Autoblog

Autoblog Podcast #320

Dan Roth — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 17:15:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago Auto Show, Podcasts, GM, Honda, Land Rover, Volvo, Holden, Australia, Celebrities, TV/Movies

Chicago Auto Show, Holden VF Commodore, Top Gear USA Interview, Driving To The Arctic Circle

Episode #319 of the Autoblog Podcast is here, and this week, Dan Roth, Chris Paukert and Jeff Ross talk about the Chicago Auto Show, the new Holden VF Commodore and Paukert's trip to the Arctic Circle with The List. Dan and Zach took time to have a chat with Adam Ferrara and Rutledge Wood from Top Gear, as well, and that's included in this week's action-packed podcast. We wrap with a couple of your questions, and for those of you who hung with us live on our UStream channel, thanks for taking the time. Keep reading for our Q&A module for you to scroll through and follow along, too. Thanks for listening!

Autoblog Podcast #320:

Topics:

In the Autoblog Garage:
2013 Honda Accord Coupe V6 6MT
2013 Range Rover Sport
2013 Volvo S60 T6 AWD R-Design

Hosts: Dan Roth, C hris Paukert, Jeff Ross

Runtime: 01:41:11

Get the podcast
[UStream] Listen live on Mondays at 10PM Eastern at UStream
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes
[RSS] Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator
[MP3] Download the MP3 directly

Feedback
Email: Podcast at Autoblog dot com

Review the show in iTunes

Continue reading Autoblog Podcast #320

Autoblog Podcast #320 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Feb 2013 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Paris 2010: Volvo V60 and S60 R-Design models look a good bit naughtier

Chris Paukert — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 06:31:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Wagon, Paris Motor Show, Design/Style, Luxury

2011 Volvo V60 and S60 R-Design - Click above for high-res image gallery

We recently drove the 2011 Volvo S60 in the wilds of Oregon and came away rather impressed with both its performance and in-person aesthetics. That said, we generally don't begrudge a bit more visual aggression, and to that end, Volvo has obliged with a pair of new R-Design models here at the Paris Motor Show that includes the S60 sedan and its not-for-North-America V60, a wagon so attractive that we couldn't help but lead off our live coverage with it.

In either case, the well-integrated R-Design package consists of a distinct front fascia, rear bumper cutout with diffuser and bespoke 18-inch alloys in a fetching smoked finish. While there isn't any more power under the hood, the 300-horsepower 3.0-liter inline turbo six should fit the bill rather nicely, especially with its generous 325 pound-feet of torque. No word on any shift-map changes for the six-speed automatic gearbox, but what we'd really like to see for this sportier S60 is a set of paddle shifters.

That aside, R-Design models ought to handle a bit better than their more common brethren, as they hug the ground a bit more closely thanks to shorter, stiffer coils and monotube shocks. The rest of the suspension gets beefed up, too, with firmer bushings and a front strut-tower brace. Check out our from-the-floor images below and the official press release after the jump.

Gallery: 2011 Volvo S60 and V60 R-Design

Gallery: 2011 Volvo S60 R-Design

Live photos copyright (C)2010 Chris Paukert / AOL

[Source: Volvo]

Continue reading Paris 2010: Volvo V60 and S60 R-Design models look a good bit naughtier

Paris 2010: Volvo V60 and S60 R-Design models look a good bit naughtier originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Sep 2010 06:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Volvo reveals S60 and V60 R-Design models ahead of Paris debut

Zach Bowman — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Wagon, Europe, Paris Motor Show, Volvo, Luxury

2011 Volvo S60 R-Design - Click above for high-res image galery

Volvo has been so kind as to give us an inkling of what to expect from the company when it arrives at this year's Paris Motor Show. The Swedish carmaker will display new R-Design versions of both the S60 sedan and the V60 wagon. According to the press release, both cars will receive the usual go-fast treatment, starting with a few aesthetic changes outside. The R-Design cars will wear a more aggressive fascia up front, unique 18-inch alloys, revised sports seats inside and a few suspension tweaks to help everything stay planted through the twisties.

That means firmer bushings all the way around, a strut-tower brace up front and lower, stiffer coils on all four corners. The icing on the cake is a new corner traction control system that uses a torque-vectoring system to make for smoother cornering, a compelling feature that we just tested on the plain-jane S60 T6 all-wheel drive. Don't look for any extra horsepower under the hood, though. Volvo has left the usual array of engines completely untouched. Both the R-Design S60 and V60 will debut at the 2010 Paris Motor Show next month. Hit the jump for the full press release.

Gallery: 2011 Volvo S60 R-Design

[Source: Volvo]

Continue reading Volvo reveals S60 and V60 R-Design models ahead of Paris debut

Volvo reveals S60 and V60 R-Design models ahead of Paris debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Sep 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Volvo S60 R-Design headed for Paris, other variants under consideration

Chris Paukert — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 09:57:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Wagon, Paris Motor Show, Volvo, Diesel

2011 Volvo S60 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Although the first examples of Volvo's new-for-2011 S60 sedan won't hit North American showrooms until later this month, Autoblog has learned that the Swedish automaker will unveil a sporty new R-Design derivative at the upcoming Paris Motor Show. Volvo of North America's Vice President of Public Affairs, Geno Effler confirmed the debut Thursday during a media Q&A session at this week's U.S. launch of the S60 in Portland, Oregon.

The S60 R-Design will join Volvo's growing range of performance styled models that includes the XC60, XC90, S40/V50 and C30 hatchback. Effler did not give further details regarding the hotted-up S60, but other models in the series have included rejiggered suspensions, body kits, unique wheels and a host of minor interior upgrades. It is not known if the already sharp-looking S60 will receive more than cosmetic changes in its transformation into a R-Design model, however.

At launch, the $37,700 all-wheel drive S60 will be marketed with a 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine good for 300 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque, which should certainly be enough to make the R-Design interesting, even if no further powertrain upgrades are in store.

Future S60 variants are expected to include a front-drive, five-cylinder volume model that's due to hit the market early next year. Hybrid and diesel models also continue to be evaluated under Volvo's new ownership and leadership (China's Zhejiang Geely Holding Group and former Volkswagen bigwig Stefan Jacoby, respectively), but as of yet, nothing has been committed to for the North American market.

One model that will definitely not be available in the States is a wagon variant of the S60. With estate sales in the dumpster for the brand (Volvo once sold over 40,000 load luggers per year in the U.S. - it presently sells around 1,800 units), Effler confirmed that a V70 reprisal does not make sense for North America, though the model will continued to be offered in Europe. A replacement for the XC70 softroader based on the new S60 is widely expected to make up the shortfall, however.

Gallery: 2011 Volvo S60

Volvo S60 R-Design headed for Paris, other variants under consideration originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Sep 2010 09:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments