Volvo creates its own YouTube channel

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 17:04:00 EST

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Volvo

Click above for a video of the Volvo Jakob Hot Rod

Fans of stylishly-curvy Gothenburg-based ~~meatballs~~ bricks now have another outlet to get their Swedish ~~fish~~ fix. On YouTube, where else? The automaker has actually had its own station since August 11, but just decided to announce it to the public with a press release, which is pasted after the break. As you might imagine, safety takes a front page spot on Volvo Cars News, as do the automaker's rally racing efforts. How cool are the animal avoidance tests of its new crossover utility vehicle, the XC60? Where else can you watch the official Elk-less Elk Avoidance Test? Hey, wait a minute... that camel test isn't what we were expecting.

Our absolute favorite videos, though, are of the Volvo Jakob Hot Rod. That's some Scandinavian design we can really get behind. According to Volvo, breaking news will also be posted on the video channel, so now we've got yet another source to check out every day.

Gallery: Volvo Hot Rod Jakob

[Source: Volvo]

Continue reading Volvo creates its own YouTube channel

Volvo creates its own YouTube channel originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 01 Nov 2008 17:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hot Rod Jakob a stunning tribute to first Volvos

John Neff — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 17:04:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Convertible, Volvo

Click above for more high-res pics of the Hot Rod Jakob

You may remember Lief Tufvesson as the ex-Volvo employee turned SEMA regular who arrives in Las Vegas nearly every year with another new custom Volvo hot rod of some sort. The T6 Roadster and V8 Speedster are his most noteworthy creations, but he's arrived early this year with the Hot Rod Jakob, so named because it's design has been modeled after the first run of Volvos produced back in 1927 that also carried the nickname "Jakob". Tufvesson's company Caresto is behind the project, which began all the way back in 2005.

This new age Jakob is powered by a modern turbocharged inline five-cylinder engine that puts out 265 horsepower and 273 pound feet of torque. While that's three cylinders short of what you'd expect to find powering a traditional hot rod, the Volvo T5 unit doesn't have much weight to move thanks to a chassis made entirely of carbon fiber except for the engine's steel subframe, and a body skinned in hand-beaten aluminum that hides from view the suspension and exhaust hardware. Those wheels are 10x22" AEZ Forge rims up front, 8x19" versions in back and are supposed to mimic the look of the original wooden-spoked ones. They're also wrapped in custom-milled Pirelli rubber that feature Volvo's iron symbol.

It's a gorgeous rod of hotness, for sure, and you may get to see it when Volvo takes the Hot Rod Jakob on a tour of its homeland and the USA later this year. Until then it will sit at the Volvo Museum in Göteborg where the company first got its start.

Gallery: Volvo Hot Rod Jakob

[Source: Volvo]

Continue reading Hot Rod Jakob a stunning tribute to first Volvos

Hot Rod Jakob a stunning tribute to first Volvos originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 28 Feb 2008 17:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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