Volvo V70 2008 News

Volvo Cars Australia has given its refreshed S80 a visual edge by making the company's R-Design package a specific model in the refreshed S80 lineup. The sassy look is just cosmetic at this stage with no engine tuning part of the enhancements.  However, full-blown factory-fitted R-Design engine performance improvements are destined for the S80 and other Volvos and are likely to replace the Heico Sportiv-inspired cars here. Initially the more driver-focused R-Design S80s will get 18-inch wheels, lowered, sports-tuned suspension, colour-matched rear spoiler, matt silver grille and exterior mirrors, and chrome exhausts.  VCA spokesperson, Laurissa Mirabelli, says R-Design is aimed at enthusiasts who now have families. "The luxury sedan segment is also so competitive the S80 needed some differentiation," she says.  C30, V70 and XC90 buyers can already specify the cosmetic R-Design enhancements, which are optional.  Prices for the 2010 S80 remain unchanged, starting at $79,950 for the D5 and twin-turbo T6, topping out at $98,950 for the V8. Adding R-Design to a D5 or T6 costs $1500 extra over the standard car and $2500 more in the V8.  Visually the 2010 changes bring the big sedan inline with the XC60 and new S60, with a new grille and larger Volvo insignia. The D5 gains a new 151kW twin-turbo diesel and adds all-wheel drive as standard, the same as the T6 and V8.  The range-topping V8 adds lane departure warning with driver alert control, blind spot information system, adaptive cruise control with collision warning and auto brake function as standard. Inside there is a new four-spoke steering wheel with deco inlay, more ergonomic switchgear and alloy cabin trim.  Like the XC models, the S80's all-wheel drive system employs a Haldex clutch to distribute power between front and rear wheels according to road and driving conditions. The system can automatically move a small amount of torque to the rear wheels when starting on slippery surfaces.  As with all Volvo's the S80 has a comprehensive active and passive safety features. The car's navigation system is now more user friendly.  Volvo is hoping for a better year with the revised S80 and expects the D5 to be popular.  Last year it sold less than 100 S80s.  The company is hoping that the R-Design will make up 50 per cent of S80 sales this year.

Volvo is about to hit the eco button with its first stop-start fuel savers as it also reveals plans for full-scale production of a plug-in hybrid with a diesel engine. Its longer term goal is to become a world leader in environmentally-friendly cars with a drive to zero emissions culminating in plug-in electric power. The C30 DRIVe model will lead Volvo's push on a zero-emission strategy and the first cars will be in showrooms in September. They have a stop- start system similar to the one already seen in the Smart ForTwo and the upcoming Land Rover Freelander II. There will eventually be a full range of DRIVe models as Volvo has produced seven for Europe, from the C30 to XC70, with CO2 emissions as low as 104grams/km. The drive DRIVe model is a C30 with a 1.6-litre turbodiesel engine that promises, with help from stop-start, fuel economy of 3.9L/100km and best-in-class CO2 emissions of 104g/km. The car also has low- rolling-resistance tyres with lowered suspension and a gearshift indicator. "At this stage, we can't confirm specification or pricing but should be in a better position to announce details around August," says Laurissa Mirabelli of Volvo Cars Australia. By 2011 the DRIVe program will see a direct-injection petrol turbo engine with fuel economy and emissions cut by up to 30 per cent as well as a next-generation micro-hybrid with stop-start. But the big breakthrough comes in 2012 with a plug-in hybrid, previewed this week in Sweden inside the body of a V70 station wagon. The plug-in Volvo is being developed in partnership with a Swedish energy company, Vattenfall. It uses a lithium-ion battery pack. "We're investing more than $1 billion on the joint venture, to investigate plug-in hybrids. They will be a reality from 2012," says Mirabelli. "Ideally, we'll also have them here within 12 months of production. The aim is economy of 1.9L/100km." Hitting those targets means using a diesel engine in the hybrid drivetrain, a move which has not been made yet by any maker. Most European brands are promising some form of diesel hybrid but, so far, the mass-market Toyota Prius and Honda Insight use petrol power. "The plug-in system takes five hours to charge and the electric range is 50 kilometre. That's on the demonstration car which is a V70," says Mirabelli.

No one in its Gothenburg centre in Sweden will talk about future product, although there is an underlying trend to shrink technology.Volvo's strategic design chief Jose Diaz de la Vega thinks a small car — smaller than the current C30 hatchback — would fit neatly into the company's mould.But he warns it could be a long way off — not because of design and engineering progress, but simply because of the Scandinavian caution about change.“We take a long time, we enter vehicle segments later than many car companies,” he said.“Volvo is a cultural brand. There is a movement towards smaller, more efficient motor cars and away from bigger SUVs. So I hope we can look at a smaller car. Like the Fiesta.”Volvo's holistic approach to the car has encompassed safety and environmental concerns for decades.Prepared to put its money where its mouth is, Volvo has committed $1.8 billion between 2006 and 2011 for research and development linked to environmental issues.The biggest step in this framework becomes tangible within five years with the launch of Volvo's first hybrid. No details are being released, although the hybrid unit is being developed in Sweden at Volvo's specialist Hybrid Centre using technology shared with its parent company, Ford.The hybrid — expected to be seen first in the XC60 body — aims to reduce Volvo's CO2 emission footprint and will join its other low-emission models for sale in Europe.It is part of Volvo's commitment to reduce emissions and to meet the stringent 120g/km of CO2 level being legislated for 2011 by the European Union. The CO2 level is an average across a carmaker's range and affects all manufacturers.Volvo said it was looking across the hybrid spectrum, including the simple 'micro-hybrid' technology, which is a starter motor/generator combination that works as a stop-go system. This turns off the petrol engine when the car is stationary — such as in heavy traffic or at lights — and automatically restarts when the accelerator pedal is depressed. Stop-go reduces fuel and C02 emissions by up to 10 per cent.Volvo will also expand its alternative fuel range, predominantly for the markets in Sweden, France and Brazil.There are three Flexifuel engines that run on varying percentages of ethanol and are available in five models — C30, S40, V50, V70 and S80. The engines range from a 1.8-litre four-cylinder to a 2.5-litre turbocharged version. Extra-low CO2 emission models under development include the C30 Efficiency with a C02 level of less than the proposed EU figure of 120g/km. This car will go on sale next year in Europe.Volvo is also close to delivering a twin-clutch automated gearbox that will offer greater engine economy.This transmission is similar to the Volkswagen DSG system. Would you be interested in a smaller Volvo car?  

