Volvo Going Racing with Rear-Drive Volvo S60

Now that the production 2011 Volvo S60 has launched, Volvo is turning its attention to the race track. The Belgian arm of the Swedish automaker outlined the first details of its entry into 2010 the Belgian Touring Car Series, which begins April 11.

The BTCS is a six-race endurance series. Most races consist of two 90-minute heats, while a 12-hour race occurs at legendary Spa-Francorchamps. Competition includes BMW, Audi, Jaguar, and Volkswagen.





The racing S60 falls under Silhouette S1 specification, meaning all cars must use a tubular chassis, identical front and rear suspension, aerodynamics, and an engine no larger than 3500 cubic-centimeters.

The team's goal, including drivers Vincent Radermecker and Eric Van De Poele, is to get acquainted with the new car, per manager Thomas Neri. "Our main objective is to get up to speed and to compete well in the various heats. Next season we hope to put our own in-house developed engine in the car," he said in a press release.

Volvo S60 BTCS Silhouette S1 Specs:
Chassis: Tubular frame
Layout: Mid-engine, rear-drive
Drivetrain: 3500cc V-6, six-speed sequential transmission
Output: 410 hp, 304 lb-ft
Suspension, f;r: Independent, 3-way adjustable shocks; independent, 3-way onboard adjustable shocks
Brake, f;r: 15.0-in rotor, 6-piston caliper; 14-in rotor, 6-piston caliper
Wheels, f;r: 10 x 18-in; 12 x 18-in
Tires, f;r: Michelin 27/65/18; 30/65/18

In related news, Polestar Performance, the team behind Volvo's Swedish Touring Car Team, has announced a road car project based off the C30. Details are slim, but the racing team says the C30 will boast 395 horsepower, all-wheel-drive, and aerodynamic tricks used in racing.
"Polestar has probably spent more time than anyone else in the world to get speed out of the C30, and this time we can realize ideas without being halted by specific race regulations," said Jan Andersson, team technical director.

The project will debut at the Gothenburg auto show between April 22 and 25. Fans can follow project updates at Polestar's Web site.

-By Carlos Lago

2011 Volvo S60 to Debut at Geneva Motor Show in March

2011 Volvo S60 to Debut at Geneva Motor Show in March

It wasn’t that long ago that Volvos were essentially considered to be safety boxes on wheels. But over the last decade or so, the cars from Gothenburg have evolved into curvaceous vehicles that retain the safety of their boxy predecessors. The 2011 Volvo S60, perhaps the most elegant Volvo yet, is set to debut at the 2010 Geneva motor show this March.

With the 2011 S60, Volvo aimed for a sportier and more visually enticing design by incorporating the look of a four-door coupe. The S60’s new rakish roofline is part of the flowing styling dubbed “racetrack” design, which means that the car’s lines don’t end abruptly at any point but instead flow organically around the entire vehicle. With its sculpted front fascia, short overhangs, and flowing taillights, we have to say the S60’s design really works.

Volvo didn’t leave the sporty changes just to the S60’s styling, however, as the new S60 has a more dynamic chassis than any Volvo before it. The S60 sports stiffer springs all around and a stiffer chassis to increase grip and give the driver more control. Along with all of these upgrades in the name of sporty driving, Volvo improved the damping to provide a balance between stiffness and ride comfort.

“We spent many weeks fine-tuning the dampers out in the English countryside,” says Stefan Sällqvist, who led the S60 chassis development. “We drove on old Roman roads that have only ever received a few layers of tarmac over the centuries -- a perfect environment for finding the right damping qualities.”

Powering this sporty Volvo is the same 3.0-liter turbocharged in-line six-cylinder engine found in several vehicles in Volvo’s lineup. As of now, this is the only engine known to be coming to the U.S. Whether other engines will be available remains to be seen. In Europe, drivers will also get the choice of two diesel powerplants when the A60 is launched, with another diesel and three gasoline engines available shortly afterward. These engines are all coupled to either a six-speed automatic or a six-speed manual transmission. The manual transmission option may also be omitted from the American S60 lineup.

Volvo’s designers continued with the racetrack-design theme inside the car. The entire interior was designed to look as if it’s in motion. There is more legroom in the rear and the seats back there have been reshaped to offer more lateral support, but, unlike other four-door coupes, three passengers can still ride on the back bench. The S60 also adopts a new infotainment system that allows the driver access via steering wheel controls, standard controls underneath the screen, or voice recognition, when equipped. A new high-end radio from Audyssey Laboratories also equalizes the sound system automatically.

As with all Volvos, the S60 comes with a host of safety features. Volvo’s City Safety, which automatically applies the brakes to reduce the damage from or completely eliminate crashes below 18 mph, is standard. A new pedestrian detection system can apply full braking power to reduce the force of a collision with a pedestrian at speeds up to 21 mph. In addition, the new S60 is available with driver alert control, a blind spot warning system, lane departure warning, and numerous airbags.

Look for the 2011 Volvo S60 to make its world debut this March at the Geneva motor show. Volvo has not yet released any further details on pricing or an on sale date, but expect the car to make it into showrooms later this year.

Despite Facelift, 2011 Volvo C70 Pricing Still Starts At $40,800

Despite Facelift, 2011 Volvo C70 Pricing Still Starts At $40,800

Although the restyled 2011 Volvo C70’s base price -- $40,800, including destination -- is practically unchanged from the 2010 model, an added $4000 of standard content may make it a better value.

For 2011, Volvo dropped the standard 6-speed manual transmission, opting instead to make the 5-speed automatic standard. 2011 C70s also receive Volvo’s premium “Sovereign Hide” leather trim and Sirius satellite radio at no charge.

Option packages largely mirror the 2010 model. A multimedia package, which adds a premium 14-speaker Dynaudio system, navigation, and Volvo’s real-time Map Care updates, runs $2600 -- just as it did in 2010. The climate package still costs $900, and includes heated front seats, headlamp washers, and rain-sensing windshield wipers.

Volvo did increase the price of the Dynamic Trim package to $1000, which adds 18-inch aluminum wheels, Xenon headlights, and a sports steering wheel. A new convenience package, which also runs $1000, adds keyless ignition, Homelink, rear parking sensors, and an automatic-dimming rearview mirror with a built-in compass.

Standalone options include a new cranberry leather (no charge), blind spot detection system ($700), special Nordic Light Oak wood inlays ($150), and a wind blocker ($495). Metallic paint options run between $550 and $675, depending on the color.

Look for the new 2011 Volvo C70 to arrive at dealers stateside later this year.

 source by automobilemag

Volvo C30

2011 Volvo C30

2011 Volvo C30 - With a bold new look, the C30 turns heads as quickly as it turns corners. Aggressively redesigned from its grille to its fenders, this coupe is as exhilarating to look at as it is to drive. Refresh your approach to the road with the dynamic new look of the C30.

top Safety pick

Volvo S80

2007-10 models

2010 Volvo S80: good performance in front, side, rollover, and rear tests and standard electronic stability control

SIDE IMPACT TEST WITH STANDARD SIDE AIRBAGS

OVERALL EVALUATION:

	Injury measures			Head protection	Structure/safety cage
	Head/neck	Torso	Pelvis/leg
Driver
Rear passenger

Important: Side impact crash test ratings can be compared across vehicle type and weight categories.

Good Acceptable Marginal Poor

Test details:

The Volvo S80 was redesigned for the 2007 model year.

Injury measures:

Driver — Measures taken from the dummy indicate a low risk of any significant injuries in a crash of this severity.

Rear passenger — Measures taken from the dummy indicate a low risk of any significant injuries in a crash of this severity.

Head protection:

Driver — The dummy's head was protected from being hit by any hard structures, including the intruding barrier, by a side curtain airbag that deployed from the roof.

Rear passenger — The dummy's head was protected from being hit by any hard structures, including the intruding barrier, by a side curtain airbag that deployed from the roof.

Left to right:

• View of the vehicle and barrier just after the crash test.
• View of the vehicle after the crash with doors removed, showing the side airbags and damage to the occupant compartment.
• Smeared greasepaint shows where the driver dummy's head was protected from being hit by hard structures by the side curtain airbag.
• Smeared greasepaint shows where the rear passenger dummy’s head was protected by the side airbag.

Additional features:

• Side airbags: front and rear head curtain airbags and front seat-mounted torso airbags
• Electronic stability control
• Built-in child restraints (optional)
• Antilock brakes
• Daytime running lights
• Lane departure warning system (optional)

Tested vehicle specifications:

• 2007 Volvo S80 3.2 4-door
• Class: Large luxury car
• Weight: 3,792 lbs.
• Side airbags: standard front and rear head curtain airbags and standard front seat-mounted torso airbags
• Wheelbase: 112 in.
• Length: 191 in.
• Width: 73 in.
• Engine: 3.2 L 6-cylinder
• EPA ratings: 18 mpg city | 27 mpg highway

Volvo S60

2011 Volvo S60

2011 Volvo S60 - The world’s most highly anticipated Volvo is soon to arrive with celebrity looks and sheer-genius intelligence that makes city driving safer. Heads are sure to turn, but bodies will be safer with the new Pedestrian Detection and Avoidance System that can assist its drivers in avoiding accidents with pedestrians, cyclists and other vehicles.

source by volvocars