Volvo
Volvo to introduce 7700 Hybrid bus in 2009
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In addition to reducing the discharge of particles and nitrous oxides by 40-50% compared with a diesel-only bus, the Volvo 7700 Hybrid has 30% lower fuel consumption which the company estimates will allow bus operators to recoup the extra cost of the vehicle within seven years. Read More
Volvo's new high-tech wind tunnel
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Volvo has invested 20 million Euro in complete refurbishment of its in-house wind-tunnel, making it the first car manufacturer to own a facility which combines a moving road simulation system with the ability to fully reproduce the airflow around and underneath the car's body... and it's already delivering results in the quest for greater fuel efficiency and lower emissions. Read More
The Monster: Puma names Volvo Ocean Race entry
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PUMA Ocean Racing has christened its stunning new boat "il mostro" (Italian for "The Monster") before heading out to sea to complete its 2000-mile qualifier for the race which gets underway later in October.
Volvo adds new massage seats to S80 and XC90 Executive models
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April 14, 2008 Seats which include massaging and ventilation functions are among the new luxury trimmings Volvo has added to their S80 and XC90 Executive models. The new massage function consists of five inflatable pockets which have been built into the front seats and are pumped up and drained sequentially to create a wave-like motion that is adjustable at two levels. As well as massaging the lower back they also double up as a new lumbar support, while built-in ventilation is designed to keep the occupant’s body and clothing fresh. Read More
World's first hybrid refuse truck launched in Sweden
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April 8, 2008 Volvo has announced that Swedish refuse collection firms Renova and Ragn-Sells will begin regular daily testing of two of the company's hybrid refuse trucks ahead of a market launch in 2009. Using a 7 liter diesel engine and an electric motor that utilizes regenerative braking, the trucks are capable of delivery fuel (and therefore emissions) savings of 20 percent. Read More
Radar car collision prevention systems put to the test
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February 15, 2008 British Motor Insurance Repair Research Centre Thatcham has put three of the car industry’s most hyped collision prevention technologies to the test – and they’ve emerged with flying colors. The Volvo City Safety, Mercedes Distronic Plus, and Honda CMBS use radar systems to mitigate and prevent low speed collisions – which, as a category, make up 75% of all motor accidents. Read More
Volvo backs energy efficient forestry machinery
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December 4, 2007 Making forestry a sustainable industry isn't just about the best utilization and management of plantation resources, it's also about how the timber is harvested. With this in mind, Volvo has announced a new investment as the part-owner in El-forest AB, based in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden. Read More
Volvo cleans-up in car portable satellite navigation
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November 22, 2007 In an effort to introduce portable satellite navigation without the clutter of wires or the use of unsightly suction cups, Volvo has developed a new mounting bracket for Garmin’s latest satellite navigation unit that can be fitted to all new Volvo cars. Read More
High-performance Volvo S80 concept on show at SEMA 2007
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September 24, 2007 German motorsport company Heico Sportiv has done some serious tweaking to the Volvo S80 T6 to produce a customized 260kW concept designed to showcase the potential of the standard AWD model. The high-performance concept will be on display at the 2007 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) automotive tradeshow beginning on October 30 in Las Vegas. Read More
The Volvo Recharge Concept – electric car with a 1.6 litre Flexifuel back-up motor
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Volvo is set to unveil an interesting plug-in hybrid at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The ReCharge Concept is a Volvo C30 with electric wheel motors and batteries that can be charged via a regular electrical outlet. When fully charged the Volvo ReCharge Concept can be driven approximately 62 miles on battery power alone before the car’s four-cylinder 1.6 Flexifuel engine takes over to power the car and recharge the battery. As the vast majority of us drive less than 60 miles a day, the ReCharge is effectively a permanent electric car with an acceleration figure of 0-62mph in 9 seconds and a top speed of 100mph.
Volvo introduces voluntary Alcolocks from 2008
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September 5, 2007 One in three traffic fatalities in Europe is alcohol related and around 3,000 people in the UK are killed or seriously injured each year in drink drive collisions. In an effort to help drivers make responsible choices, Volvo is the first manufacturer to launch a fully integrated, voluntary in-car breathalyzer/alcolock system called Alcoguard as an option to its 2008 range, which prevents the car from starting if the driver is over the blood alcohol limit. Read More
Volvo to unveil new safety technology at Frankfurt Motor Show
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August 29, 2007 World-first driver alertness technology that includes automated lane departure warnings and a new collision warning system with auto braking will be among the innovations unveiled by Volvo at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Read More
Nordic Sport radio-controlled sports gear transporter
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July 14, 2007 Built specficially for the Pan-American games, which started in Rio de Janeiro yesterday is this very special electric Volvo C30. The 1:5 scale model was developed to transport javelins, hammers or discuses from the pitch back to the athletes in the throwing area. Volvo hand-fabricated the unique bodyshell for the 2hp radio controlled electric car and the chassis came from Nordic Sport. The little beastie can reach 20km/h carrying its maximum payload which equates to four discuses, three javelins or two hammers. It keeps people safe, and it works a treat.
Volvo starts project with hybrid-drive garbage vehicles
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February 16, 2007 Volvo is to receive a SEK 9.8 million grant forom the Swedish Energy Agency in support of a hybrid technology development project for heavy vehicles. The project involves development and testing of hybrid technology in two garbage (refuse) collection trucks in Gothenburg and Stockholm. The aim of the project is to achieve fuel savings of up to 30%. Volvo has been working on research and development of hybrid technology for 20 years. Volvo’s tests and simulations show that hybrid drive for heavy vehicles is most suitable for vehicles forced during operations to make many starts and stops, such as buses, distribution trucks and refuse vehicles. In these cases, fuel savings can be up to 35%. Read More
2008-09 Volvo Ocean Race boats with embedded media
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January 19, 2007 The next running of the world’s most demanding offshore adventure, the 2008-09 Volvo Ocean Race (the former Whitbread Round the World Race), features 11 ocean legs, eight inshore races and shorter stopovers in a route which takes in the hitherto uncharted territories of Asia, India and the Middle East. The race will start in the port of Alicante, Spain in the autumn of 2008. There are also changes to crew numbers and one of the most intriguing moves was the introduction of a new position of on-board media specialist – every boat in the race will carry full-time media liaison to improve the quality of interviews and imagery and to facilitate quicker and better editing of the vast quantity of footage. On-board audio and video of the last race helped raise the profile of the event but with the immediacy of new media at the race organiser’s disposal, the new moves are expected to further broaden the appeal of the race. The new rules are also designed to facilitate an all-female crew in the event. Read More
VOLVO FH16 – the most powerful truck available for commercial transport
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December 17, 2006 Last February, Volvo Trucks launched the FH16 - the market’s most powerful truck for commercial transport - with a new 16-litre engine and power levels of 660 hp and 580 hp and torque of 3100 Nm and 2800 Nm respectively. Now the range has been further extended with an engine variant of 540 hp and torque of 2600 Nm. The 540 hp 16-litre engine has been developed primarily for hauliers in the 40-tonne segment who often drive on hilly roads. It provides the necessary prerequisites for high average speeds and in combination with the Volvo Engine Brake (VEB+) and the I-Shift intelligent gear-shifting system it offers excellent driveability. Read More
The Volvo XC60 Concept - a glimpse of the next XC
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December 15, 2006 Volvo’s XC60 Concept is very much a car for the future. It not only offers the world a sneak preview of the next XC model to come from the Volvo Cars, it is also full of design innovation and reveals several design elements that will be part of future Volvos. Volvo Cars Design Director Steve Mattin and his team have designed the XC60 Concept while keeping their eyes firmly focused on one clear goal. “With more expressive, emotive shapes, it will be a magnet for the viewer’s eyes. If you say that you recognise a Volvo from 50 metres today, I want to get to the point where you will instantly spot it from twice that distance in the future.” Read More
Volvo safety system for avoiding collisions at low speeds