Euro NCAP tests found a delay in the deployment of curtain airbags in the side pole test.Volvo agreed to modify production cars, so it was re-tested but failed again.However, Australian models should not have the problem, according to Volvo Car Australia public affairs manager Laurissa Mirabelli."With regard to EuroNCAP, the V70 had a software upgrade,” she said."The V70 fulfils Volvo's own stringent internal safety requirements based on real world crash research, not a laboratory test."In the real world variables such as speed, angles of impact and the size of the occupants differ each and every time, so the challenge is to offer the highest possible safety standards covering a wide spectrum of crash scenarios."Volvo is committed to offering the highest levels of safety and we have every confidence in the protection offered to occupants of the V70 in the event of a collision.”Costing about $70,000, the new V70 will come with all-wheel drive, but will not qualify for the SUV import duty exemption.The van will be powered by a 210kW/400Nm three-litre twin-scroll turbo six-cylinder engine based on the 3.2-litre naturally aspirated engine in the XC70 and XC90.It will be packed with goodies such as 18-inch alloys, FOUR-C adaptive suspension, personal car communicator, premium 6-CD sound system, front and rear park assist and auto tailgate.The V70, along with Mazda2, Mercedes Benz C Class and Renault Laguna received five stars in adult occupant protection.Mazda2, pictured, also had an airbag delay problem in testing which was rectified, re-tested and passed.The Renault Laguna would have been Euro NCAP's highest scorer yet in adult occupant protection if it had not lost a point for the opening of a rear door in the side impact test.The V70, Laguna and Mazda2 scored five stars for adult occupant protection, four for child occupant protection and two for pedestrian protection.The C Class scored only three stars on child occupant protection.Honda Civic scored four stars for adult and child passengers and three stars for pedestrians. 

However, this will be a one-spec van with plenty of go and plenty of stuff.Costing about $70,000, the new V70 will come with all-wheel drive, but will not qualify for the SUV import duty exemption.The van will be powered by a 210kW/400Nm three-litre twin-scroll turbo six-cylinder engine based on the 3.2-litre naturally aspirated engine in the XC70 and XC90.It will be packed with goodies such as 18-inch alloys, FOUR-C adaptive suspension, personal car communicator, premium 6-CD sound system, front and rear park assist and auto tailgate.The V70 will arrive in Australia early in 2008. Other new vehicles will accompany it in the first quarter of the year, including the much-awaited diesel version of the cute 2+2 C30, which this year was a Carsguide Car of the Year finalist.The C30 D5 will come in five-speed auto first up, followed by a six-speed manual shortly after.There will also be a 'poverty pack' C30 S for around $34,950.Volvo Australia's new public affairs manager Laurissa Mirabelli said it would not have leather seats or some of the other more expensive creature comforts of the C30.“It will be a safe and stylish vehicle for young people wanting to get into a premium brand," she said.Volvo Car Australia is on an upward trend with a 37 per cent increase in sales last year, about 22.5 per cent this year.Managing director Alan Desselss said the bulk of the sales increase was from the XC90, but the C30 would be a major contributor when the diesel engine variant arrived. 

It has also moved to create more differentiation from the V5 wagon which will more closely resemble the upcoming V70.A number of refining design cues position the Volvo S40 sedan a visual step nearer to Volvo's S80 large luxury sedan.There will be no price change and both models will get trip computers and the option of active headlights across the range.S40 gets a new colour-coordinated soft nose for a broader, lower stance.There is also a new grille with a larger Volvo Iron Mark, new headlamps and a lower air intake that sweeps across the entire front unlike the current model's three-part design.V50 also gets a new black egg-crate grille with larger Volvo Iron Mark, new headlights and three sculpted lower air intakes.The lower part of the tail lamp panel on both the S40 and V50 is 30mm higher than before and the lamps have a new graphic layout. The brake lights are now long-lasting LED and the new bumper features integrated reflectors in the lower corners.The entire lower part of the front door inside panels was redesigned to provide more space; and the audio system loudspeakers were reshaped to free space for a new, larger storage compartment with space for an A4 format book, an upright soft drinks can or a water bottle lying down. Space was also freed for an extra Dynaudio loudspeaker in the Premium Sound option.The slim centre console is available in additional decor versions such as the Nordic light oak real wood inlay.The handbrake has a more compact design, freeing up space for more storage capacity in the centre console.On the back of the console there is a flip-up holder big enough for a 1.5-litre bottle.