The Demo Site

Volvo S60 Concept

Volvo's big deal for the 2009 Detroit Auto Show is the S60 Concept, which debuts a new design direction for the Scandinavian brand once known for elevating the art of boxes on wheels. Volvo has continually evolved its signature design language, adding curves and bulges to make its vehicles look more organic than cubic. The culmination of that movement is the S60 Concept, which previews the next-gen S60 production sedan.

The concept features a coupe-like roofline and elegant front end brandishing the largest version of Volvo's iron mask badge that we've ever seen. A new character line running along the sides of the concept nicely updates the broad shoulder that's common on the brand's current cars and SUVs. There are lots of other cool exterior details, which you can read about in the press release after the jump, but the interior is the concept's crown jewel. The floating center stack, inspired by current Volvo production interiors, was made by hand out of Orrefors crystal.

The S60 concept is also full of safety tech, including a Collision Warning with Full Auto Brake and pedestrian detection system that will debut in the production S60. It works to avoid collisions with pedestrians under 20 km/h altogether and minimize injury for ones occurring at faster speeds. Powered by a 1.8L four-cylinder turbodiesel with direct injection, the S60 Concept is also frugal with fuel, burning through just 5.0 liters of petrol every 100 km (about 47 mpg U.S.)

Volvo D5 engine

By now, Volvo has been almost completely integrated into the Ford empire, but with its parent company looking to offload the Swedish subsidiary, Volvo's going to have to demonstrate its worth as a standalone automaker. Developing its own engines is a good place to start, and Volvo has just unveiled its own unique diesel powerplant.

Replacing the existing D5 diesel, the new variant continues the five-cylinder tradition, but that's where the similarities end. The new mill displaces 2.4 liters, supplemented by twin sequential turbochargers, ceramic glow-plugs and piezoelectric fuel injectors. The new tech helps the D5 generate 205 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of twist, but more importantly, the engine now meets the stringent Euro 5 emissions standard with only 164g of CO2 per kilometer, while returning an impressive 45.6 mpg. The engine will be available in the British market S80 sedan in a few months, but unfortunately it isn't earmarked to cross the Atlantic. All we can do is look at the photos in the gallery and read the details in the press release after the jump.

Volvo S60 Concept

It may not be the same as attending the event in-person, but a live, interactive webcast of Volvo's press conference at the Detroit Auto Show, where the S60 concept and production XC60 for North America will be shown, could be the next best thing. The broadcast is intended for media types and members of the press, but the fact that it's being aired on DirecTV (channel 101, January 11 at 5:30 - 6:30 PM ET) means that anybody with a television and the satellite service can watch it live. Alternatively, users can register for a password to the online site, the location of which is not yet determined.

The coolest bit of tech that's making an appearance for this event is the capability to send questions to a live host who will then relay selected inquiries to key Volvo executives. These days, the global economic downturn is affecting everyone, including those who would normally cover these events for the media. This being the case and assuming the event is a success, we'd expect to more manufacturers to adopt a similar system at upcoming auto shows. Of course, we'll be there live and you can always direct your browsers to our pages for the best coverage available.

Presumably because luxury is associated with doing as little as possible, the more expensive a car is, the more likely it is that it will be fitted with an automatic gearbox. In fact, over 80 per cent of cars costing more than £20k come fitted with a self-shifter.

But don't assume that a slushmatic is necessarily the best choice for a premium car, because there are exceptions. And one of these is the Volvo XC60 2.4D.

Volvo admits that the vast majority of XC60s will be autos, and that's fine – the 'Geartronic' transmission is smooth and accurate enough.

But couple the auto to the lower-powered 161bhp 2.4d rather than the more torquey D5, and the slusher's slightly sluggish response robs you of the control you need to make the most of the less powerful engine.

So, as long as your clutch foot can take it, if you're looking at an XC60 then don't feel you have to make the automatic choice.

At a time when the industry is at an all time low, Volvo is bringing back its scheduled free maintenance to help put the brand back on the new car shopper's buying list. Volvo has reinstated its 3 year/36,000 free maintenance for all 2009 models after a major push from dealers.

Volvo had canned the program for 2006 models following Mercedes-Benz which killed its free maintenance program for 2005 models and Audi which axed its program for 2007 models. BMW was the only brand that kept its program.

An owner of four Volvo stores in Illinois and Wisconsin, Mark Fields, is also a BMW dealer. He says a big part of his BMW success was the free maintenance program.

"The Volvo buyer is a practical buyer who studies the buying decisions and does a lot of research," Fields told Automotive News. "The cost of owning the vehicle is now less."

(from Volvo Press Release) An early Christmas present from Volvo Cars - a glimpse of the next-generation Volvo S60

A few days before Christmas, Volvo Cars treats the automotive world to an early unwrapping of a car that will shine bright in the streets for years to come. The Volvo S60 Concept gives the car world a glimpse of what the all-new Volvo S60 is going to look like when it arrives in 2010. The coupe-inspired lines that gave the original S60 its characteristic stance are even more pronounced in the next generation.

"The sporty design gives visual promise of an enthusiastic drive and I can assure you here and now that the all-new S60 will live up to that promise. The driving properties are better than in any previous Volvo. The car's technology will also help you to be a better and safer driver," says Stephen Odell. The concept car reveals that the Volvo Cars design team is stepping up to the next level in the development of the products' DNA.

"The concept car's exterior gives a clear indication of what customers can expect of the all-new S60. On the inside we've been even more daring - there the focus has been on creating a vision of the future in the slightly longer perspective," says Volvo Cars Design Director Steve Mattin.

