Volvo – Page 9 – Automobiles Review

Polestar Volvo V60 D6 Plug-in Hybrid – More Power

Polestar is now offering a power upgrade for Volvo V60 D6 Plug-in Hybrid. The super-economical touring car boasts impressive performance and extremely low fuel consumption.

The powertrain includes a 2.4 liter five-cylinder diesel and an electric motor – combined output of 302HP (222 kW) and 670Nm (494 lb-ft) of torque. This is an increase of 16HP (11 kW) and 30Nm (22 lb-ft) of torque compared to the normal version. The power is put on the road through a 6-speed automatic gearbox. This is the most powerful diesel-powered Volvo ever.

0-100 km/h in 6.0 seconds and a top speed of 230 km/h (143 mph) – electronically limited. The Polestar version is 0.1 seconds quicker than the normal model. The combined fuel consumption is just 1.8 liters / 100 km (130.6 mpg US or 157 mpg UK) with CO2 emissions of 48 g/km.

The electric motor is powered by a 11.2 kWh lithium-ion battery pack installed under the floor of the load compartment.

The power upgrade is offered with warranty and can be purchased in Sweden, UK and The Netherlands. The price is available upon request and installation should be made through official dealer.

Source: Polestar Racing

August 14, 2014

2015 Volvo XC90 To Feature Intellisafe Solutions

Volvo XC90 Intellisafe Solutions is designed to make tricky parking situations and maneuvering in tight spaces easier than before. Extended Park Assist Pilot is included in the IntelliSafe support technologies. It offers automatic reversing into a parking bay, entering and exiting a parallel parking spot. Furthermore, this new feature in the 2015 XC90 also displays digitally created bird’s-eye view of the 360° area around the car on the large centre screen. These options turn the potentially stressful parking situations into comfortable ones.

The updated Park Assist Pilot makes it easier for the drive parallel and bay parking by taking over. Then it operates the steering wheel while the driver is operating with the gearbox thus controlling the speed of the car.

While maneuvering, the new XC90 collects information from twelve ultrasonic sensors around the car. If the driver decides to activate the Park Assist Pilot in a parallel parking situation, then the sensors begin scanning the side of the car for empty parking slots.

If a parking slot is larger than 1.2 times car’s length, the person behind the steering wheel in notified via an audible signal and a message written on the instrument cluster. The same thing happens in a bay parking situation. However, the slot needs to be the width of the car plus 1 meter. Gradually the driver is guided by texts and animations on the display until the car is parked.

The next technology included is bird’s-eye view from above the car or the so called 360° Surround View. It delivers the driver an overview of the surrounding area from a point above the car.

This feature is enabled by four concealed fish-eye cameras. The first one is integrated into the front, the second and third – in each of the door mirrors and the last one – above the rear number plate.Thanks to these cameras, the driver also can get access to other views of the surrounding area like front, rear and side views.

IntelliSafe also features Cross Traffic Alert. This technology covers the driver’s back when reversing out of a parking space. It notifies the driver with an audible signal and a warning on the center screen when a car is in the vicinity of up to 30 meters on each side.

Source: Volvo

July 22, 2014

Volvo XC90 To Be Driven By T8 Twin Engine

The gradual reveal of Volvo XC90 continues with additional information revealed by the Swedish automaker. Volvo has announced that its new SUV will offer combination of power and clean operation. It has also disclosed that the vehicle will be launched later this year. It will be an all-wheel drive seven seater, which is to deliver up to 400 horsepower (294 kW) but at the same time, it will also produce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of around 60 g/km on the NEDC driving cycle. This will make the future XC90 the first SUV offering this level of power this cleanly.

Precisely, the new model will offer a range of Drive-E engine options, all of which will provide an excellent combination of performance and fuel-efficiency. What makes the Drive-E engine range unique is that they are all four-cylinder engines. Volvo has made it possible for those units to provide all the driving pleasure associated with a bigger engine, and in addition to do so far more efficiently and cleanly.