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December 7, 2006 Volvo has announced more innovative safety technology – a unique ‘City Safety’ system that could help drivers avoid 50 per cent of all rear-end, low speed accidents that often happen in urban environments or slow moving traffic. Statistics reveal that 75 per cent of all reported collisions occur at low speeds of up to 30 km/h (18.7 mph). The Volvo system, called ‘City Safety’, is active up to 30 km/h and keeps a watchful eye on traffic up to six metres in front of the car with the help of an optical radar system integrated into the upper part of the windscreen. If a car in front suddenly brakes or is stationary, the system will automatically pre-charge the brakes to help the driver avoid an accident by slowing down in time, or steering away from a potential collision. However, if a collision is imminent, the system will activate the car’s brakes automatically. Read More
Volvo Multi-Fuel high performance prototype that runs on five different fuels
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June 15, 2006 The Michelin Challenge Binendum finished in Paris on the weekend, completing yet another showcase of the world’s most interesting clean technologies and energies for motorized vehicles. Each Bibendum sees a who’s who of the world’s automotive manufacturers put their latest concept vehicles on the park and this year some concept vehicles were actually rolled out for the event. One that really caught our attention was the Volvo Multi-Fuel prototype, which is optimised for running on five different fuel types; hythane (10% hydrogen and 90% methane), biomethane, natural gas, bioethanol E85 and petrol. The idea, according to Volvo, is to make use of the fuels that are produced locally. This means that less fuel needs to be transported between continents, and you can fill up the car on the fuel that is available wherever you are.
Volvo Round-the-world Race visits the Big Apple
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May 7, 2006 When the runaway leader of the round-the-world Volvo Ocean Race, ABN AMRO 1, enters New York harbour some time tomorrow the round-the-world race will have been underway for more than six months - the 32,700 mile race having begun in Vigo, Spain on November 12, 2005 is scheduled to end in Gothenburg, Sweden on June 17, 2006. With more than 29,000 nautical miles of the race completed and just a tenth of that distance remaining in one of the world’s most gruelling adventure races, ABN AMRO I looks likely to take the event barring mishap. The has journeyed from Europe via the Atlantic to Cape Town then on to Melbourne, Australia, then across the Tasman Sea to Wellington, New Zealand, then across the Pacific ocean to Rio de Janeiro, then on to Baltimore, USA. If you’re in the Big Apple this week, make sure you get down and take a look at the most remarkable, high tech sailing machines ever assembled. Currently, boaters are setting their sails as they prepare to finish the sixth course of the race in New York on May 8. After a 48-hour stay, crews will hoist their anchors and set sail for Portsmouth, England. There are many fantastic information resources on the internet which cover the technologies used in the construction and design of the canting-keel boats,
the official race site with full tracking of the boats and much more, and the official sites of the leading boats such as ABN AMRO I & II, the Spanish Movistar boat which set a world 24 hour distance record just prior to the start of the race, the superbly named Pirates of the Caribean, Brasil 1 and Ericsson Racing Team. Check out the image library for a taste of the spectacular nature of the event. Check out the image library Read More
Volvo Penta’s new IPS joystick controller for boats
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February 26, 2006 Old school thinking has a distinct ring to it. “If it aint broke, don’t fix it” and “It’s always been done that way for a very good reason” are the catchcries of an era long-since-past. Once upon a time, ships and boats were pushed through the water by a fixed screw propeller and steered by a rudder. Now Volvo Penta has released a new system it has dubbed the Inboard Performance System (IPS) system and turned the whole industry on its ear. With double forward-facing propellers and steerable drive units, boats equipped with the Volvo Penta IPS are significantly better than boats with traditional inboard shafts in virtually all respects: comfort, performance, environmental features and driving characteristics. Since its introduction last year, the Volvo Penta IPS has received prizes and awards throughout the world but time stands still for no man and now there’s a new enhancement that will look strangely familiar to computer gamers - a joystick. Even the most experienced boat-owners can sometimes feel uncomfortable about the prospect of docking a large boat in a congested harbour, especially if the dockside is filled with spectators! Volvo Penta’s new IPS Joystick eliminates that problem. With just a few simple hand movements, you can place your boat elegantly against the dock. Read More
Volvo’s new S80 – luxury, V8 Power, AWD Poise
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February 1, 2006 Volvo's all-new S80 will be revealed to the public at the international motor show in Geneva on 28 February and is scheduled to arrive in European dealerships during June. Performance and power are entrenched priorities in the ultra-competitive luxury sedan segment, and Volvo Car's commitment to delivery these qualities yields an enthusiastic and refined combination of 235kW V8 power and all-wheel-drive performance.
