Volvo Military Sales - Press Releases
A taste of the all-new 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 all-new S60 will be one of the strongest players in a segment where the competition is razor-sharp," says Volvo Cars President and CEO Stephen Odell
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 help you to be a better and safer driver," says Stephen Odell.
The Volvo S60 Concept is being shown for the very first time at the Detroit Motor Show in early January 2009. The production version of the all-new Volvo S60 will be introduced in 2010.
DNA at a new level
The concept car gives a clear indication that the Volvo Cars design team is stepping up to the next level in the development of the products' DNA.
"The modern Scandinavian design of the S60 Concept reflects the "Do Not Abandon" approach to the strengths of the brand's design language. At the same time, it's a Dramatic New Approach. A refined balance of tradition and new, dynamic visual excitement," says Volvo Cars' design director Steve Mattin.
He adds:
"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."
Scandinavian inspiration and drama
The front of the S60 Concept naturally sports the enlarged iron mark in the trapezoidal grille. The 3D Volvo letters in the iron mark are embedded in an illuminated panel. The grille itself has a somewhat new appearance with structured horizontal vanes adding refinement to its form.
Two DNA lamps flank the grill. They emphasise the vertical stance of the front and promote the bonnet's V-shape. The DNA lamps also become the starting points of the fresh sculptural design language of the bumpers.
The angled headlamps flow up into the strongly sculptured bonnet. Combined with the lower air intake's reverse trapezoidal shape, this gives the concept car a very expressive "face".
"Dynamic and with considerable character, but without appearing aggressive. This car is packed with inspiration from Scandinavian design and from the Swedish coastline's cliffs and seas. A thrilling blend of drama and sensuality," says Steve Mattin.
Viking longboats in the headlamps
The concept car's headlamps unite classic Scandinavian influences with modern high-tech.Ê In each of the headlamps, the lights form a sculpture creating the image of two miniature Viking longboats sailing side by side, one for main beam and one for dipped beam. When driving in the dark, the light is reflected from the concealed, upward-facing High Performance LED bulbs, projected ahead by the ships' filled sails.
A closer look reveals a number of specially designed details. The compact cooling system for the LED bulbs has protruding cooling blocks made out of aluminium, semi-visible under the ships' hulls. The design creates the illusion of shimmering glass panels that float above a dark and mysterious Scandinavian sea.
The semi-transparent housing incorporates a layered ring-like formation that is part of the position lights. You can see the confident face of the concept car illuminating in a ring-like formation.
The transparent attachment of the door mirrors illuminates fully and becomes part of the indicator function. The panorama roof is another ingredient that contributes to the concept car's airy Scandinavian aura.
"The unique livery in "Warm Liquid Copper" enhances the richness of the S60 Concept's body surfacing, adding a feeling of depth and exclusivity. The colour also links to Sweden's rich copper mining history," says Steve Mattin.
Double wave and sensational doors
Viewed from the side, the concept car's slim coupe roofline and window graphics are accompanied by an entirely new lateral shoulder line, forming a gentle double wave. Stretching from the headlamps all the way to the tail, it adds emotional excitement and plays with the surface and its highlights.
The unique rear parallelogram doors offer a spectacular show whenever they are opened and shut. Door opening is initiated by pressing on a button and the movement starts off in the traditional way. In the next phase, the forward section also swings out away from the car's body and the door glides parallel with the side of the car until it reaches its end position by the rear wheel.
Since the car does not have a B-pillar between the front and rear seats, this door configuration offers exceptionally generous entry and exit access. Both the seven-spoke 20-inch wheels and the tread of the low-profile tyres have been specially designed. The bronze-painted brake callipers match the car's paintwork and accentuate the concept car's muscular, sporty looks.
Inspiration from the racing track
"In forthcoming models, you will see more and more of our "racetrack" design cues. The car's lines do not end abruptly but instead forge a continuous flowing pattern inspired by the fast sweeps of the racing track. In the concept car, this is particularly visible at the rear," says Steve Mattin.