The engine on the top of the range is the Twin Engine, which carry the badge ‘T8’ and be a plug-in electric car, hybrid car and high-performance car rolled into one. The default hybrid mode offers normal driving by using two-litre, four-cylinder supercharged and turbocharged Drive-E petrol engine. The latter powers the front wheels.

There is also an 80 hp (60 kW) electric motor which drives the rear wheels. It utilizes the supercharger to fill in the bottom end of the power range. The electric motor on the rear wheels also provides immediate torque.

Just one touch of the button is needed in order for the driver to switch to quiet and emission-free city driving on pure electric power. The range of the car on electric mode alone is estimated around 25 miles. When needed the vehicle immediately revert back to the combined capacity of the petrol engine and electric motor. Their combined output is around 400 hp (294 kW) and 640 Nm (472 lb-ft) of torque.

In the range of engines that will be offered in the new Volvo XC90 there will be also the D5 twin turbo diesel engine with 225 hp (165 kW) and 470 Nm (347 lb-ft). Its fuel consumption is estimated at 47 mpg on the combined cycle. The other engine is the D4 turbo diesel with 190 hp (140 kW) and 400 Nm (295 lb-ft). It offers a fuel consumption of around 56 mpg (combined cycle).

As a chassis, Volvo will use the Scalable Product Architecture (SPA). It will allow for far more flexibility inside the car. In addition, it will also create a far wider range of design possibilities and it will also improve driveability. SPA will benefit of the inclusion of the newest safety features and connected in-car technologies. What is more, it will also increase the space of the interior.

Source: Volvo

July 8, 2014

Volvo Starts Production of S60 and V60 Polestar

Volvo has already started production of the new S60 and V60 Polestar in the Torslanda factory plant. The first cars have left on their way to customers around the world.

”We are very happy to see the first ever complete production cars from Polestar be built in the Volvo factory. It is a satisfying result of many hours of work by the people of Polestar and Volvo behind this,” said Henrik Fries, S/V60 Polestar Technical Project Manager.

”We are delighted to see the first cars leave the factory and it has been an exciting journey together with Polestar to see these cars from the drawing board until the actual finalized product being produced with us on the factory line,” added Magnus Hellsten, Vice President Car Manufacturing Europe at Volvo Cars.

A total of 750 cars will be produced of the S60 and V60 Polestar model this year, heading to customers in Canada, the Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and the USA.

The new Volvo S60 and V60 Polestar features a thoroughly developed chassis with high performance dampers and brakes which in combination with four-wheel drive and a mighty turbocharged 6-cylinder engine creates a driver’s car for all year.

Performance

0-100 km/h – 4.9 sec

0-200 km/h – 17.7 sec

Top speed 250 km/h (155 mph) – Electronically limited

Chassis

Polestar Öhlins shock absorber system

Polestar bespoke rims, 8J x 20″ ET53 with 245/35R20 tyres

Engine

6-cylinder inline T6 engine, 2953 cc

350HP (257 kW) at 5,700RPM

500 Nm (369 lb-ft) at 2,800RPM

Rev-limiter 6,500RPM

New twin-scroll Borg Warner turbo

New intercooler

Polestar 2.5” stainless full-flow exhaust system with twin 3.5” tail pipes

Weight

V60 Polestar: 1,822 kg (4,017 lbs)

Transmission

AWF21 automatic gearbox with paddle shift system

Polestar transmission calibration for faster gearshifts, launch control and curve-hold functionality

Polestar Haldex calibration for more rear torque dynamic distribution

Polestar calibrated stability control system

Brakes

Front: Polestar/Brembo 6 piston brake calipers

371 x 32 mm ventilated and floating Brembo discs

Rear: 302 x 22 mm ventilated discs

Source: Volvo

June 25, 2014

New Volvo V60 Polestar To Be Presented At Goodwood [VIDEO]

Brand New Volvo V60 Polestar is going to be officially premiered at the iconic Goodwood Festival of Speed. As we already know, the event will happen between 26th and 29th of June. If we compare it a motorsport garden party, then the festival will definitely be the largest in the world. The unique summer weekend will bring together an impossibly mix of cars, stars and motor sport royalty. Among them will be the new Volvo V60 Polestar, which is going to perform a number of hill runs during the festival and it will also be available at the exhibition area.