Volvo builds a 4x4 "peace bus"
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January 28, 2006 We love to write about intelligently-designed, purpose-built machinery and we’ve noticed that there’s a bit of a trend in recent times towards building transport ruggedised to withstand the rigours of armed-attack. In recent times, we’ve written about the world’s toughest bus (the Rhino Runner), the fastest armoured 4WD in the world (the Kombat T-98), the world’s first widely-available armoured luxury saloon car and the US Army’s Smartruck and now this interesting and unique bus from Volvo. Built on a Volvo 4x4 truck chassis for use by the Swedish UN peace-keeping armed forces currently based in Liberia, West Africa, it is designed to carry 40 passengers and will be used primarily by UN soldiers in Liberia. However, given the current state of unrest there, it will also be possible to use the bus to evacuate local inhabitants, should the need arise. Read More
Volvo's sporty C30 two-door concept
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January 4, 2006 Volvo is revealing a sporty two-door concept car at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit on 9 January, which gives a strong indication of the design of an exciting, new smaller Volvo C30 model it will launch at the Paris Motor Show in September. The C30 Design Concept has a compact, sporty design with two doors, four individual seats and a distinctive glass tailgate. It is capable of 0-62mph in six seconds thanks to a high performance 260bhp, five-cylinder, 2.4-litre engine producing 350Nm of torque for plenty of flexibility from 2,100rpm. Read More
It's a Volvo!
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November 2, 2005 It seemed an entirely appropriate exhibit for the Specialty Equipment Manufacturer Association's annual trade show set amidst the glittering lights and over-the-top excess of Las Vegas. Until we noticed the badge – it’s a Volvo. This hand-built hotrod is based entirely on Volvo components and a twin turbocharged inline 6-cylinder engine from a car manufacturer more widely known for safety and functionality. Read More
Volvo Child Safety Seats released
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October 25, 2005 Volvo pioneered automotive safety long before it was fashionable and its stocks have risen in recent years as active safety has become non-daggy and the Volvo emblem is now synonymous with safety in the mind of the public. So it’s a logical time to extend the brand, and there’s no more compelling issue around safety than that of baby seats. Yes folks, if you want your pride and joy to be as safe, secure and comfortable as can be, Volvo has launched a new range of ISOFIX child seats! Read More
Volvo experimenting with new safety features
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August 18 2005 Volvo Cars’ most recent contribution to road safety is an experimental car equipped with a breathalyser lock integrated into the driver's seat belt clasp. Volvo Cars is also experimenting with a special ignition key that regulates the car’s top speed. The experimental technology requires the driver to perform a two-step safety check before the engine will start. The driver must first blow into the built-in breathalyser lock and the driver must also fasten the seat belt. When the breathalyser detects alcohol or if the driver does not fasten the seat belt, the engine will not start. The breathalyser will illuminate red when it positively detects alcohol, and the breathalyser will illuminate green when it does not detect alcohol. Read More
Volvo Develops Inflatable Curtain (IC) for Cabriolets
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July 26, 2005 Volvo’s Inflatable Curtain (IC), introduced in 1998, helps to protect the belted occupant’s head during a side impact or rollover scenario. IC has been developed for and is fitted as standard in Volvo’s sedans, wagons and XC models.
