both received Acceptable ratings in the small overlap test. The Honda Civic, coming off its emergency refresh for 2013, is the first small car to be subjected to the small overlap test, and IIHS says that one of the car's many upgrades includes a stiffer front structure allowing it to receive Good ratings in all categories. Similarly, the XC60 gets all Good ratings thanks to, according to IIHS, Volvo updating the airbag software allowing the side airbags to inflate during the small overlap test.

The 2014 Subaru Forester has not yet been subjected to the small overlap test, so it must make do with just a Top Safety Pick rating until the IIHS tests small utility vehicles, which is expected to happen later in the spring.

Continue reading Five vehicles named Top Safety Pick+ including new Civic, MKZ

Five vehicles named Top Safety Pick+ including new Civic, MKZ originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Mar 2013 17:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 2013 honda civic2013 lincoln mkz2013 top safety pick+2013 volvo xc602014 mazda6hondaiihsInsurance Institute for Highway Safetylincolnmazdasafetytop safety picktop safety pick+tsptsp+volvo Fri, 08 Mar 2013 17:44:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20494589/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20494589/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/08/five-vehicles-named-top-safety-pick-including-new-civic-mkz/20494589/article-detail.xml 20494589 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/2013-honda-civic-review_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/2013-honda-civic-review.jpg <![CDATA[Volvos will brake for bicyclists with new detection technology]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/07/volvos-will-brake-for-bicyclists-with-new-detection-technology/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/07/volvos-will-brake-for-bicyclists-with-new-detection-technology/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/07/volvos-will-brake-for-bicyclists-with-new-detection-technology/#comments Filed under: ,



Anyone who pedals a bicycle knows that one of the biggest dangers to riders is a motorized vehicle - Volvo estimates that nearly 50 percent of all cyclists killed in European traffic have collided with a car. In the United States alone, 618 riders lost their lives in bicycle/motor vehicle crashes in 2010, and the number of injuries surpassed 52,000.

To help drop those numbers, Volvo has just announced Cyclist Detection with full auto brake - a technology that detects and automatically applies a vehicle's brakes when a cyclist swerves in front of a moving car. The basic components of the system include a radar unit integrated into the front grille, a camera fitted in front of the interior rear-view mirror and a central control unit. The radar is tasked with seeing obstacles in front of the vehicle and calculating distance, while the camera is responsible to determine what the object is. The central control unit, with rapid processing capabilities, monitors and evaluates the situation.

The technology, which will be sold bundled with its Pedestrian Detection and called Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection, will automatically apply full braking when both the radar and camera confirm a pedestrian or cyclist are in the immediate path of the vehicle. According to the automaker, the technology will be offered on the Volvo V40, S60, V60, XC60, V70, XC70 and S80 models from mid-May in 2013.

Continue reading Volvos will brake for bicyclists with new detection technology

Volvos will brake for bicyclists with new detection technology originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Mar 2013 17:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> cybersecuritypedestrianvolvovolvo cyclist detectionvolvo pedestrian and cyclist detectionvolvo pedestrian safety Thu, 07 Mar 2013 17:44:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20491270/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20491270/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/07/volvos-will-brake-for-bicyclists-with-new-detection-technology/20491270/article-detail.xml 20491270 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/2014-volvo-xc60-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/2014-volvo-xc60-628.jpg <![CDATA[Volvo brings a whole new 2014 showroom for Geneva's approval]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/06/2014-volvo-lineup-geneva-2013/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/06/2014-volvo-lineup-geneva-2013/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/06/2014-volvo-lineup-geneva-2013/#comments Filed under: ,

2014 Volvo S60

Sometimes it takes smaller automakers a bit longer than the industry average to rotate and freshen their product lineups. Volvo has taken a big swing for the 2014 model year in that regard, and has brought along a full product portfolio of new cars.

In the main, this means that the Swedish brand has fast-tracked facelifts for its already-attractive assemblage of sedans, wagons and crossovers. Volvo mainstays S60 and S80 have both gotten appearance modifications to freshen them for dealer lots, as well as added features inside the car. We're particularly happy to report that the spirited "60 cluster" models - S60, V60, XC60 - can now be had with optional paddle shifters on new, three-spoke steering wheels.

Below you'll find a whole bunch of image galleries of the revised Volvos, live and in person from the show floor in Geneva. For a bit more background on the Volvo updates, feel free to read our original announcement of the news or scroll down to catch the press release.

Continue reading Volvo brings a whole new 2014 showroom for Geneva's approval

Volvo brings a whole new 2014 showroom for Geneva's approval originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Mar 2013 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 2014 volvo lineupgenevageneva 2013geneva motor shows60s80v60v70volvoxc60xc70 Wed, 06 Mar 2013 09:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20490625/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20490625/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/06/2014-volvo-lineup-geneva-2013/20490625/article-detail.xml 20490625 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/2014-volvo-s60-geneva_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/2014-volvo-s60-geneva.jpg <![CDATA[Volvo to unveil permanent high-beam headlamp technology [w/video]]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/01/volvo-to-unveil-permanent-high-beam-headlamp-technology-w-video/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/01/volvo-to-unveil-permanent-high-beam-headlamp-technology-w-video/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/01/volvo-to-unveil-permanent-high-beam-headlamp-technology-w-video/#comments Filed under: , , , , ,



Volvo will be showing off its Active High Beam technology at the Geneva Motor Show next week. The system will allow drivers to use their high beams all the time and adds another responsibility to the cameras mounted by the rearview mirror, making them detect traffic ahead, whether it be another car or a truck or motorcycle and in the same lane or oncoming. When a vehicle is detected, a special projector in the Xenon lamps can block out only the portion of the high beam that would impair the other driver. Volvo says the system is accurate down to a 1.5-inch margin around another object.

Active High Beam will be fitted to the Volvo S60, V60 and XC60 and we have to assume they mean the non-US versions of those cars. Audi has a similar technology that it calls "matrix beam lighting," and due to the way the US Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard code is written, such active control of high beams is verboten on cars sold here.

The Swedish brand also plans to present a collision-avoidance technology it's calling a "world-first." The press release below has more information and the accompanying video demonstrates the lighting tech.

Continue reading Volvo to unveil permanent high-beam headlamp technology [w/video]

Volvo to unveil permanent high-beam headlamp technology [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 Mar 2013 09:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> active high beamgenevageneva 2013geneva motor showlightvideovideosvolvoyoutube Fri, 01 Mar 2013 09:27:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20481017/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20481017/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/01/volvo-to-unveil-permanent-high-beam-headlamp-technology-w-video/20481017/article-detail.xml 20481017 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/volvoactivehighbeam_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/volvoactivehighbeam.jpg -1 2