The coupe convertible C70 from Volvo left the factory last 20th of February. This is a milestone, as it signaled the 15 million car which left the Volvo stable since April 14, 1927. The very first Volvo automobile which went past the gates of the factory was another open car. That model was called the OV4, whose meaning was rooted from “open car.” Thus, the name “OV.” The number 4 in the model’s name indicated the number of cylinders which powered the (then) new car made in Sweden. That same year, Volvo was able to sell 297 units. It took the company 23 years to build its initial 100,000 cars, all due to the after effects of the global economic depression and the Second World War.

Just recently (February 20, 2008), the Volvo C70 made its mark as it left the factory in Uddevalla, which happens to be the largest city in Bohuslan, western Sweden. The 2008 Volvo C70 is a hardtop convertible with four adult seating. It has more horsepower and has a redefined technology for better driving performance. It now has the power of a turbocharged 2.5-liter in-line five engine with a horsepower of 227. The front-driver has two various offers: a six-speed manual or a five-speed automatic gearbox.

The center control panel, the console and the door handle surrounds in the interior are trimmed in Laminated Oakwood. The steering wheel and the gearshift knob are also adorned with leather. There are three additional options: Ice White paint, Pearl White and high quality Sovereign Hide leather. There are four new exterior colors, as well as matte real wood interior inlay aptly named Nordic Light, which is just as new as the exterior colors.

Its safety features include the electronic stability control with traction control and anti-lock brakes with brake force distribution. Aside from the standard front airbags are the side airbags in front as well as air curtains. . There is also the Rollover Protection System, which becomes activated by a “pyrotechnic charge.”

The two-door 2008 Volvo C70 gives the driver and passengers more space, with front seats that are designed to provide a comfortable ride. It’s clearly a ride meant to impress while maintaining ease and comfort.

source: Rediff News

Say good bye to the boxy design and wave hello to the all-new Volvo XC60, which comes off looking sleeker and sportier. It’s not all about an impressive exterior, though. This particular model is claimed to be the safest Volvo car ever made. The reason behind this claim? The new City Safety. It is a safety system that’s one of its kind. The City Safety makes it possible to help reduce the effects of low-speed impacts which often occur in city traffic as well as traffic tailbacks. This is set off when the car is about to have a collision with another vehicle and the driver does not get to respond quickly. When this happens, the car is able to put on the brakes all by itself. Fredrik Arp, he CEO and President of Volvo Cars Corp., said, “We are the first manufacturer in the world to offer this type of feature as standard. City Safety clearly shows that the new Volvo XC60 is the safest car Volvo has ever produced. The car is packed with our accumulated safety know-how and technology, both when it comes to preventing accidents and protecting all the occupants in a collision.”

The new Volvo XC60 offers three different types of engines: the turbocharged T6 and two variants of the D5 turbodiesel. The turbocharged T6 is able to produce 285 PS. One D5 turbodiesel engine is able to produce 185 hp while the other is capable of giving off 163 hp. It has a four-wheel drive as a standard. Arp said, “During 2009, we will offer a front-wheel driven 2.4-litre version powered by a Euro 5 diesel engine producing 163 horsepower and with a CO2 target around 170 g/km.”

The sales of this particular Volvo model will begin in Europe during the second half of this year. For North America, sales can be expected early 2009. China, Germany, Great Britain, Russia, and the USA will be five of the largest markets throughout 2010, the peak year. The place of production for the Volvo XC60 is in Ghent, Belgium. The units will be arriving in the showrooms of UK dealers come October of this year.

source: Car Pages

It is popular knowledge that Volvo is quite active in being environmentally aware when it comes to the production of their cars. Not only that but they also produce automobiles which are of high quality. When a local trade press magazine ran a competition, then it should not come as a surprise that Volvo 9700 was named “Coach of the Year” in Slovenia. With their advancement in technology, the worth their cars give to owners, and their concern for the environment and efficiently addressing such issues, Volvo impressed the jury and earned praises.

There were three stages for the competition where Volvo 9700 won. The first stage was the nomination by the juries. Three buses were nominated: the Irisbus Magelys, the Scania Irizar i4 and of course, Volvo 9700. The second stage comprised of voting. The magazine readers had cast their votes via the submission of a coupon or by voting on the internet. The third stage was when the jury rated the buses under the following categories:

1. value for money
2. environmental care
3. maintenance cost
4. technology
5. adaptation for the Slovenian market

Volvo 9700 emerged as the winner, with the announcement made during the ceremony in Ljubljana at the end of last month.

A little trivia: Last year, the same Volvo vehicle model also won the “Coach of the Year” award, in Europe at that time.

source: busnews.com