This essential safety technology has been specifically adapted for the unique use in a cabriolet. The Inflatable Curtain will be available on Volvo's C70 hardtop cabriolet – a world-first safety development. In a fixed roof vehicle, the IC is fitted in the inner roof edge and is activated downward between the side window and the occupant’s head. This location has thus far made it impossible to fit the IC system in a cabriolet since there is no fixed roof for its installation. Read More
Volvo's ingenious convertible coupe
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July 19, 2005 The next generation Volvo C70 shown here for the first time, can be reasonably expected to grab a significant slice of upmarket consumer attention in that it converts from a hardtop coupe to an open air convertible at the press of a button. The second generation C70 has an innovative three-piece retractable hardtop and can hence offer two cars for the price of one. With the top up, it's an elegant coupe and with the top stowed below the rear deck, it offers wind-in-the-hair sports car fun with room for four people. The all-new Volvo C70 will be unveiled at the 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show in mid-September, with sales beginning in the U.S. in the spring of 2006 – just in time for summer. Read More
Volvo YCC Concept Car wins major design award
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May 6, 2005 The Volvo Cars' YCC team has received the Torsten och Wanja Soderbergs Pris (Torsten and Wanja Soderbergs Prize), one of Scandinavia's most prestigious design awards. The YCC is a Volvo concept car with unique features designed exclusively by women and it impressed the judging jury. "For their solutions for storage, accessibility, vision and the possibility to personalize the interior, the group has in a convincing way shown possible solutions for future cars," wrote the jury. Read More
Volvo unleashes 650 horsepower XC90 Power Utility Vehicle
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November 5, 2004 Volvo has unveiled plans for an all new powerhouse model. The XC90 Power Utility Vehicle, is powered by the company's new V8 planned to produce 650 horsepower, sports a six-speed automatic "Geartronic" transmission and a computer-controlled all-wheel-drive system. Volvo once had a dowdy image thanks to championing safety long before it was fashionable. In recent times, a string of innovative and socially astute concept cars has done a lot to reinvigorate the company's brand. The introduction of the diabolically fast XC90 Power Utility Vehicle is no doubt designed to bolster the Swedish car manufacturer's image and attract new enthusiasts. Read More
Volvo Offers a Personal Solution to Sustainable Mobility
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Spurred by the growing need to tackle congestion and pollution issues, Volvo Car Corporation has developed a radically new approach to sustainable mobility with the striking 3CC concept. The futuristic Volvo 3CC personal transportation vehicle was unveiled today at the Shanghai Michelin Challenge Bibendum event.
The Volvo 3CC is a sleek, aerodynamic car designed to carry up to three adults, or two adults and two children, utilizing a unique two-plus-one seating arrangement which provides comfort and space comparable to a larger car. Read More
State-of-the-Art V8 for Volvo XC90
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An entirely new Volvo powertrain featuring a V8 engine, six-speed automatic transmission and the latest-generation AWD system will make its debut at Paris motor show on 23 September. This leading-edge V8 engine marks a new turning-point in Volvo Cars' history. It is the first V8 the company has produced since it was founded in 1927, and the Volvo XC90 is the first model to be powered by the new engine. Read More
Details of the Volvo Extreme Gravity Car
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The origins of the soapbox derby or billykart race are not well documented, or so we thought. Volvo's press release on its Extreme Gravity car dates the first organised soapbox derby in 1933 at Dayton Ohio, USA. Regardless of the accuracy of that claim, the Volvo Extreme Gravity Racer is far removed from those original vehicles. Comprised of water-jet-cut high-strength aluminum, carbon fiber composite and fiberglass, the machine is a feast for the eyes of anyone who has ever built such a gravity machine. Read More
Volvo unveils commuter concept vehicle
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Volvo has unveiled a futuristic car of the future developed at its Volvo Monitoring and Concept Center (VMCC) just outside of Los Angeles. The Tandem is a two-passenger, capsule-shaped vehicle whereby the passenger sits directly behind the driver giving it its distinct name, which in design draws obvious comparison to the tandem bike. Read More