The tail lamps, which follow the curve of the rear shoulders, are as advanced as the headlamps up front. When switched off, the lamp panels show no trace of the traditional red or yellow associated with rear lights. But when activated, the position marker lights, brake lights and turn indicators come on in their correct colours with the help of LED bulbs.
The lighting system's solid glass panel is sectioned into horizontal "slices" that create the visual impression of a three-dimensional architect drawing when the lights come on. At the rear there is also a retractable diffuser that adjusts with vehicle speed to give better aerodynamic properties.
New technology detects pedestrians in the danger zone
The Volvo S60 Concept presents a ground-breaking safety innovation that, among other things, can detect a pedestrian who steps out into the path of the car - and the car's full braking power is automatically activated if the driver does not respond to the danger. This system will be introduced in the all-new Volvo S60.
"We're going to be even more exciting and dynamic while retaining our lead in the field of safety. The all-new S60 will be packed to the brim with all our expertise and technology in the safety area, both as regards preventing accidents and when it comes to protecting all the occupants in the event of a collision," says Stephen Odell.
The Volvo S60 Concept was created to pave the way for Volvo Cars in one of the automotive world's most focused segments, characterised by razor-sharp competition.
"Customers in this segment know exactly what they want. The emphasis is on emotional appeal, sporty design and dynamic driving properties. Success in the segment will do a lot for the brand's image and we are convinced that the all-new Volvo S60 is going to be a particularly strong contender," says Stephen Odell.
The first-generation Volvo S60 was launched in 2000 and was profiled as a coupe with four doors. The car's sporty nature has made the S60 one of Volvo Cars' most global models.
"Irrespective of whether the customers are in the USA, Europe or Russia, they all prioritise the same things. Now we are giving them an entirely new S60 packed with both emotional and rational appeal. A car designed to make a unique impact even among the most discerning buyers," says Stephen Odell.
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"Four Volvo models recommended by Consumer Reports"
The Volvo XC90, C70 and S80 are rated "top recommendation" by US Consumer Reports. The C30 was also a recommended buy when the influential American consumer magazine listed the best and worst cars for 2009.
"The Volvo XC90 meets a number of safety criteria, has passed a variety of tests and according to a large number of customers who were questioned, offers a high degree of reliability. Among the competition, only the Acura MDX, BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz M-Class reach the same level.
The C70 and S80 are also top recommended buys. The Volvo C30 is rated as a recommended buy in the "Sporty Cars, Coupes & Convertibles" category and merits a special mention for its high reliability.
Volvo is the best European premium make as regards reliability. Globally, Japanese makers Lexus, Infinti and Acura are ahead of Volvo.
"Consumer Reports has immense influence on American buying patterns so it is very positive that as many as four of our models have been highlighted as recommended buys. Here we can see that our consistent dedication to the continuous development and improvement of our cars is truly appreciated by the customers," says Ola Lindwall at Quality & Customer Satisfaction.
Consumer Reports sends questionnaires to all its subscribers and together with responses received via the Internet, 1.4 million car owners have provided their views. Together with the results from tests of their cars' road behaviour, reliability and safety, these customer views form the basis for the magazine's recommendations for best and worst buys of the most recent model year."
For more information, please see: www.volvocars.com/militarysales
The Volvo C30 is ranked highest in total quality among "small specialty cars" in Strategic Vision's quality survey on the American website ForbesAuto.com.
C30 scored 908 out of 1,000 points and came first in the category "Small specialty car under $30,000". The Strategic Vision survey found that owners particularly like its exterior styling and workmanship, power and safety. The Volvo gives its drivers a sense of freedom and individuality while meeting needs for comfort and convenience, the report says.
The Strategic Vision's quality survey is broken out in 19 categories. Besides counting physical defects, the survey measures how a vehicle affects an owner's emotions and impulses. 166 different factors were looked at to assess the total quality of the vehicle. A total of 20,655 car owners responded.
USM Starting price is $22,610
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Fuel efficient Volvos ranked high in US
Volvo Cars has three models in the ten most fuel-efficient cars in their class on sale in the United States. The S40 and V50 came sixth and the C30 was placed tenth in ForbesAutos.com's ranking of the most economical luxury cars.