What is specific about this car is that it includes a thoroughly developed chassis with high performance dampers and brakes. These come in combination with four-wheel drive and 350 hp (257 kW) which come from the turbo charged 6-cylinder engine.

Developed from 17 years of motorsport experience, the new V60 Polestar, makes the 0-100 km/h sprint in just 4.9 seconds. The development of the car has been ongoing over the past years, picking up from the C30 and S60 Concept cars and the Australian S60 Polestar. Thousands of development kilometres have been driven on mountain roads, o test tracks from the south of Europe to the frozen north of Sweden.

The countries set to receive the S60 and V60 Polestar include Canada, Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and the USA. British racing driver Anthony Reid, who was a tough competitor for Volvo in the BTCC during the nineties, tested the Volvo at the Goodwood circuit earlier. You can see what he says about his experience in the video below:

httpv://youtu.be/zs2NrKvqnDQ

Video Source: YouTube

Source: Volvo

June 23, 2014

2015 Volvo XC90 Infotainment System [videos]

Volvo has published several videos of the special interior of the all-new 2015 XC90. The flagship SUV is set to make official debut in August, this year. It is scheduled to enter production in Sweden at the Torslanda factory in Gothenburg.

The elegant and stylish cabin boasts a big touchscreen display using Volvo’s Sensus interface which promise to be not only intuitive and easy to use, but more it will “keep eyes on the road and hands on the wheel as much as possible” according to Volvo’s senior vice president of design Thomas Ingenlath.

Most of the buttons and switch knobs have been replaced by the new display. This is a very effective way of keeping the driver focused on the road instead of using different buttons for all kinds of functions. There is also a head-up display projecting important data on the lower section of the windscreen, while voice control also minimizes distractions.

Other nice innovation is the ability of the touchscreen to recognize the touch input even, when the driver wears gloves. A special infrared technology takes care for that.

2015 Volvo XC90 will also come with an Ericsson-based cloud solution and a HERE navigation system, which will support remote content updates. Volvo Sensus will include a number of cloud-based apps such as connected navigation, Internet radio, music streaming, finding & paying for parking, detecting restaurants and other nice stuff.

Enjoy!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T34WK1_fAZE

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-50Gc7sauno

Source: Volvo

June 3, 2014

Volvo Shows 2015 XC90’s Interior

2015 Volvo XC90 was just partially revealed – the company has shown the first interior pictures of the upcoming model. The official premiere of the car will happen in August. In fact, the original XC90 was introduced in 2002 and eventually revolutionized the SUV segment with its combination of space, versatility and safety. As we can conclude from the photos, the XC90 features the most luxurious interior that have ever been designed for a Volvo.

Inside, the design of this SUV is inspired by the country of Volvo’s birth, Sweden. The country actually has the global reputation for integrating the latest technology with design that is clean, beautiful and crafted from the finest materials.

The most striking feature is the tablet-like touch screen control console. It is button free and represents an entirely new way for drivers to control their car and access a range of Internet-based products and services.

Furthermore, the interior combines materials like a soft leather and wood with handcrafted details. For instance, the gear-lever was made of crystal glass, as the diamond-cut controls for the start/stop button and volume control.

2015 XC90 is the first Volvo to use Scalable Product Architecture (SPA). The latter creates a far wider range of design possibilities, improves driveability and permits the inclusion of the latest safety features and connected in-car technologies. In addition, it increases interior space.