The engine that Volvo Cars has chosen for the Volvo S60 Concept is a four-cylinder 1.6-litre petrol unit using high-efficiency GTDi (Gasoline Turbocharged Direct Injection) technology and producing 180 horsepower. In a conventional petrol engine, fuel is injected into the inlet manifold ahead of the inlet valves. With direct injection, however, the fuel is injected directly into the combustion chamber under high pressure. The engine in combination with a range of other technical measures makes it possible to cut carbon dioxide emissions to 119 g/km (5.0 l/100 km).

© Source: seriouswheels

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.

We already know that Ford has placed Volvo on the auction block and is actively shopping its Swedish brand to at least one Chinese automaker. New rumors indicate that there may be more players in China with more than a passing interest in taking the brand off the Blue Oval's hands. If SAIC doesn't bite at Ford's $6 billion asking price, Geely has emerged as a possible bidder and officials from the Chinese automaker have reportedly made the trip all the way to Volvo's headquarters in Gothenburg, Sweden, to discuss a possible sale with Ford.

So, what potential roadblocks stand in the way of a Chinese automaker snatching Volvo from the throes of bankruptcy? According to Autocar, one sticking point is that Ford does not want Volvo platforms being used by other automakers. A good deal of Ford products share their underpinnings with Volvo sedans and Ford is concerned that its intellectual property could end up in the wrong hands.

[Source: Autocar]

Next month in Detroit, the Volvo S60 Concept will serve up a teaser for the 2010 production sedan that'll likely debut later in the show season. The S60 Concept demonstrates that Volvo's new sedan will ditch the rather conservative duds it currently wears in favor of a new, much more aggressive visual ensemble. Profile views show off a coupe-ish roofline, while pointed headlights extend back onto the fenders and flank a reshaped, more detailed grille up front. The concept's rear is similarly detailed, with LED taillamps that hide the various signal colors until they are actually illuminated.

Exterior

The design of the car is definitely Volvo – distinctly European but more serious than a German. The XC70 uses the V70 wagon as a base, and then adds all-wheel drive, eight inches of extra ground clearance, and tougher plastic coating for the bottom of the lower body panels. The overall effect takes your parents wagon and transforms it into something that commands respect at the ski lodge.

Part of Volvo's traditional design means the doors and lower panels bow out from the bodywork, which makes the upper half of the car look distinct. This somewhat segments the design of the car and contributes to the boxy image that Volvo has earned. This "yin and yang" idea of hard edges with curves makes the design likeable. Following this same idea is the minimal use of chrome on the paintwork. Most of the car is in a singular deep color, which lets the grille and wheels stand out.

As far as function goes, if you don't need a full SUV, the XC70 just makes more sense. Because the XC70 is basically a wagon, the tailgate is much easier to access and the load floor is much lower than an SUV.

Interior

The interior is what sells this car. Everything that was not in wood or silver was covered in a light tan color (known as Sandstone). This color was part of the leather wheel and seats as well in the places where leather is not necessary (like the dash panel or door handles.) The feel is absolutely premium and it made us feel a little more comfortable about the over $44,000 price of our tester ($37, 250 base price). Our only concern is that all the dirty/sticky little hands of soccer kids may pollute this great look.

The controls were very intuitive. The climate control system is one of the best around. For over a decade, Volvo has you choose where want the air to go by simply pressing the part on their person-like diagram. Our premium sound system included a center channel speaker and was both clear and deafeningly loud — a nice surprise from a Volvo. The only piece missing that we would expect on a premium car is a navigation system. It is available as an option, and its absence left the dash and center console area free to have a much cleaner look.

Safety is Volvo's hallmark, and the inside screams it. The doors close with a heavy "thunk" that makes you feel like you've entered a cage. There are airbags for the front passengers, front seat side airbags and side curtains for everybody. Volvo has a whiplash protection system where the front head rests move during impact speeds to cradle people as they return to the seat. The rear seats even have adjustable height settings for younger/shorter passengers.

Test Drive

This car handles like an agile tank. The all-wheel drive and extra safety features makes this a heavy car. Our XC70 tipped the scales at over 4,000 lbs, which is hard to mask in how it feels on the road. Think of a BMW carrying a load of bricks.

The extra weight is felt in road manners. The steering doesn't require much effort, but you can feel there is a power assist necessary to turn the car. The best way to describe the steering is light and deliberate. The same can be said for the braking. It doesn't take much effort to stop the car, but when you hit the brakes hard, you can feel that there is a lot of heft coming to a halt. All of this extra mass doesn't detract from the car; it actually adds to the feeling of security.

One place where the wagon doesn't seem as big is the turning radius. For all the feel of added mass, it can surprisingly go around tight corners.

The only real problem where the weight may be felt is in the acceleration. The 3.2-liter inline six-cylinder engine makes 235 horsepower and 236 ft. lbs. of torque, which is matted to a six-speed automatic transmission. This setup may leave a few feeling a little lean on power. This is a Volvo and the focus is on safety before acceleration. But if you decide you need to go faster, the simple fix is to delete a few options and upgrade to the T6 model that adds an extra 46 horses.

Conclusion

We liked our family wagon. It looks different than a SUV, it rides taller than a wagon, and it makes us feel distinguished. The XC70 is the anti-SUV. Most SUVs have go anywhere styling but usually just go to the supermarket. The XC70 has everyday styling of its V70 sibling, but because it has the all-wheel drive, it's more likely to climb a snowy hill or run the dirt roads.