Seven of the top ten cars in this list are from European manufacturers. The remaining three are Japanese models. Mike Omotoso of J.D. Power and Associates commented to ForbesAutos.com that European manufacturers have had to be conscious of fuel economy for decades:
"In Europe, high-tech includes good performance coupled with good fuel economy."
The Volvo S40 and V50 with 2.4-litre engine was placed sixth in the fuel-efficiency rankings. The C30 with 2.5-litre turbo engine came tenth.
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The automotive research and consulting firm AutoPacific, USA, has announced its annual Ideal Vehicle Awards (IVA), of which three category winners were Volvos.
An "ideal" is defined as an excellent or perfect example. So, in search of the ideal vehicle, AutoPacific asked owners to rate their model year 2008 cars and trucks using a measurement of 15 key vehicle attributes.
According to AutoPacific, "The Volvo S40 was the clear winner in the Luxury Mid-Size Car category. With high rating for exterior size, visibility, ride, handling and safety it's easy to see why the S40 is an ideal vehicle. Volvo engineers and designers definitely hit their target. Luxury Mid-Size car owners' scores prove that Volvo understands their buyers very well. Top marks were also given for seat firmness, interior lighting, wheels and tires, and exterior styling."
In the Image Compact Car category AutoPacific cited, "Image Compact Cars are products where style typically trumps absolute function. In the case of the Volvo C30 it seemed to appeal to Image Compact Car owners on both an emotional and rational level. Owners' preferences for the C30's exterior styling, ride, and safety blended well with the interior lighting, seat firmness, and level of technology."
The Volvo C70 shared the top spot in the Aspirational Luxury Car category. AutoPacific summarized that, "Even though the Volvo C70 is only available in one trim level (T5) it seems as though the Swedes have packaged the vehicle just right. With the most modern convenience features, owners in the Aspirational Luxury Car segment found the C70 well-equipped, giving the C70 top honors as a 2008 ideal vehicle. Of course it comes standard with numerous safety features (it's a Volvo), sharp wheels and tires, excellent interior lighting and appreciate seat firmness."
The results of the IVA were based on data collected from thousands of new car and truck buyers who rated 15 specific vehicle attributes: exterior styling, exterior size, passenger roominess, cargo space, driver's seat comfort, drivers seat visibility, interior technology, interior lighting, power and acceleration, ease of getting in and out, interior storage compartments, ride, handling, safety features and tires and wheels.
A complete Ideal Vehicle Awards summary and additional information can be found on AutoPacific's website http://www.autopacific.com
Safe, stunning and smart - the new 2009 Volvo XC60 redefines the small premium crossover.
The new Volvo XC60 is stepping boldly into what is currently the automotive world's fastest-growing segment - dressed in a thrilling blend of muscular XC capability and the sporty charisma of a coupe. "This is not only the safest Volvo ever - it's also the most stunning," says Volvo Cars President and CEO Fredrik Arp.
The new XC60 has its world premier unveiling at the Geneva Motor Show in March, with the first cars reaching dealers in Europe in fall 2008.
The "Small Premium Utility" segment is growing quickly. Within the next few years, buyers will have at least ten crossover models to choose from. By 2009, this segment is expected to expand by 75 percent to 443,000 units.
"In order to succeed in that kind of competition, you have to create a vehicle that stands out from the crowd," says Arp. "The new XC60 bases its unique appeal on the synthesis between daringly sporty design and a range of intelligent safety systems that help the driver avoid accidents."
The big safety news is City Safety - a unique system that can help the driver avoid or reduce the effects of the type of low-speed impacts that are common in city traffic. If the car is about to strike the vehicle in front and the driver does not react, the car automatically applies the brakes.
"Volvo is the first in the world to offer this type of feature as standard," says Arp. "City Safety clearly signals that the new XC60 is the safest car Volvo has ever produced. The car is packed with our accumulated safety know-how and technology, both when it comes to preventing accidents and protecting all the occupants in a collision."
Six-cylinder turbo standard
The new XC60 will be available in the U.S. with Volvo's six-cylinder turbocharged T6 engine producing 281 horsepower. All Wheel Drive (AWD) with Instant Traction is fitted as standard on all variants.
