Volvo auto news

Are these the patent filings for Volvo's S-Class-fighting S100 flagship?

There are luxury automakers, there are mainstream automakers, and then there are those in between. Volvo, we'd argue, is one of those marques that doesn't quite compete in the same market as, say, Mercedes-Benz or Lexus, but that looks as if it's about to change.

The Swedish automaker has been toying for years with the idea of building a new flagship to take on the likes of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, BMW 7 Series, Audi A8 and Lexus LS, but while Volvo has dragged its feet on the prospect in the past, a series of what look like patent renderings that have leaked their way online give us what could prove the strongest indication yet of Volvo's intent.

For better or worse, the renderings bear the hallmark of recent Volvo designs like the Concept Universe (unveiled in Shanghai last year), the Concept You (showcased in Frankfurt) and the upcoming next-generation XC90 - complete with the gaping maw that seems to mock the face we make when we look at these examples of this particular styling direction.

Of course, given the big wheels, showcar grille, delicate mirrors and suicide rear doors (not to mention the overall form), it seems more likely we're looking at renderings for the Concept Universe rather than a production model in the making, but that just leaves us wondering what the patent filing is for. We'll just have to wait a while to find out one way or another.

Official: Volvo marks 30th anniversary of the 760

When you think of old-school Volvos - you know, those boxy designs that pre-date the more curvaceous models of today - what do you picture? The 240? The 850? Or do you think of the ultimate in squared-off Swedish design, the 760?

The model credited with saving Volvo was introduced in February, 1982, making it 30 years old this month. Reflecting on the occasion, Volvo looks back at the 760's development, when it needed a car that would be reliable, efficient, durable, easily serviceable, quiet, somewhat attractive, and be a decent performer (in that order). The result was a rear-drive sedan four inches longer in wheelbase than the 240, yet a good 220 lbs lighter.

And that boxy design? That decision was as financial in nature as it was stylistic. After considering a number of design proposals, the final look was selected to be as cost-effective to produce as possible. In the end, those budgetary restrictions left us with a car that was, while not particularly exciting to behold, certainly an enduring icon of its time. Follow the jump to read the full retrospective, and flip through the images in the attached gallery.

Continue reading Volvo marks 30th anniversary of the 760

Official: Volvo S60 becomes second car to ace all NHTSA safety tests [w/video]

The 2012 Volvo S60 isn't likely to be mentioned in the same breath as the 2012 Chevrolet Camaro, but these two cars share a unique distinction. No, Volvo has not made a mid-year change to rear-wheel drive and V8 power, but it is joining the Camaro as a crash test ace. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration cranked up its crash-test rigor in 2011, and the Camaro has been the only car to completely ace all of the revised tests' categories. Until now.

The 2012 Volvo S60 demonstrates the brand's long held reputation for safety by becoming the second car to return perfect ratings in every category of NHTSA crash testing. That means this premium Swedish sedan stands up to a 35 mph frontal collision, 38.5 mph side-impact, and 20 mph simulation of a side crash into a pole better than other vehicles NHTSA has run through its gauntlet. There are a lot of vehicles out there with five-star ratings for this test or that, but only the Camaro and S60 have registered five stars in every evaluation, so far. Check out the videos of the tests, posted after the jump.

Continue reading Volvo S60 becomes second car to ace all NHTSA safety tests [w/video]

Report: Volvo expanding S60 lineup with T5 all-wheel drive model

Volvo is plugging a gap in its S60 model line by adding a T5 AWD model, according to a report from Car and Driver. As it stands, if you want all-wheel drive with your S60 you need $39,325 for the T6 just to get in the game, and only then you can you start throwing options at it. The all-wheel-drive competition is easier on the wallet: an Audi A4 Quattro begins at $34,175 and the BMW 328i xDrive starts at $37,475.

Pricing hasn't been released, but the expectation is that the S60 T5 AWD will sticker somewhere between the $32,175 front-wheel-drive model and the T6. It is expected to go on sale this summer.

Video: SARTRE autonomous road-train enters final phase with trio of Volvos [w/video]

This time last year, the Safe Road Trains for the Environment (SARTRE) program hit a milestone. Using a specially equipped Volvo S60 with a big-rig taking the lead, the EU-funded researchers managed to create the world's first fully-functional road train, allowing the driver in the sedan to sit back and enjoy the ride without touching the controls.

Today, Volvo - the program's only automotive partner - has announced that the SARTRE program is in its final phase of testing, and that includes adding a few more vehicles to the rolling procession of autonomous cars.

Utilizing a combination of cameras and radar-based sensors, the vehicles in the platoon can travel up to 55 miles per hour while maintaining a 20-foot gap between each other. An electronics-packed truck takes the lead and handles driving for all the vehicles in the group, meaning there's still at least one driver in control.

By the end of this year, the SARTRE team hopes to have up to six vehicles rolling in line, with the potential to reduce fuel consumption, congestion and - naturally - driver error in the future. So when's it coming to market? That's up to automakers, governments and the rest of us to decide, so we're still quite a ways out. Make the jump for more details and to see the system in action.

Continue reading SARTRE autonomous road-train enters final phase with trio of Volvos [w/video]

Report: Volvo looking for small car partner

There are drawbacks to being the property of a larger conglomerate, to be sure, but there are also benefits. Taking advantage of group buying power, shared developments costs and synergies with products from other divisions, for instance. And these are things that, since splitting off from Ford a couple of years ago, Volvo does not have at its disposal any longer.