Other details, for example around the safety and interior air quality will be released in late July or early August. The full reveal of the technology highlights, including chassis and powertrains, will start in mid-July and will continue throughout the summer. The exterior launch of 2015 Volvo XC90 is scheduled for the end of August.

Source: Volvo

May 27, 2014

2014 Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid R-Design

Volvo is going to offer V60 Plug-in Hybrid R-Design, so even the most greedy customers will be satisfied with efficiency. Essentially, with Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid R-Design you get not a “wolf in sheep’s clothing”, but a “sheep in wolf’s clothing”.

“We sold almost 8,000 plug-in hybrids in 2013. Adding the R-Design dynamic attributes to the V60 Plug-in Hybrid – the world’s first diesel plug-in hybrid – will give its attractiveness another boost. The customer gets segment-topping performance combined with outstanding efficiency,” commented Alain Visser, Senior Vice President Marketing, Sales and Customer Service at Volvo Car Group.

Obviously, Mr. Visser thinks that the model will be even more popular, if offered with R-Design trim.

The V60 Plug-in Hybrid R-Design comes with new front bumper, a new rear diffusor and 18” Ixion wheels. The interior features sport seats wrapped in black nubuck textile and perforated leather. There is also a black headliner as well as special plug-in hybrid instrumentation and information.

V60 Plug-in Hybrid is powered by a five-cylidner 2.4 liter turbodiesel with 215HP (158 kW) and 440Nm (326 lb-ft) of torque. The power is put on the road through a 6-speed automatic gearbox sending it to the front wheels. The rear wheels are powered by an electric motor producing 68HP (50 kW) and 200Nm (148 lb-ft) supplied with power from an 11.2 kWh lithium-ion battery pack installed under the floor of the load compartment.

Source: Volvo

April 24, 2014

Volvo S60L PPHEV Concept Debuts At Auto China

Volvo S60L PPHEV Concept is to debut at the 2014 Beijing International Auto Show. PPHEV stands for Petrol Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle, which means that an electric car, hybrid car and high-performance car are all rolled into one. This offers the driver an excellent combination of dynamic driving pleasure and great fuel economy. The production version of the model is planned to be launched in China early 2015 and will be built locally.

S60L PPHEV features the same electrification technology as the Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid. The latter was world’s first diesel plug-in hybrid. In the new concept, however, the diesel engine has been replaced with a two-litre four-cylinder petrol turbo unit from the Drive-E engine family.

It produces 238 hp (175 kW) and 350 Nm (258 lb-ft) of torque. Other key components in the powertrain are the crankshaft-driven ISG (Integrated Starter Generator) between the engine and the 8-speed automatic gearbox and the 68 hp electric motor powered by a 11.2 kWh lithium-ion battery pack.

There are three driving modes: Pure, Hybrid or Power. In the default hybrid mode, the CO2 emissions are rated at 50 g/km, while the fuel consumption is just 2.0l/100 km. The all-electric range is 50 km. When both petrol turbo engine and electric motor are used together, they deliver 238+68 horsepower, 350+200 Nm of torque, and 0-100 km/h acceleration in 5.5 seconds.

The concept can be recharged from a regular power outlet at home or in a car park. A full charge takes up to an approximately 4.5 hours. In addition, the model also has an AWD button, which activates the exceptionally responsive electric four-wheel drive

S60L PPHEV Concept Car is painted in a matt white crystal pearl colour. Accents include contrasting black or blue details on the lower body and the seven-spoke wheels. Inside, the interior features hazel-brown leather with contrasting stitching on the seats, steering wheel, instrument panel and door panels. Additional chrome detailing and a blond colour theme above the belt line contribute to the luxurious in-car experience.

Source: Volvo

April 17, 2014

Volvo Inscription Package Added For 2015 Models

For the 2015 model year line-up, particularly the Volvo XC60 and S80 models, the Swedish company is introducing stunning interior upgrade via the luxurious Inscription package. The latter features Inscription Sovereign Hide full soft leather upholstery in several colors, which adds more uniqueness to the premium cars.