"Owing to its compact dimensions - the XC60 is 7.9 inches shorter than the XC70 and lower than the XC90 - it continues our range of slimmed-down car models with high energy efficiency," says Arp.
Volvo's engineers developed the XC60's chassis settings for aggressively sporty handling that promotes a feeling of safety and control. At the same time the suspension has been tuned to provide a smooth and comfortable ride befitting a luxury crossover.
Target buyers tuned in to technology
The XC60 targets a group of customers who impose high demands on design, brand integrity and high-tech content in its choice of lifestyle products. One might say that it's all about consumers who've grown up with the microchip as a natural supplement to their breakfast cereal. They're used to the immensely fast pace of development in the world of electronics - and every succeeding birthday has brought with it increased capacity in ever-shrinking gift packages.
When it comes to the choice of a car, these consumers adopt the same view as they do for other lifecycle products - all of its properties should be integrated into one single attractive and intelligent package.
"One might say that this could be the C30 owner's next car," says Arp. "It's as sporty and exciting, but more capable. This is an all-round car for the person who lives in the city and for the young family taking the kids for a weekend of fun and adventure.
"We're aiming primarily at lifestyle rather than age. With the XC60 we are broadening our model range to attract even more customers with an active urban lifestyle. Like the Volvo C30, the XC60 plays an important role in our planned volume expansion strategy."
For more information, please see: www.volvocars.com/militarysales
VOLVO RECHARGE CONCEPT: PLUG-IN HYBRID WITH BATTERY-ONLY RANGE OF 100 KM - AND FLEXIFUEL ENGINE FOR BACKUP POWER
Volvo Cars is introducing the Volvo ReCharge Concept, a plug-in hybrid with individual electric wheel motors and batteries that can be recharged via a regular electrical outlet for maximum environmental benefit.
Recharging allows the car to be driven about 100 kilometres on battery power alone before the car's four-cylinder Flexifuel engine is needed to power the car and recharge the battery.
Volvo ReCharge Concept makes its debut in a specially designed Volvo C30 at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
"A certain proportion of electrical vehicles will be necessary to meet the CO2 emission demands of the future. Since the Volvo ReCharge Concept combines an excellent battery range with a backup combustion engine, it is a very interesting concept," says Magnus Jonsson, Senior Vice President Research and Development at Volvo Cars.
The ReCharge Concept has been developed at the Volvo Monitoring and Concept Center (VMCC), the Volvo Car Corporation's think-tank in Camarillo, California. "This is a ground-breaking innovation for sustainable transportation. A person driving less than 100 kilometres a day will rarely need to visit a filling station. In the USA, this may apply to almost 80 percent of drivers," says Magnus Jonsson.
Thanks to the excellent electrical range from a fuel consumption angle, the Volvo ReCharge Concept is exceptionally kind to the car owner's wallet. When driving on electric power only, operating costs are expected to be about 80 percent lower than that of a comparable petrol-powered car. When driving beyond the 100 km battery range, fuel consumption may vary from 0 to 5.5 litres per 100 km depending on the distance driven using the engine.
"This plug-in hybrid car, when used as intended, should have about 66 percent lower emissions of carbon dioxide compared with the best hybrid cars available on the market today. Emissions may be even lower if most of the electricity in intended markets comes from CO2-friendly sources such as biogas, hydropower and nuclear power," says Magnus Jonsson.
An electric motor at each wheel
The Volvo ReCharge Concept combines a number of the latest technological innovations into a so-called "series hybrid" where there is no mechanical connection between the engine and the wheels.
- The battery pack integrated into the luggage compartment uses lithium-polymer battery technology. The batteries are intended to have a useful life beyond that of the car itself.
- Four electric motors, one at each wheel, provide independent traction power.
- Four-cylinder 1.6-litre Flexifuel engine drives an advanced generator that efficiently powers the wheel motors when the battery is depleted.
Electric car with a combustion engine as backup
In principle, the Volvo ReCharge Concept is a battery electric car with an efficient generator, an Auxiliary Power Unit (APU), that steps in when battery charge becomes insufficient for adequate driving performance.
