Recent Comments:
Spy Shots: 2011 BMW X3 {Autoblog}
Jul 10th 2008 9:39AM Now that is one thing i dont think BMW has been doing good at all off late. The new exteriors are very nice but BMW interiors are so plane and life less except the 7 series. Out of all the SAV vehicles they've got the X5 is the best one the X3 is very much out of place when compared to the likes of the MB GLK, Audi Q5, and Volvo XC60 interior and exterior design wise.
Ford discusses selling Volvo with Renault, again {Autoblog}
Jun 30th 2008 7:37PM I am almost 100% sure that Ford will sell Volvo before the end of the decade. Volvo will definetly not be sold to another large auto company because Ford will maintain minority shares in Volvo. Renault would ahve been one of the companies intrested in Volvo in the past, but as I can see now only an investment group or equity firm will be able to purchase Volvo from Ford now.
Land Rover developing new 7-seater {Autoblog}
Jun 25th 2008 8:04AM Is it just me or does anyone else notice that this new SUV is going to be LR version of the upcoming Volvo XC90. Rember they hold back the Volvo XC90 new product cycle until 2012 also. The reason was because Gothenburg proposed eninge lineup was not fuel efficent enough. Now I really think that the reason is because Solihull isnt ready to begin R&D on this vehicle because of their sale to the Indian giant TATA. I will love to see both of these vehicles in the future knowning it is a Volvo derived platform. Land Rover will benifit and so should Volvo use all of Land Rovers off road technology to make the XC90 a better contender for the likes of the X5, Q7, GL, and MDX.
Ford to make fewer Volvos, possibly in prep for sale {Autoblog}
May 22nd 2008 9:17AM I completely agree with you if you look at the cars in the european midsize luxury segment the Volvo S80 is a force to recon with still. THe S80 has the best in class interior only comparing with the Audi A6. When it comes down to performance the S80 is now BMW 5 series with bases petrol pots but it still has class competitiveness. The V8 model S80 goes head to head well with other V8's in the class when it comes down to speed but you must remeber that Volvo is not a sporting brand. Personally if I had to pick of all these cars in the segment I would take the Volvo S80 or the Audi A6. Now between those two I love the S80 a bit more because of its non showy luxury its very suttle and classy. Saab likes to talk about Scandanavian luxury but I dont see it in the 9-5 nor any of their vehicles. Saab take a lesson from Volvo and BMW too, learn how to eliminate some of the tech in the cars.
Ford to make fewer Volvos, possibly in prep for sale {Autoblog}
May 22nd 2008 9:10AM Volvo AB is the original Volvo company name and Volvo Personvagnar AB is the car division of Volvo which was sold to Ford back in 1999. Right now the way all of the economy is going Ford should sell Volvo as soon as possible before major loses come to light. If and when Ford sells Volvo they should bear in mind the ties that it needs to keep with Volvo Cars by selling majority of the shares and keepin a minority of at least 30 - 35% share in the Swedish company. About one year back a Swedish consortium had come foward to buy Volvo Cars from Ford. Ford needs to keep in mind if they want to keep the connection of technology and pwertrain from Volvo Cars they need to sell the company to a private owner instead of another automaker. BMW will not buy Volvo Cars at this point, nor will Renault becase of its global allaince with Nissan. Now in the interest of easy of operations, managment, funding, tech sharing, and flexibility the best candidate for a sale of Volvo Cars is to the Swedish investment consortium. The Swedish group consisted of the Investor AB which is owned by the wealthy Wallenburg family of Sweden and the other interest of the group was the Swedish Government and other Swedish private investors. If Ford should sell they should sell to the Swedish consortium allowing Volvo to be privately owned like Mazda but have the backing of a large automotive giant.
E.U. officials clear sale of Jaguar, Land Rover to Tata {Autoblog}
Apr 26th 2008 11:45AM I hope Volvo is next on the sales block, but i dont think that it will be a complete sale but rather a sale of majority shares. Volvo forum at swedespeed is actively talking about a new rumor sale of Volvo but they are still considering BMW. BMW wont be the new owners of Volvo for sure, its gonna more than likely be that private investment company in Sweden, Investor AB.
Officially Official: Tata buys Jaguar Land Rover for $2.3 billion {Autoblog}
Mar 26th 2008 6:06PM SELL VOLVO, or at least majority share maintain a minority and run Volvo like Mazda, let the company go private and keep about that 30% stake in comapny to ensure product development and sharing of components.
REPORT: Land Rover to build the LRX {Autoblog}
Mar 19th 2008 11:02AM Volvo platfrom being used again and Volvo already gave out that they will be producing a XC version of the C30. So Land Rover once agian will set the stage for both vehicles by producing the Freeland Sport before the Volvo XC30 just like the LR2 came out before the Volvo XC60. Great products betwen Volvo and Land Rover. Its a shame that Ford sold LR. At least Volvo is being prepared to take on more luxury vehicles and expand vastly. I hope all Volvo engines will be produced in SKvode Sweden again e\instead of England.
Ford PAG abandoning California HQ {Autoblog}
Mar 17th 2008 9:48AM Well Ford needs to learn how to seperate themselves from the other brands in the corporate umbrella. Lincoln needs there own, mercury, and ford. Volvo is only a company that Ford operates that has its own brand history so be careful in the decisions made in productions. Volvo shifting back to Jersey is nota drastic measure because they were based their up to 2003. Now that Jaguar and Land Rover are gone Volvo could focus on Volvo instead of being a center for safety excellence as ford calls it. Not many people know this but Volvo actually press steel for Jaguar convertibles, they make brake calibers and brake pads for PAG and Ford, they make engines for Ford, safety systems, electrical systems and relays, design platforms, and crash test all FOMOCO including PAG vehicles. I think that its a bit taxing on Volvo to be spreading themselves so thinly helping these other companies, but they'll all be gone in a few weeks. Volvo needs some more luxury products, the XC60 is going to be a hit, love the new front end, the Volvo emblem is manicly beautiful. Now the new S60 renderings I have seen I hope that rear end is a non production idea because that is hideous. I have read on several sites and Volvo blogs that Volvo is actually getting ready to produce a 3 door CUV based on the C30 and corporate sibling the Land Rover LRX. Volvo is also making a small two seater sports convertible so Uddevella plant in Sweden will be producing two cars. Volvo is alos hard at work on the next generation XC90 which from the renderings that were recently seen, I like what i see. There is also the V50 coming back as the new estate for the S60 so we dont lose the V50 entirely with ending the production of the S40. Finally i have heard that Volvo has the XC100 still well on its way the large luxury estate that has the design from the VCC estate in 2003, I love the vertically stacked head lights. Knowning Volvo when this vehicle is produced they will bring a sedan to go with it so keep your fingers crossed for a Volvo S-Class, 7 series, and A8 rival that would be more on the level of the Lexus LS though.
Volvo needs to move engine production back to Sweden once Land Rover and Jag is gone also, I dont Like the inline 6 engine being produced in England, not good for Volvo at all.
Hey has anyone heard if that summer sale of volvo is still gonna happen or what, because that would be even better if Volvo was majority owned by Swedish intrest and minority Ford.
REPORT: Ford secretly planning summer sale of Volvo {Autoblog}
Jan 18th 2008 10:58PM no dont ever mix the dealerships like that Volvo stay on their own, Ford stay to themselves also.