In addition, the package also adds beautiful leather covered instrument panel, premium wood inlays, soft leather on the back of seats, center armrest and head rest with an embroidered Inscription logo as well as floor mats. What is more, the Inscription options extend to the exterior as well by offering three radiant color alternatives – Crystal White Pearl, Electric Silver and Ember Black (S80) as well as 19-inch (S80) or 20-inch (XC60) ten-spoke wheels.

Furthermore, Volvo announced that this summer its new models, except for the XC90, will be equipped with the updated on-board infotainment and navigation system called Sensus Connect which will feature Volvo On-call as a standard. This is a cloud-based service that allows the driver to find and pay for parking from the car, discover new destinations and many other convenient options.

It also includes HERE Location Platform, which provides connected navigation with 3D maps. The Sensus system also includes upgraded sound system delivered by Harman Kardon which has 5x130W amplifier with the sound enhancement software Dirac Live and up to 12 loudspeakers.

Volvo also will supply its models with super-efficient Drive-E engines starting this May. The new Drive-E powertrain family combines drivability and low CO2 emissions, and of course great fuel efficiency. The engines are even more fun-to-drive and also will surprise its drivers with a smooth engine sound.

Source: Volvo

March 28, 2014

Volvo Concept Estate at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show

Volvo has officially unveiled the Concept Estate, which is expected to be exhibited at the 84^th Geneva Motor Show in March. The Shooting Brake version of the Concept Coupe boasts an elegant exterior with flowing lines and gently curved surfaces.

The front comes with a prominent grille flanked by distinctive headlights with T-shaped LED DRLs. The rear is even more spectacular with the stylish tailgate and a dual exhaust system. There are also enormous alloy wheels fitted with ultra-low profile tires.

The interior boasts leather upholstery, grey wood trim and a lot of metallic accents. There is also a digital instrument cluster, a slender center console and an infotainment system with a big display. Other highlights include a three-spoke steering wheel, orange seat belts and seat backs covered in plaid.

Source: Volvo

February 27, 2014

Volvo V40 D4 Adds New Drive-E Powertrains

Volvo Drive-E powertrains will now be available for the Volvo V40 and V40 Cross Country. Precisely, the Volvo V40 D4 delivers 190 hp (140 kW) alongside the 85 g/km CO2 emissions. The V40 model can be equipped with two engines from the Drive-E engine family, the 245 hp (180 kW) petrol turbo T5 one and the turbo diesel D4 that provides 190 hp.

Both engines are matched with an 8-speed automatic gearbox which contributes to the refined drive. As an option there is also available the enhanced six-speed manual transmission which was tuned for improved fuel economy, as well as versions with the automatic gearbox that have paddles on the steering wheel for manual gear shifting.

To go even further into details, the D4 turbo diesel not only delivers 190 hp but also can secure 400 Nm (295 lb-ft) of torque. This is due to the world-first i-ART technology which uses pressure feedback from each fuel injector instead of a traditional single pressure sensor in the common rail.

In details, each of the injectors has an intelligent chip on top of it that monitors injection pressure. With the gathered information, the self-adapting i-ART system injects the ideal amount of fuel during each combustion cycle. The diesel powerhouse also includes modifications such as a state-of-the-art twin-turbo, reduced friction and a smart valve solution on the cooling system.

V40 D4 has a fuel consumption estimated at 3.3 l/100 km on a combined cycle, which corresponds to 85 g/km CO2 emissions. The figure for the V40 Cross Country is 4.0 l/100 km and 104 g/km CO2 when it is equipped with the manual gearbox. On the other hand, the four-cylinder petrol turbo T5 unit produces has 245 hp and 350 Nm (258 lb-ft) of torque. The fuel efficiency here is rated at 5.8 l/100 km (136 g/km).

Source: Volvo

February 25, 2014

Tag: Volvo