The APU is designed to distribute electrical power to the individual motors at each wheel. Since the combustion engine only powers the APU, it can operate in an optimal fashion, both for regulated emissions and CO2.
The APU is sufficiently powerful to supply an entire villa with electricity. For example it could with minor modifications in principle give the car owner an electricity generator right at his front door in the event of a power failure.
The driver can choose the power source
The combustion engine starts up automatically when 70 percent of the battery power has been used up. However, the driver also has the option of controlling the four-cylinder Flexifuel engine manually via a button in the instrument panel.
This allows the driver to start the engine earlier in order to maximize battery charge, for instance when out on the highway in order to save battery capacity for driving through the next town.
"There is a considerable difference between our plug-in hybrid and today's hybrids. Today's hybrids use the battery only for short periods to assist the combustion engine. Our solution is designed for most people to run on electric power all the time, while providing the extra security that comes with having a combustion engine as a secondary source of electrical power," says Ichiro Sugioka, project manager for the Volvo ReCharge Concept. He adds: "What is more, our C30 with plug-in hybrid technology retains its lively and sporty driving properties. Acceleration from 0-100 km/h takes 9 seconds and top speed is 160 km/h."
Specially developed electric motors
The central electrical components in the Volvo ReCharge Concept demonstrator - the generator for the APU and the wheel motors - were developed together with British electromagnetic specialists PML Flightlink.
With an individual electric motor at each wheel, weight distribution as well as mechanical efficiency and traction are maximized. The friction in mechanical gears is eliminated. Since the car does not have the transmission found in ordinary cars, there is no need for a gear lever.
To help maximize the environmental benefits, the Volvo ReCharge Concept has high-efficiency tyres developed by Michelin. They are specially designed to accommodate the wheelmotors.
Further more, the car has All Wheel Drive in the truest sense of the term. Power to each wheel is controlled individually.
The energy that is generated during braking is transmitted to the battery pack. When the system is ultimately developed, traditional wheel brakes will be completely replaced by electrical brakes with minimal energy wasted through friction.
To ensure reliable operation of the drivetrain and braking system, driver inputs are fed into a quadruple-redundant electronic control system.
Ecologically sound solution for commuters
The Volvo ReCharge Concept is best suited to car drivers who cover moderate distances every day. For example, a commuter who has less than 100 kilometres (62 miles) to drive between home and workplace can cover the entire round trip on electric power alone and the equivalent daily fuel economy will be zero litres per 100 km.
Even drivers who cover more than the battery-only range will benefit from the ReCharge Concept. For a 150 km (93 mile) drive starting with a full charge, the car will require less than 2.8 litres of fuel, giving the car an effective fuel economy of 1.9 l/100km (124 mpg).
"The only requirement is that the car owner has access to electrical outlets at convenient places, such as at home or at the workplace. A full recharge takes 3 hours. However, even a one-hour quick charge should provide enough charge to drive about 50 kilometres," says Magnus Jonsson.
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VOLVO CARS INTRODUCES NEW SYSTEMS FOR ALERTING TIRED AND DISTRACTED DRIVERS
- Driver Alert Control - unique technology that alerts tired and distracted drivers
- Lane Departure Warning - alerts the driver if the car crosses one of the road markings without an obvious reason
Studies show that up to 90 percent of all traffic accidents are caused by driver distraction.
Now Volvo Cars introduces Driver Alert Control - with a technology solution that is a world-first in passenger cars. The system aims to alert the driver when his or her concentration level is affected, for instance during long journeys.
Another new system, Lane Departure Warning, alerts the driver if the car crosses one of the road markings without an obvious reason.
Lane Departure Warning and Driver Alert Control will be part of the same option package, called Driver Alert System. It will be available in the Volvo S80, V70 (available on the Military Market in January 2008) and XC70 at the end of 2007.
"Real life safety is the key to our safety philosophy. When it comes to preventive safety, we have the same approach as when we develop protective systems. In other words that our research and technical development focus on areas where new technology can create significant results in real-life-traffic," says Ingrid Skogsmo, Director of the Volvo Cars Safety Centre.