That's why the Swedish automaker is looking for a partner with which to share development costs - specifically those attached to developing a new small car range. Volvo is presently preparing to unveil the V40 (teased in the picture above), a new five-door hatchback/sportwagon positioned against the increasingly lucrative market currently dominated by the likes of the Audi A3 and BMW 1 Series.

Whatever it is that Volvo needs to get its new projects off the ground and out on the road, apparently parent company Geely, the Chinese automaker that bought Volvo from Ford in 2010, doesn't have it.

Detroit: XC60 Plug-In Hybrid shows where Volvo is headed

Volvo has made it a point to emphasize - surprise - the safety of its plug-in vehicles at recent auto shows. Now, at the Detroit Auto Show, the Swedish automaker has showed off the XC60 Plug-In Gasoline Hybrid Concept, a way to gauge American reaction to the idea of a plug-in CUV from Volvo. Why? Because this concept is headed to the U.S. and Chinese markets - in a different guise and with a lot of changes - within "a couple of years." That means something like 2014-2015. Volvo's first PHEV here could be an XC60 model, or perhaps an S60, said Volvo CEO and President Stefan Jacoby. For now, Jacoby tells Autoblog that the XC60 PHEV shows the direction Volvo is headed.

Here are the numbers: a 35-mile all-electric range, a recharging time of just 3.5 hours from a 220V outlet (7.5 hours from a more common 110V). Volvo estimates U.S. fuel economy of 105 miles per gallon equivalent and 50 mpg when the battery runs dry. 0-60 is reached in 5.8 seconds on the way to a 130-mph top speed. Oh, and there are eight gears in the auto transmission.

Gasoline is burned in a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that is turbocharged and direct-injected and has stop-start technology. This 280-horsepower powerplant moves the front wheels, and a 70-hp electric motor propels the back wheels (this is known as a through-the-road hybrid). The XC60 PHEV has a 12-kWh lithium-ion battery, but just 66 percent of that (8 kWh) is used. The driver can select three modes - Pure, Hybrid and Power - depending on which type of fuel economy and performance is desired. Details of this technology can be found after the jump, and images of the XC60 test bed are available in our galleries.

Continue reading XC60 Plug-In Hybrid shows where Volvo is headed

Video: Watch a Volvo Amazon wagon race a Ferrari 599... and win

We're more than happy to admit we have an intense fondness for the classic Volvo Amazon, especially in wagon form. Among its many virtues are its timeless styling, rugged Swedish structure and, with its range of four-cylinder engines, reliability and economy.

Fast, however, it was not.

At least, not in stock form. But at least one enterprising man named Mattias Vöcks, who works for none other than Koenigsegg, decided to build an Amazon that was debuted back in 2006 at the SEMA Show in Vegas with a bit more power. As in 600 horsepower, courtesy of a turbocharged 2.8-liter inline six-cylinder engine. Yep, that ought to do it, eh?

In fact, it's enough power to embarrass a Ferrari 599 in a straight line. Don't believe us? Check out the video after the break for some terrifyingly fast turbo brick action.

Continue reading Watch a Volvo Amazon wagon race a Ferrari 599... and win

Official: Volvo plugging XC60 hybrid concept in Detroit

With the new year in full swing and the Detroit Auto Show now just days away, the new debuts have been rolling in. And here we have Volvo's centerpiece for the rapidly approaching auto expo: the Volvo XC60 Plug-in Hybrid Concept.

Based, as you might have guessed, on the production XC60 crossover, this technological concept packs a similar drivetrain to the V60 Plug-in Hybrid that just entered production. While its stouter counterpart utilizes a diesel to fill out the internal-combustion side of the hybrid equation, the XC60 concept packs a gasoline engine: those front wheels are driven by a 280-horsepower turbo four coupled to an eight-speed automatic transmission, with a 70hp electric motor driving the rear wheels for through-the-road all-wheel drive.

The result is what Volvo stretches to claim is a 100 mpg fuel economy rating in hybrid mode, 35 miles on electric propulsion alone, or a 0-60 time of 5.8 seconds using the battery as a booster. There's plenty more to digest in the press release after the jump, so click through to delve in, and don't forget to scope out the high-resolution image gallery for a closer look.

Continue reading Volvo plugging XC60 hybrid concept in Detroit

Say 'goodbye' to these cars and trucks for the new year

As we prepare to flip our calendars from 2011 to 2012, it's time to say goodbye to a handful of vehicles that are being sent to the Great Parking Lot In The Sky before the 2012 model year completely takes hold. And while we're not exactly upset about having to bid farewell to things like the Mitsubishi Endeavor, Mazda Tribute or Chevrolet HHR, there are a few vehicles that we're truly going to miss.

The Mazda RX-8, for example, has grown to be one of our favorite sports cars since its introduction in 2003. We love its lightweight construction, high-revving rotary engine and surprisingly functional suicide door design. It's kind of like a Miata with a roof and rear seats. Speaking of the Miata, Tesla's two-seat Roadster - the automaker's first production vehicle - proved to us that open-top motoring can be thrilling even with a stack of batteries driving the wheels.

We'll miss the Honda Element and its rugged, utilitarian nature. We'll miss the Volvo V50 and its capacious cargo area made for Ikea runs. And we'll really miss those large lords of luxury, the Cadillac DTS and Ford Crown Victoria. We've already said goodbye to the faithful but overripe Ford Ranger, and as ridiculous as the BMW X6 ActiveHybrid was, it was a shockingly good-to-drive electrified crossover.

There are plenty more models that won't be making the journey to the 2012 model year, so have a look at the full list in our attached image gallery, then let us know which ones you'll miss (if any) in the Comments.