Category: Volvo

After Mercedes which unveiled the GLK at Detroit, Volvo will show its BMW X3 contender, the new XC60, at The Geneva Motor Show. Fortuantely, the Swedish car maker will release the first pictures ahead of the show.

The design of the XC60 will be close to the concept car’s shown last year at Detroit. The small SUV will reinforce the company’s lineup by sitting below the XC70 crossover and XC90 SUV. Volvo has big expectations with the XC60 as the model will arrive on the market at the same time as the Audi Q5 and the Mercedes GLK.

The XC60 will be the first Volvo to be designed by Steve Mattin, the new British design director.

Volvo has announced it will recall 82,000 vehicles due to a rust problem that might lead the vehicle’s engine to stall. The recall only concerns the five-cylinder petrol powered models that were built between 2005 and 2006.

The problem concerns the cars sold in region where corrosion is a major issue. Volvo Cars spokeswoman Maria Bohlin said recalls were being made in the company’s “corrosion markets,” in which the cars are exposed to more rust-speeding factors such as rain, snow, or road salt. The main countries are Sweden, of course, Germany and the US.

The problem has been located in the fuel pump electronic module, which controls the fuel supply to the engine. The electronic module is situated in a way that it can be affected by corrosion, which would lead to the fuel supply being cut off.

The current Volvo range is a mess but it’s hard to blame the company as it tries to satisfy its two biggest markets without having the money to build a range similar to German carmaker’s. The Swedish has decided to take the bull by the horns and plans a reshuffle by 2010.

Historically, the current likely started with the revolutionary 850. Launched in 1991, the Saloon was too large to compete with BMW 3-series and Ford Mondeo but was also too short compared to Mercedes 200/300 or Audi 100. The launch of the S80 complicated the perception of the range by the public. With dimensions targeted for the US market , the car was bigger than a BMW 5-series while offering a engine range similar to the 850/S70’s. In 2000 with the launch of the S60 replacing the outgoing 850/S70, Volvo just wanted to surf on the success generated by the 850 and unfortunately got itself into a corner which is unsustainable nowadays.

The reshuffle is vital for the company it it wants to increase its global sales. The first victim will be the future V60 estate which has been cancelled in order to avoid taking sales from the successful V70 model. But the 60 range will get a SUV. Dubbed XC60, it will be unveiled at next March’s Geneva motor show. The next-generation S60 will replace the current S40 and S60 to become one model set to be positioned as a rival for the Mercedes C-Class and Audi A4. Concerning the V50 estate, it will likely disappear as Volvo plans to fill the S40 segment with the future V30, a five door C30, and the XC30. By 2010, Volvo will have then solved the current mess for the low range.

However, questions are being raised over the S80, V70 and the C70. What will they become? Compared to German competitors they appear a bit weak on paper, but could find its salvation in stricter emission regulations. Perhaps German manufacturers will be obliged to stop the power race and start selling smaller cars. In this case, the Swedish brand has a playing card. The C70 is another consequence of the former 850 model. What will Volvo do? Will the next-generation C70 be cancelled or move upmarket to compete with the 3-Series and CLK?

Volvo has responded to Auto Motor and Sport Sweden about the cancellation of the next-generation XC90. The Swedish SUV will have a successor in 2012.

In his statement, Volvo also said that it planned to face-lift the current model in 2009. It will be its second facelift after the first one doe in 2006. Who’s right or wrong is a difficult to answer. The magazine could have launched the rumours to boost its sales of course but Volvo could also lie. If public is aware of the cancellation of the next generation, it is sure the planned facelift will be a failure for the company as potential customers will want to get the SUV with a discount due to future poor re-sale value.

Originally planned for 2009, the next-generation seems to cause headaches to Volvo’s executives. The recent change in emission regulations and public awareness of environment issues don’t really match with the XC90. Despite not being a huge SUV, it was more an opportunity for Volvo to jump on a marketing trend than a real thinking exercise as for its environmental credentials.

Future will soon say what Volvo decided to do with the next-generation XC90.

If the five-door C30 was rumoured several times, it has never been confirmed by Volvo until World Car Fans editor harassed a PR person from the Swedish carmaker.

Like the C30, the five-door variant will be based on the same platform shared by the Ford Focus and the Mazda 3. The car will offer an exterior styling similar to the three-door model and will compete with the Audi A3 Sportback.

The car will be roomy enough for four people and will offer a similar interior to the current C30. Secrecy surrounds the future model and Volvo PR person did not give any sales date.

Volvo is recalling 42,000 XC90 SUV sold in 2005 due to a suspect battery switch. The recall will only concern the U.S. as only American XC90 are equipped with the battery switch. The faulty switch may create a short circuit.

There have been no incidents reported so far but Volvo has opted to fix the fault to avoid the chance of a serious mishap occurring.

Until now, the Volvo C70 was available with a choice of three engines: a five-cylinder 2.4 litre petrol engine producing 168 bhp/170 hp, a five-cylinder turbocharged petrol unit producing 217 bhp/220 hp and five-cylinder turbocharged 2.4 litre diesel engine producing 177 bhp/180 hp. Today Volvo announces the c70 2.0D, which will have an entry-level engine: the four-cylinder turbodiesel that is shared between with the PSA and Ford groups.

The 2 litre engine has an output of 134 bhp/136 hp and a torque of 236 lb-ft/320 Nm. The C70 will reach 127mph/205 km/h and run the 0-62mph in 11s. It is not a true warrior but, as a convertible, the speed does not really matter.

Volvo expects sales of the Volvo C70 2.0D to reach about 2,000 units a year – which means that one out of ten C70s sold worldwide will have the four-cylinder turbodiesel.

A tuner specialised in German cars is rather common but a tuner specialised in Volvo cars is a bit surprising. If the tuner is also Japanese, the surprise is complete. However, the Japanese tuner Erst has recently revealed its discrete body kit for the XC90.

It includes under-panel attachments on both bumpers, front fog light fins and chromed exhaust pipes. The car is also lower and has been given chromed alloy wheels. In a country where speed is very often limited at 30 mph on the road, do not expect any engine optimisations. The Erst XC90 has been designed to please our aesthetic tastes and it does the job very well.

It was reported here two weeks ago. Now it is official. Volvo is launching a new sport package that will be available on the C30, S40 and V50. With this package, Volvo allows the customer to tailor his car to his personal taste … Under the condition that his tastes are available in the package.

The customer will have the choice between 10 specific colours. Exterior changes include a satin matt-finish grille, coloured bumpers, lower side mouldings, rear or roof spoiler, satin matt-finish door mirror caps and five-spoke aluminium wheels (17 inches, 18 inches available as option).

The interior changes are more obvious with dual-colour and Vulcaflex seats. Vulcaflex is a material that tries to offer the best of leather and neoprene. It’s too smooth to be leather but not as rubbery or spongy as neoprene. It doesn’t sound terribly inviting but on a sunny day it won’t stick to you. The seats offer a contrast between black and cream. Other interior details include specific blue gauges, leather wheel with the R-Design logo, specially-designed aluminium trim on the dashboard and the inevitable aluminium pedals.

Available on the Sport and SE Sport trims on the C30 and S40, the prices start at £16,600/€27,350/$33,500. The V50 estate starts at £19,995/€29,650/$38,800.

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