Volvo and parent firm Geely are planning to merge their combustion-engine operations into a new stand-alone company, which will focus on developing more efficient next-generation units and hybrid powertrains. The new powertrain business would continue to supply regular and hybrid combustion engines to Geely’s stable of brands including Volvo, Lotus, Proton, LEVC and LynkCo. It would also aim to serve as a supplier to other third-party firms. The company would be comprised of around 3000 current Volvo employees and 5000 from Geely, with no job losses anticipated. Both firms have started to split their engine operations into new divisions ahead of the planner merger. Volvo says the move will allow it to focus on the development of fully electric powertrains and cars. The company is committed to offering an electrified version of every new model, and expects battery-electric vehicles to account for half of its global sales by 2025. Volvo will launch its first fully electric production car, an XC40 EV, next week. While Volvo is focused on an electric future, combustion engines will remain a key part of its offering, and Volvo boss Håkan Samuelsson said creating the new stand-alone engine company would have an enhanced ability to develop combustion-engine technology, particularly for hybrid cars. “Hybrid cars need the best internal combustion engines,” said Samuelsson. “This new unit will have the resources, scale and expertise to develop these powertrains cost-efficiently.”The new plans are subject to approval from the Volvo and Geely boards, relevant authorities and union
Origin: Volvo and Geely to merge combustion-engine programmes
Volvo
Volvo UK boss: focus is electric XC40 and online sales
Volvo’s new UK boss has outlined a three-point plan focused on electric cars, boosting online sales and improving dealer profitability – while Brexit is lower down his priority list. In his first interview since taking over in June, Kristian Elvefors said his first big challenge is to launch Volvo’s first all-electric model, a variant of the XC40, successfully in the UK from next year while exploiting the plug-in hybrid cars that Volvo now have on every bodystyle. “We are very well placed with electrification and the XC40 will move us into a new, growing segment,” he said. The XC40 is currently Volvo’s UK best-seller, taking over from the out-of-production V40, and the new plug-in hybrid and battery-electric models are likely to further strengthen the compact SUV’s position in Volvo’s UK line-up. In the medium term, Volvo UK will work towards the corporate goal of 50% new car sales of electrified cars – hybrids and BEVs – by 2025, which will inevitably mean a bigger share of those models in the UK. In his first four months in the job, Elvefors has seen how UK consumers are comfortable with online purchasing and sees an opportunity to broaden Volvo sales on the web. “We don’t do Ocado and Amazon in Sweden like you do here,” he said. “That must be an opportunity for us.” However, there is still no firm date to introduce Volvo’s subscription service Care By Volvo to the UK. Care By Volvo bundles all the costs of running a car, including insurance, into a single monthly payment, like a mobile phone contract. “In Europe, we’re trialling it in Germany and the Netherlands,” he said. “If you can make it work in Germany, you can make it work anywhere. But we have to see how it goes before it comes to the UK.” Although Elvefors says Volvo is “prepared for Brexit”, he feels that there is enough uncertainty to remain tight-lipped about Volvo’s end-of-year UK sales. The short-term aim is 60,000 units by 2020 and Volvo already reached 30,000 new car sales in the first half of the year, but a couple of tough months post-Brexit at the end of October, if it happens, could knock the numbers back. “All I can say is that we are happy with our sales volume numbers,” said Elvefors. Elvefors has switched jobs with Volvo UK’s former boss Jon Wakefield and must now keep UK sales percolating while Wakefield has a chance to move Sweden back ahead of the UK. Much of Elvefors’ perspective on the UK market is framed by his successful stint overseeing Volvo’s Swedish sales – where he increased market share to 20.6% and recovered the company’s market position. Increasing fleet sales might be a card Elvefors could play. He’s not planning a blitz on daily rentals, but sees the fleet mix in the UK, about 22%, well behind Sweden, where it’s around 72%. Another approach will be to encourage UK dealers to bring services that they currently outsource in-house. “I want us to capture more of the profits from this sort of business,” Elvefors
Origin: Volvo UK boss: focus is electric XC40 and online sales
First Look: 2020 Volvo XC90
2020 Volvo XC90Graeme Fletcher / Driving BANFF, Alta. Heading into 2020 the Volvo XC90, as it has for the past three years, gets updates in all key areas. Stylistically, the new concave grille, reworked front and rear bumpers with integrated tailpipes, and smarter 19-inch wheels, along with standard roof rails and new paint colours, give the outside a richer look.Inside, the instrumentation now uses a reconfigurable 12.3-inch screen and there is a classy new six-seat mode: Here, the middle bench seat makes way for two comfortable bucket seats. The side benefit is the space between the middle seats gives easier access to the roomy third row. More importantly, the XC90 T8 plug-in hybrid gets a larger 11.6 kWh lithium-ion battery, giving it a longer electric-only driving range. The T8s other key improvement is a new brake system; the hydraulic pump has been replaced with a vacuum booster that gives the pedal a more natural feel it was a crisp and didnt feel mushy under foot on the drive.What doesnt change is the poise the XC90 delivers through the Rockies. The powerful 400-horsepower hybrid powertrain, and the ability to tailor it according to the drivers needs, make it both powerful and frugal at the same time. Likewise, the optional air suspension and electronically controlled dampers Four-C, in Volvo speak does a very good job of isolating the passengers from the rigors of a rough road without sacrificing handling. Body roll is limited to a few degrees, the adjustable steering has just the right weight across the operating range, and it has the passing power youd need the XC90 T8 runs from rest to 100 km/h in 5.6 seconds, which for a full-sized SUV, is decidedly decent.While the individual changes to the 2020 XC90 are small, as a whole, they do make for a better
Origin: First Look: 2020 Volvo XC90
First Drive: 2020 Volvo XC60 T8 Polestar Engineered
BANFF, Alta. The Volvo XC60 T8 Twin Engine Polestar Engineered a clumsy name, if there ever was one is a compact crossover thats going to make the established marques keep a firm eye on the rearview mirror. The work Polestar does takes the already capable Volvo XC60 and turns it into a corner-carving demon with power to spare. The fact that it has a green side certainly helps the cause.Outside, the XC60 Polestar Engineered had some nice visual enhancements. The slick 22-inch wheels wearing 265/35 tires fill the wheel arches with authority, the black chrome tailpipes add a touch of mean, while the gloss-black grille adds some class. It is just enough to make the Polestar look different without turning it into a wannabe boy racer.The powertrain uses a supercharged and turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine and an electric motor that gets its juice from a new and larger 11.6 kWh lithium-ion battery. It gives the uptuned XC60 an electric-only driving range of around 50 kilometres when fully charged, which takes 2.5-hours using a 220-volt outlet. The gas engine produces 328 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque. The electric motor then chips in with another 87 horsepower and 177 pound-feet; with both power sources giving their all, the combination produces 415 horsepower and 494-lb.-ft. of torque and near-instantaneous acceleration. When compared to the regular XC60 T8, thats an extra 15 horsepower and 22-lb.-ft. of torque. The bump makes this thing very quick, delivering a run from zero to 100 km/h in 5.1 seconds good, but the mid-range is better. An impromptu run proved the XC60 Polestar Engineered does the 80 to 120 km/h trick in 3.4 seconds, the electric side giving it a spicy takeoff. The hybrid powertrain works with an eight-speed automatic with two modes Drive and Brake. The smart driver is going to pick Brake because of the extra regenerative braking it delivers. On a run through the Rockies, lifting off the gas heading into a corner slowed things nicely. Clip the apex and then get back on it, and the Polestar strongly pulls out of corners. The setup is far from being a one-pedal drive, but it proved to be very handy nonetheless.Volvos eAWD (electric all-wheel-drive) system sees the rear electric motor drive the rear wheels while the engine looks after the front wheels. Its a smart system that, unlike early eAWD systems, works seamlessly to put down power and add stability through a corner.Everything can be tweaked to suit. There are Constant AWD, Pure, Hybrid, Polestar Engineered and Off-road modes. Constant AWD is for trying times and works at slower speeds. Pure focuses on delivering an all-electric drive, although the gas side will kick in if the driver demands a sudden burst of speed. Frankly, Off-road mode is redundant given the performance. Hybrid and Polestar Engineered modes will see the most use. Hybrid picks the best power source for the driving conditions and puts economy ahead of performance, while Polestar Engineered switches the focus to deliver the best turn of speed. It proved to be the setting of choice the steering has more weight, the throttle is livelier and the transmission shifts with more authority.Polestars real work shows up in the suspension and the hlins shock absorbers at each corner. Theyre fully adjustable and tweaked through a knob, with 22 clicks between firm and comfort. The difference is appreciable when running a fast slalom test the shocks were four clicks from firm. Here, the body remained flat and handled the slalom and a high-speed lane change with very little body roll. The downside was the firm ride, but on the road, the shocks were set in the middle, at 11 clicks. There was a little more body roll, but the ride comfort was just about bang on. For those looking for a plusher ride, dial the knob all the way up to the comfort end.The other big improvement is found in the Akebono brake package gold-coloured six-piston calipers clamp down of 14.6-inch front discs. They delivered impressive stopping power and remained fade-free. The other important consideration is the fact that, unlike most hybrids, the brake pedal has a solid feel its not mushy because of the underlying regenerative braking. If anything, its easier to modulate. The cabin is all XC60, with the exception of gold seat belts. The rest features plush materials and body-hugging front seats that deliver superb support over a long drive, along with a 12.3-inch display for the digital instrument cluster, and Volvos iPad-like Sensus Connect infotainment system. The latter is one of the better in terms of its ease of operation; accessing Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and the navigation system requires just a touch on one of the screens tiles. The optional Bowers Wilkins sound system and its 1,100-watts of power is certainly worthy of consideration the sound quality is symphonic. Move rearward and theres ample space for pair of adult riders, along with 598 litres of
Origin: First Drive: 2020 Volvo XC60 T8 Polestar Engineered
Nearly-new buying guide: Volvo XC90
Four years ago, the all-new Volvo XC90 arrived in a blaze of ice-cool Scandi glory – if that’s not a contradiction – and a price tag to match: £68,785 for the D5 First Edition. This limited-edition version was a showcase for the new Land Rover Discovery rival and featured air suspension, nappa leather and a 1400W Bowers Wilkins sound system, in addition to the model’s impressive and appealing roster of standard-fit safety kit. It was a lot of money, but then Volvo has always had an inflated sense of its own worth. Not so the used car market. It has a different view of the Chinese-owned Swedish brand, and the result is that today you can pick up a one-owner, 2015-reg First Edition with 52,000 miles and a panoramic sunroof for just £33,500. That’s more like it, but it gets better: if you’re happy to forego the First Edition, you can get into a one-owner, 2015- reg D5 Momentum – the entry-level trim – with 63,000 miles and full Volvo service history for £23,900. New, it cost £46,250, so happy days. The XC90 was made for the used car market, and not just because of prices such as these. There’s the apparently tank-like build quality to enjoy, for a start. A four-year-old 60,000-miler or even one of the many 100,000-mile-plus examples knocking about (we a saw a one-owner D5 Momentum with 112,000 miles and full service history for £22,000) seems like a safe bet. Or it would were it not for the fact that in the 2018 What Car? Reliability Survey, the XC90 ranked 18th out of 25 luxury SUVs. What’s more, the model has been the subject of a fair number of safety recalls, while software glitches appear not to have been very far away. At least it’s easy to get your head around the model range. Engines are 2.0-litre four-cylinder units in D5 diesel, T5 and T6 petrol, and T8 petrol-electric hybrid forms, while the gearbox is an eight-speed auto, drive goes to all four wheels and the car has seven seats. Trim-wise, there’s entry-level Momentum, mid-spec R-Design and top-spec Inscription. Adding a Pro suffix to each brings the Winter Pack, plus, on R-Design and Inscription, air suspension. Which ones to go for? The big seller, and our pick, is the 222bhp D5 Momentum. It has all the features you could possibly want, while its braked towing limit is a useful 2700kg. On the subject of towing, in 2017 Practical Caravan magazine voted the XC90 T8 its hybrid tow car of the year. Judged purely on economy, it’s hard to make a case for the 316bhp supercharged and turbocharged T6 and turbocharged 247bhp T5 petrol engines, but if your mileage is low, prices starting at £30,000 for a 40,000-mile 2015-reg T6 Inscription are not to be sniffed at. However, that’s still higher than the D5, and when it comes to a used XC90, you really don’t want to end up paying more than you have to. Need to know The XC90’s standard multi-link suspension features a composite transverse leaf spring at the rear for better packaging and improved interior space, but the optional air suspension offers a better ride plus the ability to raise the car’s body by 40mm in off-road mode. Optional red key can be bought for used XC90s. It allows the maximum speed to be pegged at 75mph, the greatest distance to be set when using adaptive cruise and the permanent activation of all the driver assist systems. The XC90 has experienced a number of recalls, some of them concerning its much-vaunted safety systems. Check they have all been actioned, since among the things requiring checking are airbags and safety belts. Our pick Volvo XC90 D5 Momentum AWD auto: Adaptive cruise, LED headlights, a powered tailgate, dual-zone climate control, leather seats, and Momentum trim has most of the safety systems you could wish for. Wild card Volvo XC90 T8 Inscription AWD auto: The petrol-electric hybrid T8 Twin Engine produces 395bhp. It is the fastest XC90 but has an electric-only range of just 25 miles. It’s expensive to buy new but 2016 examples cost half the price, from around £30,000. Top spec pick Inscription Pro: Inscription means nappa leather, thick pile mats and sun blinds; Pro adds the winter pack (heated wheel and windscreen, adaptive lights and bigger wheels) and air suspension. Ones we found 2015 2.0 D5 Momentum auto AWD, 63,000 miles, £23,900 2016 2.0 D5 R-Design auto AWD, 62,000 miles, £27,975 2017 2.0 D5 235 Momentum auto AWD, 25,000 miles, £30,000 2018 2.0 D5 Inscription auto AWD, 12,000 miles,
Origin: Nearly-new buying guide: Volvo XC90
Volvo launches S60 T8 Twin Engine model
Volvo launches S60 T8 Twin Engine model The PHEV is both the most powerful and most efficient model in the range Volvo has expanded its S60 saloon range with new trim levels and the eagerly-awaited T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid powertrain. Featuring an 11.8 kWh battery and 87hp electric motor, the S60 T8 Twin Engine can cover up to 36 miles in electric mode, has official CO2 emissions of 39 g/km, and a WLTP combined fuel economy score of 176.5 MPG. It’s also the range-topping powertrain with 390hp available to the driver, seeing the motor combine with a 303hp four-cylinder petrol engine. Power is put through an eight-speed automatic transmission, and the S60 T8’s 0-62mph time is just 4.6 seconds. New trim levels for the line-up have seen R-Design Plus and Inscription Plus. The former replaces the launch R-Design Edition trim, and adds a sporty air to the S60. The Inscrption Plus trim is a new specification, and focuses on a more luxurious set-up. Prices start at £37,935 for R-Design Plus, and £38,835 for Inscription Plus – both of which use the originally available T5 petrol engine. The new T8 Twin Engine powertrain is only available in R-Design Plus trim for now, and starts at £49,805.
Origin: Volvo launches S60 T8 Twin Engine model
Volvo could expand its range with larger and smaller SUVs
2019 Volvo XC90Handout / Volvo Volvo could be planning even more SUV models, based on the success of its utility vehicles around the world specifically, it may look to fill its lineup with trucks both larger and smaller than anything in its range today.We are not excluding the idea of additions to the companys SUV range, CEO Hakkan Samuelsson said in talks with Auto Express, before adding that when it comes to Volvos crossovers, pundits should not exclude the idea that there might be a bigger one, but maybe also a smaller one.According to a story from Swedish outlet Teknikens Varld, the Swedish brand has known its needed a vehicle larger than the XC90 to compete with other brands offerings since 2002, but a lack of funds from former parent company Ford stalled development.However, since Volvo was bought by Geely in 2010, the brand has reopened the idea of creating an XC100 based on the SPA 2 archicecture, internally called Project V616.(When broken down, the codename reveals the project is part of class 6, for Volvos largest cars; 1 for a first-generation model; and another 6 to denote an SUV.)The same Swedish outlet says the XC100 will arrive in 2022 or 2023; that it will be five inches longer in wheelbase than the current XC90; and that it will sit an inch taller.As for the SUV smaller than the XC40? It hasnt been totally fleshed out yet, but its possible it will borrow technology from Geely, and might only be leased, not sold. It will also likely feature an electric powertrain, as the XC40 is already rumoured to receive
Origin: Volvo could expand its range with larger and smaller SUVs
