Being conscious of the environment is something Volvo Cars has been doing for quite some time now. From the design of their cars up until the production stage, Volvo strives to keep on being committed to the environment. For car makers all over the globe, one of the greatest challenges they are still facing is how to keep up with helping in solving the environmental problems of today. Reducing fuel consumption is an example. When fuel consumption is lessened, then the emissions of greenhouse carbon dioxide are reduced as well.

Volvo Cars has gone through great care to help in alleviating the problems that climate change imposes. They have been able to produce cars which are powered by alternative fuels. Their Volvo S40, Volvo V50, Volvo C30, Volvo V70, and Volvo S80 are operated by FlexiFuel, which makes use of bioethanol. Aside from that, Volvo has targeted this year to release to the public market a C30 Efficiency which would have a fuel consumption of 4.5 liter per 100km with carbon dioxide emissions of 119 g/km.

Volvo Cars also makes use of hydropower (green electricity) in their manufacturing plants located in Sweden and Belgium. This use of green electricity is their recent addition to their environmental awareness. Volvo has also managed to provide a wide range of alternative fuels. Back in 2005 in Sweden, they have launched the Volvo FlexiFuel cars. These cars are powered by bioethanol, which are able to release lower emissions of fossil carbon dioxide. This year, it is expected that the V70 and S80 will also have 2.5-liter turbo FlexiFuel engines.

Investing money in environmental research and development, which would run for five years, would aid Volvo in their aim for decreasing fuel consumption and emissions of their cars. When they launched the catalytic converter and oxygen sensor more than thirty years ago, Volvo has managed to cut down the harmful emissions by ninety percent. The engines found in Volvo cars comply with the strict requirements for exhaust emissions. This includes their V8 and new six-cylinder. Not only that but for the sake of the “green” states in the united States of America, they also made available engines which comply to one of the toughest emission control standard – the Partial Zero Emission Vehicle emission control standard.

The conscious effort to help the environment does not stop with Volvo engines. The interiors of their cars are always tested to assure the public that it has passed the requirements set by the Oeko-Tex Standard 100.The advanced Interior Air Quality System (IAQS) of Volvo Cars diminishes the amount of particularly harmful gases.

Involved with a certain number of environmental projects and preserving the lifecycle impact of their cars, Volvo’s commitment to the environment is made clear.

source: Auto Spectator –>

Volvo keeps on maintaining their focus on energy sources aside from oil and this positive focus has been going on for more than twenty-five years. The initial step Volvo took regarding their environmentally friendly idea took place back in 1982, when they used the residual heat from the refineries close at hand. This helped heat their factory in Torslanda. Six years later, Volvo started using natural gas, which is currently the primary fuel they use when it comes to heating their factories located in Sweden and Belgium.

Now Volvo is using hydroelectric power for their plants in Sweden and Belgium. This is for their aim to reach a vehicle production in Europe and said production is climate-neutral. The senior vice-president for manufacturing Volvo Cars, Magnus Hellsten, said, “We aim to use renewable energy to the greatest possible extent and hydro power is the best alternative our suppliers can offer at present.” This climate-neutral production of vehicles is in connection with direct and indirect climate impact. Aside from that, Volvo will also be exploring other kinds of energy for their production units. Some of the types they will be looking into are biogas and wind power. The environmental protection director of Volvo, Mihkel Laks, had said that they have made a lot of progress and are practically independent of oil for the company’s energy.

One of the things Volvo has been making sure they manage to keep constant is a systematic focus on energy-saving measures. This is a step towards their environmental work. Volvo has maintained a steady consumption on energy. They have administered the cutting down of energy use through various numbers of projects and campaigns. They recently did a systematic review of two of their departments’ building in Torslanda and the result was energy savings that was roughly around thirty percent.

Source: motoring.co.za –>

With its sleek looks and exuberant feel, the 2008 Volvo C30 is pegged by Volvo for the twenty-something urbanites who want to stand out from the rest of the city traffic.

The front end of this two-door hatchback looks like a breezy interpretation of Volvo’s latest signature look; while the back looks broad-shouldered and features an all-glass hatch. The side view reveals a belt line that rises to direct one’s attention to the dramatic downward slope of the rear roofline.

Lighter and shorter than its structurally-related cousins—the V50 wagon and the S40 sedan—the Volvo C30 is able to squeeze more acceleration out of the turbocharged 2.5-liter five-cylinder powerplant. Capable of going from zero to sixty in 6.2 seconds, the C30 comes standard with a six-speed manual transmission that showcases smooth shifting.

The Volvo is available in two trim levels: the Version 1.0 and the Version 2.0 – so-named in software parlance to apparently appeal even more to the young and the web-set. Both Versions have tires that are placed on the corners of the car, with Version 1.0 having 17-inch wheels while 2.0 has 18-inch performance tires. Also, standard to these are four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes that has brake assist functions and electronic brake-force distribution, as well as Volvo’s very own Dynamic Stability Traction Control System.

The main difference between the two Versions is the handling. The fun, go-kart feel that Version 1.0 gives its riders when making turns can delight the kids, though others might find the improved handling derived from the “dynamic sport suspension” of Version 2.0 to be just as entertaining.

Inside, the 2008 Volvo C30 borrows the conservative look and features of the Volvo S40. Among the standard equipment are the airbags and 160-watt CD/MP3/WMA audio system that has a jack for iPods and other devices. Version 2.0, however, has a 650-watt sound system with Dynaudio speakers.

With regards to the vehicle’s “cozy” rear, Volvo maintains that its research found that the owners of the C30 will use the split-fold function of back seats to carry active-lifestyle gear way more than they would people.

Last but not least, Volvo is wooing the young ones to its “safety first” brand by showing that it can be cool, too. Beyond merely offering dealer accessories and factory options, Volvo has initiated a unique Custom Build program that lets buyers install other features and accessories on their C30. What’s more – they can have it finished in any color they want – for as long as it is offered on any of its other models.

Source: forbesauto.com