Based on the accident statistics above, Volvo Cars is focusing on developing efficient technology to help drivers avoid or reduce the severity of accidents caused by distraction and driver fatigue.
Driver Alert Control (DAC) - a unique innovation
As a result of extensive studies on how drivers operate behind the wheel, Volvo has developed Driver Alert Control - a world-first innovation that registers the car's progress on the road and alerts unconcentrated drivers.
Driver fatigue is a major traffic-safety problem the world over. According to the U.S. NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), drivers who fall asleep at the wheel cause about 100,000 accidents annually in the United States alone, resulting in 1,500 fatalities and more than 70,000 injured drivers and passengers.
The situation is similar in Europe. The German Insurance Association GDV estimates that about 25 percent of all fatal accidents on the German Autobahn are caused by driver fatigue.
Volvo's Driver Alert Control is an important innovation. It is primarily intended for situations where the risk of losing concentration is the greatest and where an accident would have severe consequences. For example a straight, smooth road that lulls the driver into a sense of relaxation and where the risk of distracting activities or falling asleep is higher. The system steps in at 65 km/h and stays active as long as the speed exceeds 60 km/h.
Registers what's happening on the road
Driver Alert Control monitors the car's movements and assesses whether the vehicle is being driven in a controlled or uncontrolled way. This method is unique among vehicle manufacturers and is very reliable.
"We do not monitor human behaviour - which varies from one person to another - but instead the effect that fatigue or decreased concentration has on driving behaviour. Our system is based on the car's progress on the road. It gives a reliable indication if something is likely to go wrong and alerts the driver before it is too late," explains Daniel Levin, project manager for Driver Alert Control at Volvo Cars. He adds:
"We often get questions about why we have chosen this concept instead of monitoring the driver's eyes. The answer is that we don't think that the technology of monitoring the driver's eyes is mature enough yet."
Driver Alert Control can also cover situations where the driver is focusing too much on his/her cell phone or children in the car, thereby not having full control of the vehicle.
"This is a positive side-effect of our concept, and this is possible since the system evaluates driving behaviour rather than human behaviour," says Daniel Levin.
Text messages and audible signals
From a technical viewpoint, Driver Alert Control consists of a camera, a number of sensors and a control unit.
The camera, which is installed between the windscreen and the interior rear-view mirror, continuously measures the distance between the car and the road lane markings. The sensors register the car's movements. The control unit stores the information and calculates whether the driver risks losing control of the vehicle.
If the risk is assessed as high, the driver is alerted via an audible signal. In addition, a text message appears in the car's information display, alerting him or her with a coffee cup symbol to take a break.
What is more, the driver can continuously retrieve driving information from the car's trip computer. The starting-point is five bars. The less consistent the driving, the fewer bars remain.
"It is, of course, always the driver's responsibility to take a break when necessary, but sometimes you might not realise that you're not alert enough to drive. In such situations, Driver Alert Control can help the driver make the right decision, like taking a refreshing break or a nap, before the concentration level becomes too low," Daniel Levin concludes.
Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
On US Highways, single-vehicle road departures account for approximately one fourth of all accidents and one third of all fatalities, statistics that emphasize the risk of losing concentration in smooth driving conditions.
Volvo Cars addresses this by introducing Lane Departure Warning. The system helps prevent single-vehicle road departure accidents as well as head-on collisions due to temporary distraction.
Volvo Cars' researchers estimate that the LDW system can help prevent 30-40 percent of these types of accidents at speeds between 70 and 100 km/h. LDW is activated via a button on the centre stack and it alerts the driver with a gentle warning sound if the car crosses one of the road markings without an obvious reason such as use of the turn indicator.
The system also uses a camera to monitor the car's position between the road markings. LDW steps in at 65 km/h and stays active as long as the speed exceeds 60 km/h.
System limitations
Some of the described systems' availability depends on the number and quality of visible road markings. The lane markings must be clearly visible for the camera Poor light, fog, snow and extreme weather conditions can make the system unavailable.
For more information, please see: www.volvocars.com/militarysales