Volvo recalls 507,000 vehicles as probe finds fire risk
According to the U.S. IIHS, the outgoing Volvo XC60 is one of only two midsize SUVs on sale with acceptable headlight performance. Swedish automaker Volvo Cars is recalling 507,000 vehicles worldwide because of a faulty engine component that, in extreme cases, could result in a fire.The company, which is owned by Chinas Zhejiang Geely, said its own investigations have identified that in very rare cases the plastic engine intake manifold may melt and deform.In the very worst case, there is a possibility that a localized engine bay fire may occur, it said.When asked to provide details of the potential financial impact, Stefan Elfstrom, a spokesman for Volvo Cars, said, We dont comment on the cost. The company is keen to fix the faulty vehicles as fast as possible and customers wont incur any costs related to addressing the error, he said.The cars being recalled were produced in 2014 through 2019 and have a 2.0-liter four-cylinder diesel engine, Volvo Cars said in an emailed statement. The affected models are the S60, S80, S90, V40, V60, V70, V90, XC60 and XC90. While the company has no reports of accidents or personal injuries, all customers will receive a letter asking them to contact their local retailer for corrective
Origin: Volvo recalls 507,000 vehicles as probe finds fire risk
Volvo and Uber show off production-ready self-driving vehicle
Following two years of collaboration, Volvo and Uber are ready to show off their jointly developed production car capable of driving by itself. This follows several prototypes which were built with the goal of sussing out the companies’ self-driving car development efforts. The Volvo XC90 presented today is the first production car that, in combination with Uber’s self-driving system, is allegedly capable of fully driving itself. Your author would like to take a moment to welcome his new robot overlords. An array of sensors peppered atop and built into the vehicle are designed for Uber’s self-driving system to safely operate the machine and maneuver it in an urban environment. Several back-up systems are built into the thing for both steering and braking functions plus a dose of battery back-up power. Before you rush out and throw away your driving shoes, know that even though the companies say this machine is capable of handling driving duties all on its own, they aren’t ready to let it drive to the market on its own just yet. After describing the car, they go on to say that when paired with Volvo’s vehicle platform, Uber’s self-driving system may one day allow (emphasis mine) for safe, reliable autonomous ridesharing without the need for a Mission Specialist. A Mission Specialist, if you’re wondering, is the human bag of meat hired by Uber to sit behind the wheel and take command should things go awry. The team says they are specially trained Uber employees “operating and overseeing the car” in areas designated and suitable for autonomous driving. Volvo Cars plans to use a similar autonomous base vehicle concept for the introduction of its future autonomous drive cars in the early 2020s. These technologies will apparently include features designed to enable unsupervised autonomous drive in clearly designated areas such as highways and ring roads. Let’s hope these robot overlords are more like the sentient characters in the movie Cars and less like the psychotic transport trucks in Stephen King’s Maximum
Origin: Volvo and Uber show off production-ready self-driving vehicle
Volvo crash-tests bike helmets for cyclist safety
Volvo Cars and POC develop world-first car-bike helmet crash test Volvo is developing a new, world-first crash test that pits bicycle helmets against cars to help protect cyclists. The automaker has teamed up with POC, a Swedish sports and safety company, to create the tests. They are being carried out at Volvo Cars’ research facilities in Gothenburg, Sweden, and are part of a wider research project aimed at understanding the types of long-term injuries that cyclists can sustain. For the test, POC bicycle helmets are put onto crash dummy heads that are mounted on a testing rig. The test vehicle doesn’t move; the dummy heads are launched toward different area of the hood, at different speeds and angles. Current bike helmet test procedures only involve dropping a helmet onto a flat or angled surface from different heights, and do not include vehicle-bicycle collisions. Volvo said the project with POC “aims to further refine and advance such testing.” In 2013, Volvo was the first auto manufacturer to add cyclist detection to its emergency forward braking system, following the launch of pedestrian detection with full braking in
Origin: Volvo crash-tests bike helmets for cyclist safety
All about car 