Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif 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/<![CDATA[2011 Volvo S60R returns to World Challenge with K-Pax Racing]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/02/21/2011-volvo-s60r-returns-to-world-challenge-with-k-pax-racing/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/02/21/2011-volvo-s60r-returns-to-world-challenge-with-k-pax-racing/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/02/21/2011-volvo-s60r-returns-to-world-challenge-with-k-pax-racing/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

K-Pax Racing Volvo S60R

Over the past few years, the Volvo S60 has achieved considerable success in touring car racing around the world. The factory-supported Polestar team took the title in the Swedish Touring Car Championship a few years back before switching to the C30, and K-Pax Racing took the Manufacturers' and Drivers' trophies in the World Challenge GT Championship with the car last year.

Thing is, the touring car taking the honors is still wearing the bodywork of the old Volvo S60, so it was only a matter of time before its successor would be revealed. And here it is.

Although K-Pax will still use the old S60R in the first few rounds of the 2011 World Challenge, the new all-wheel-drive racer will be rolled out for the fourth round at Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah, in late April.

[Source: K-Pax Racing via CarScoop]

2011 Volvo S60R returns to World Challenge with K-Pax Racing originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Feb 2011 07:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>k-paxk-pax racings60s60rspeed world challengevolvovolvo s60rvovlo s60world challengeMon, 21 Feb 2011 07:57:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19848154/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/02/21/2011-volvo-s60r-returns-to-world-challenge-with-k-pax-racing/19848154/article-detail.xml 19848154 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/02/racerkpax03vb2_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/02/racerkpax03vb2.jpg <![CDATA[Rendered Speculation: Return of the R for Volvo?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/16/rendered-speculation-return-of-the-r-for-volvo/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/16/rendered-speculation-return-of-the-r-for-volvo/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/16/rendered-speculation-return-of-the-r-for-volvo/#commentsFiled under: , ,



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.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>s60s60rvolvovolvo s60volvo s60rVolvoS60VolvoS60rMon, 16 Nov 2009 18:26:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19241732/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/11/16/rendered-speculation-return-of-the-r-for-volvo/19241732/article-detail.xml 19241732 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/11/s60r_opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/11/s60r_opt.jpg <![CDATA[Volvo dropping "R" models after this year]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/09/volvo-dropping-r-models-after-this-year/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/09/volvo-dropping-r-models-after-this-year/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/09/volvo-dropping-r-models-after-this-year/#commentsFiled under:



Back in February, we reported that Volvo would be eliminating its remaining R-badged offerings in the future; specifically the S60R and V70R. At the time, there was discussion that other models in Volvo's line-up may get R-worthy tweaks when these two models were nixed. Another rumor that Volvo may kill off the "R" designation altogether was floated, and although we thought it was unlikely, we figured time would tell.

Tell it has, and according to an article in Automotive News, the 2007 model year will be the last for the Rs.

Slow sales of both the S60R and V70R were the final nails in the coffin of Volvo's hotted-up models, which originally began with the T5R back in 1995. While US sales of these high performance sedans were the highest of any country, the numbers haven't justified the extra expense here or abroad, leading to Volvo's decision.

Thankfully, Fredrik Arp, Volvo's CEO, made it clear that Volvo will continue to develop more driver-focused machines -- pointing out the new C30 hatch and V8-powered S80 -- so the automaker is merely deleting the consonant, but its ethos will remain intact.

However, don't expect anything soon, as Arp is quoted as saying that, "We are working on the next phase, but it will not be immediate." So does that mean no AWD, 250+ HP C30? We hope not, but again, time will tell.

[Source: Automotive News (Sub. Req.)]

Volvo dropping "R" models after this year originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Apr 2007 06:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>c30c30rfredrik arpFredrikArps60rt5rv70rvolvoMon, 09 Apr 2007 06:54:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/869974/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2007/04/09/volvo-dropping-r-models-after-this-year/869974/article-detail.xml 869974 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/04/nomorer_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/04/nomorer.jpg <![CDATA[Volvo beats Viper, Cadillac for SPEED GT win]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/05/volvo-beats-viper-cadillac-for-speed-gt-win/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/05/volvo-beats-viper-cadillac-for-speed-gt-win/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/05/volvo-beats-viper-cadillac-for-speed-gt-win/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Let's face it - fairly or not, Volvos have been type-cast as safe, solid and somewhat uninspired family cars. Well here's one Volvo that could go a long way to changing that image! The At Speed Motorsports Volvo S60R, driven by Michael Galati, powered to a dominating win in this weekend's SPEED World Challenge GT class race at Mosport International Raceway, finishing at the head of a pack of Cadillacs, Vipers, Corvettes, Porsches and even an Aston Martin. The win marks the first for the hard-working At Speed team in two seasons of campaigning the AWD Volvo.

Galati used the Volvo's AWD to good effect in the rainy race at Mosport, earning the B&M "Coolest Move of the Race" award right at the drop of the green flag by catapulting from fifth on the grid to lead the field into the first turn. Galati, a five-time SWC champion, nearly lapped the entire field by the end of the race, with only Tommy Archer's Dodge Viper remaining on the lead lap at the finish. Ron Fellows' Cadillac CTS-V finished third, after starting from the pole.

[Source: SCCA Pro Racing/SPEED World Challenge]

Volvo beats Viper, Cadillac for SPEED GT win originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Sep 2006 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>mosports60rspeed world challengeSpeedWorldChallengevolvo s60rTue, 05 Sep 2006 17:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/664175/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2006/09/05/volvo-beats-viper-cadillac-for-speed-gt-win/664175/article-detail.xml 664175 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2006/09/volvo-mosport_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2006/09/volvo-mosport.jpg -1 2