Volvo auto news

IIHS tests two-door coupes, ratings mostly positive

It comes as little surprise that two-door automobiles perform differently when crash tested than their four-door stablemates, particularly in side crashes. Due to the vastly different structural makeup of coupes versus sedans, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has decided to test both two- and four-door versions of automobiles for 2009, and the results aren't always predictable.

For instance, the 2009 Ford Focus Coupe joins Volvo's 2009 C30 as a two-door vehicle that earns the agency's Top Safety Pick rating, yet the four-door Focus scored a lower Acceptable rating in previous IIHS side crash testing. Conversely, the 2009 Honda Civic flips those ratings with the newly-tested coupe garnering an Acceptable side crash score versus the sedan's Top Safety Pick rating.

While the Chevrolet Cobalt, Ford Focus, Honda Civic, Scion tC and Volvo C30 all performed fairly well in both frontal and side crash testing, the tC was judged the poorest performer overall and was the only vehicle that failed to earn either a Good or Acceptable rating for rear crash protection. Check out the gallery of smashed-up coupes below and see the official press release after the break for additional details on the testing results.

Gallery: IIHS 2009 Two-Door Crash Tests

Continue reading IIHS tests two-door coupes, ratings mostly positive

Newsman, Volvo racer Walter Cronkite dies at 92

Former CBS news anchor Walter Cronkite has passed away at 92. Although Cronkite was primarily known for his coverage of the JFK assassination, moon landing and the Vietnam war, he also enjoyed success in endurance racing with teammate and Volvo of Long Island dealer Art Riley.

When Riley died earlier this year at 93, his obit briefly mentions Cronkite's involvement with the team and its successes behind the wheel of a Volvo PV444. The team campaigned and won races at Lime Rock's "Little LeMans" in 1957, '58 and '61. Cronkite was the only finisher in a five-car team one year, taking a B-division win and placing third overall. The two also teamed up to compete in the Trans-Canada rally.

You can read Riley's full obit here, a look back on Cronkite's life here, and thanks to Mike Spinelli for bringing this little historical footnote to our attention.

News man, Volvo racer Walter Cronkite dies at 92

Former CBS news anchor Walter Cronkite has passed away at 92. Although Cronkite was primarily known for his coverage of the JFK assassination, moon landing and the Vietnam war, he also enjoyed success in endurance racing with teammate and Volvo of Long Island dealer Art Riley.

When Riley died earlier this year at 93, his obit briefly mentions Cronkite's involvement with the team and its successes behind the wheel of a Volvo PV444. The team campaigned and won races at Lime Rock's "Little LeMans" in 1957, '58 and '61. Cronkite was the only finisher in a five-car team one year, taking a B-division win and placing third overall. The two also teamed up to compete in the Trans-Canada rally.

You can read Riley's full obit here, a look back on Cronkite's life here, and thanks to Mike Spinelli for bringing this little historical footnote to our attention.

You Know, For the Kids: Volvo Motorsport launches children's racing gear

Volvo Motorsport Collection - Click above for high-res image gallery

Any automaker - besides Little Tikes or Hotwheels - that tries to market to kids may find itself wasting precious advertising dollars. But as far as family cars go, Volvo seems to have made a name for itself making the safest vehicles in which parents - you know, the ones actually paying for and driving the car - can shuttle their kids around from school to karate class. Just ask any of the mothers sitting sideline at soccer practice and they'll tell you as much. That may go some way towards explaining why the Swedish automaker has taken such care in releasing the latest addition to its merchandise line.

While Volvo is hardly the first automaker to merchandise its brand image or even the first to create children's clothing, it's the first we've seen to launch one single kids t-shirt by itself. The Volvo Manager T-shirt for children bears the colors - namely green, to go with the earth-friendly DRIVe program - of the company's Swedish Touring Car Championship team on a tee made especially for the little guy, letting him (or her) in on the action while letting everyone know who's the boss: it's written there right on the back, printed on, like the rest of the badges, instead of embroidered to optimize the kid's comfort. Of course, Volvo Motorsport has a full line of gear for mom and dad as well, available on the company's website, but this piece itself is so simple that it's just, well... child's play. Details in the press release after the jump and images in the gallery below.

Gallery: Volvo Motorsport Collection

Continue reading You Know, For the Kids: Volvo Motorsport launches children's racing gear

Volvo shows off sporty new XC60 R-Design

From the "You knew it was coming" file is word that Volvo is readying an R-Design variant of their new XC60 crossover. With the company's sporty trim designation finding its way into nearly every product in the fold (C30, S40, V50, S80, V70, and XC90), the move may be an expected one, but it is pleasant nonetheless.

Given that it features stiffer damping (Volvo doesn't specify how much firmer), a more robust chassis (Volvo doesn't specify how it's reinforced) and improved steering (thanks to a new, "direct steering gear") than its more prosaic counterparts, the R-Design isn't purely an appearance package, but with no underhood work, it isn't far off. That's in keeping with the brand, though, as Volvos aren't traditionally the most sporting offerings in their segment.

In the case of the XC60, the R-Design is distinguished by its color-keyed lower body (standard XC60s are matte black), "matte silk metal finish" flourishes (grille, mirror caps, trim moldings), unique 18-inch "Cratus" pattern alloys (20-inch pieces are optional) as well as skid plates and a pair of chromed exhaust outlets.

The interior also gets some new trimmings, including aluminum steering wheel inserts, door moldings, and a darker finish floating center stack that features "a circular pattern that expands outwards in a dynamic way" - a pattern that is replicated in the striping of the two-toned seating surfaces. The pedals gain aluminum surfaces with grippy rubber inserts, and there's the requisite complement of R-Design badges as well.

As shown in the images, Passion Red is an R-Design-specific available color, but there are six other colors to choose from.

No word yet on model cost or availability, but we expect to see the the XC60 R-Design hitting dealers soon. For now, however, check out the gallery of high-res exterior photos below and the press release after the jump.

Gallery: Volvo XC60 R-Design

Continue reading Volvo shows off sporty new XC60 R-Design

REPORT: Geely agrees to buy Volvo? Ford silent

Any talk of brands for sale in the auto industry invariably includes a Chinese automaker as one potential bidder. As such, it's not surprising to hear that Chinese automaker Geely is reportedly in the running to buy Volvo from Ford. Chinese media, however, have begun reporting that Geely has actually signed a deal with the Dearborn-based automaker to buy the last remaining brand from Ford's now-defunct Premium Auto Group.

Has it actually happened? Both Ford and Volvo have made no official statements that would confirm what's being reported in the Chinese media. Official confirmations usually come after a deal has been widely reported in the media, though. However, the only outlets reporting this rumor are from China. We haven't heard a peep from any Swedish-based news organizations, which is surprising considering they were on the ball last week reporting that Koenigsegg had struck a deal with General Motors to buy Sweden's other big auto brand, Saab.

Swedespeed.com actually asked Volvo if the reports of a sale to Geely were true. James Hope, Volvo's US Product Communications Manager, had this to say.

"An announcement related to the sale of Volvo Car Corp. would only come from Ford Motor Company. As of today [Wednesday, June 17, 2009], neither Ford Motor Company nor Volvo Car Corporation in Sweden has made any announcement regarding the sale of Volvo. Reports of such a sale by any media outlet are speculative and, therefore, are not accurate."

There you have it. If an agreement has been struck by Geely and Volvo's parent company Ford, nobody's except the Chinese are talking about it.

REPORT: Volvo owns (small) stake in Koenigsegg, could own part of Saab

In a weird twist of fate, if Koenigsegg completes the purchase of Saab from General Motors, Volvo will also become a small stakeholder in its native rival. Koenigsegg, which has reportedly signed a letter of intent with GM to acquire Saab, gave Volvo 3,750 shares back in 2000 to pay for the use of its wind tunnel.

Volvo's stake in the exotic carmaker is very small, worth only about 8,000 Swedish kronor (€760 or $1,022 USD according to current exchange rates). Nevertheless, Volvo is on the books as part owner of Koenigsegg, and if the sale of Saab goes through, it will become a stakeholder by association - unless it divests itself of its Koenigsegg stock.

All of this must mean very little to Volvo, as a spokesperson for the company was completely unaware of his employer's holdings in Koenigsegg when asked about it by the Swedish business daily Dagens Industri.

Volvo's new Safe + Sound Coverage Plan covers everything but the kitchen sink

Lost in the bevy of numbers that is the Autoblog monthly sales report is the fact that Volvo just isn't selling very many cars in the U.S. any more. The Swedish automaker only sold 5577 units in May, and the downward trend started way before the automotive market hit the crapper. Given the sad state of Volvo of late, it's little wonder that Ford is desperately trying to sell the once profitable automaker.

Just because times are tough at Volvo doesn't mean it's time to give up. Volvo's new marketing initiative for the month of June addresses cost of ownership head-on. The Safe + Sound coverage plan is one of the most comprehensive warranty programs ever offered by any automaker. It includes 5 year/60,000 mile warranty coverage plus 5/60,000 free scheduled maintenance, 24/7 roadside assistance, and - get this - wear and tear coverage that includes everything from tires to brakes and rotors. Hit the jump to view the details on Volvo's Safe + Sound plan.

Continue reading Volvo's new Safe + Sound Coverage Plan covers everything but the kitchen sink

Autoblog Podcast #130

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Episode #130 of the Autoblog Podcast sees Chris, Sam, and Dan kibbitzing over the obvious news, but it's not an All-GM-Bankruptcy show. Starting with General Motors (after all, it's a huge event) we move on to Magna's deal with Opel (and GM, coincidentally). Volvo's clever implementation of a diesel hybrid in its wagon comes next before talk turns to Fiat-based Chryslers. It all wraps up at about an hour and a half after we polish off some of your questions. Thanks for listening, hit us up at Podcast at autoblog dot com with questions/comments/praise/scorn.

Follow the jump to subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, add the show to your RSS aggregator... or listen to it right now!

Continue reading Autoblog Podcast #130

Volvo announces diesel plug-in hybrid for 2012 [w/video]

Volvo and Vattenfall have just made an announcement that should hurry the Swedish car maker along the hybrid highway. The two companies have partnered to develop a plug-in diesel hybrid that is expected to begin series production in 2012 with the first three demonstration vehicles to be completed this summer. Volvo, of course, will supply the cars, while the energy giant will bring charging units and the actual carbon-free electricity to the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) equation. Other hybrids being baked by the Ford-owned brand include a "micro-hybrid" for 2011 as well as the ReCharge concept.

Technologically, this PHEV is quite interesting. It will use 71% of its 11.3 kWh pack of lithium ion batteries to power the back wheels for about 30 miles (50 km). After that, the diesel engine takes over and will then drive the front wheels. The charging time for the battery is about five hours through a household type outlet and the car, which will use the body of the Volvo V70, will feature regenerative braking. Hit the jump for the official press release as well as a video outlining the program.

Gallery: Volvo and Vattenfall Plug-in hybrid

Continue reading Volvo announces diesel plug-in hybrid for 2012 [w/video]