Thursday, December 29, 2011
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Monday, December 19, 2011
V60 Plug-in Hybrid - the Technically Most Advanced Volvo Model Ever
There are many hybrids on the market, but none of them can match the Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid.
The world's first diesel plug-in hybrid is Volvo Car Corporation's most technically advanced model ever - an electric car, hybrid car and muscle-car all rolled into one. At the mere touch of a button you can choose which of your three cars you want to drive at any given moment in time.
The production version of the V60 Plug-in Hybrid will be launched in just one colour - Electric Silver. Sales get under way at the start of 2012, and the first cars will be built in the autumn of that year. 
"Our plug-in hybrid has received considerable attention since it was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in 2011. Now we're taking the next step by presenting the production model, which is graced with a distinctive profile featuring a spectacular silver colour, an exclusive interior and generous standard equipment," says Stefan Jacoby, President and CEO of Volvo Car Corporation.
The first 1,000 units of the Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid are only available in Electric Silver livery. The car is also distinguished by aero-designed 17-inch wheels, integrated exhaust tailpipes and a number of bodywork features in glossy black, such as the grille and the aerodynamic front spoiler.
The chromed "Plug-in Hybrid" emblem is found both on the lower part of the tailgate and in a smaller version on the front wings.
Exclusive interior
The interior of the V60 Plug-in Hybrid has black leather upholstery with contrasting stitching and inlays of blue-grey wood. Other distinctive interior details include a leather-covered steering wheel, specially designed mats and a gear lever knob with integrated indicator.
The list of standard equipment includes features such as speed-dependent power steering, electrically adjustable driver's seat, parking sensors front and rear, Bluetooth phone link and Volvo on Call.
Standard is also the High Performance Multimedia DVD audio system with its 4x40 W amplifier, eight loudspeakers and seven-inch screen.
Smartphone app
The V60 Plug-in Hybrid is the first Volvo to be launched with an entirely digital Driver Information Monitor (DIM). The conventional analogue gauges have been replaced by a one-piece LED screen offering a large number of display options. The driver can choose which information to show via the car's menu setup.
It is also possible to communicate with the car via a mobile app. This gives the owner access to a number of smart functions such as air conditioning, pre-cooling and after-cooling, and a reminder to connect the charge cable if this has not been done by a predetermined time.
The first Volvo with the D6 badge
On the car's tailgate there is a D6 badge. The reason is that the combined performance of the five-cylinder turbodiesel and electric motor puts the car firmly within the same horsepower range as the petrol powered T6.
The front wheels of the V60 Plug-in Hybrid are powered by a five-cylinder 2.4-litre turbodiesel producing 215 hp and maximum torque is 440 Nm. The car has a six-speed automatic transmission.
The rear axle is powered by an electric motor producing 70 horsepower. The electric motor is supplied with power from an 11.2 kWh lithium-ion battery pack installed under the floor of the load compartment.
The sophisticated and exceptionally compact battery pack consists of 10 modules each containing 20 cells. An integrated computer monitors the system and compares temperature and charge level in each of the 200 cells. The battery pack also has an integrated water-cooling system driven by the car's climate unit.
Three driving modes - three cars in one
The driver selects the required driving mode via three buttons that give the car three entirely different temperaments: Pure, Hybrid or Power.
- In Pure mode the car is powered solely by its electric motor as much as possible. If the battery pack has been recharged with electricity from renewable sources, its range is up to 50 kilometres and its carbon dioxide emissions are zero. The electric range varies with terrain, climate and driving style.
- Hybrid is the standard setting whenever the car is started. The diesel engine and electric motor cooperate to ensure optimal balance between driving pleasure and environmental footprint. CO2 emission (NEDC, mixed driving cycle for certification) is 49g/km, corresponding to diesel consumption of 1.9l/100km. The car has a total range of up to 1,000km.
- In Power mode the technology is optimised to give the car the maximum possible power. The diesel engine and electric motor have a total power output of 215+70 horsepower and maximum torque of 440+200Nm. The electric motor's lightning-quick torque delivery contributes to the car's acceleration from 0 to 100km/h in 6.2 seconds.
Save battery power for later
The driver can choose to save battery power in order to drive on pure electricity later on, for instance in an urban green zone or in the heart of a city.
When Save is activated, the on-board system ensures that there is always sufficient charge for driving later in Pure mode. If necessary, the high-tension generator will charge the battery pack so there is sufficient capacity for driving in Pure mode.
The aim is that the Save mode should ensure there is sufficient battery power for about 20 kilometres of driving on electricity alone.
Charge at home - cooling or heating in advance
The V60 Plug-in Hybrid can be recharged from a regular power outlet (230V/6A, 10A or 16A) at home or in a parking lot. Recharging time varies with amperage. A full charge with 10A takes 4.5 hours. This is cut to 3.5 hours with 16A, while a 6A charge takes 7.5 hours.
It is also possible while recharging the car to heat or cool the passenger compartment to provide a more comfortable start of your journey. This also means that more battery power is used for actually propelling the car.
The pre-conditioning function can also cool the batteries. The ideal operating temperature for the battery pack is 20-30°C. This means that cooling prior to driving is very important in order to maximise battery charge and thus also range.
The V60 Plug-in Hybrid has two heating systems. In electric mode the car uses a PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) air heater. The car also has a diesel-powered heater.
Better pulling power with four-wheel drive (AWD)
Pressing the AWD button activates the electrical four-wheel drive. Instead of the mechanical power transfer of conventional four-wheel drive, the central control unit distributes power between the diesel-driven front wheels and the electrically-driven rear axle. The electric four-wheel drive system has been designed to provide better grip when starting and when driving on slippery roads, for instance in snow or mud.
However, owing to the electric motor's lower power, torque to the rear wheels is limited and four-wheel drive is active up to 120 km/h.
When four-wheel drive is activated, the diesel engine operates continuously and the generator ensures that the charge level in the battery pack is sufficient to supply the rear axle with the necessary power.
Since electric four-wheel drive is only activated by the driver when necessary, it is more economical than conventional permanent four-wheel drive.
Two-stage braking system
A two-stage braking system is yet another smart feature of the Volvo Plug-in Hybrid. When the driver presses the brake pedal, the system starts braking the rear axle's electric motor. This braking energy is then used to recharge the car's battery pack.
The mechanical brakes are activated only when the situation requires more braking power than the rear axle can provide.
** Courtesy of Volvo Cars Newsroom
Friday, December 16, 2011
Five Volvo Models get IIHS Top Safety Pick Award
Volvo Car Corporation's leadership in car safety is confirmed in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's (IIHS) 2012 Top Safety Pick award.
The U.S. award recognizes vehicles that do the best job of protecting people in front, side, rollover, and rear crashes - and no less than five Volvo models - the C30, S60, S80, XC60 and XC90 - earned a Top Safety Pick.
Volvo is the only European luxury brand with five awarded models in the new IIHS report.
"The risk of being involved in an accident or being injured in one of our latest car models has been reduced with more than two thirds compared with a Volvo from the 1970s. Now, we keep on moving towards our safety vision that nobody should die or suffer serious injuries in a new Volvo car by the year 2020", says Thomas Broberg, Senior Safety Advisor at Volvo Car Corporation.
IIHS Top Safety Pick is based on four accident scenario results*:
- Frontal crashworthiness evaluations are based on results of 40 mph (64 km/h) frontal offset crash tests.
- Side evaluations are based on performance in a crash test in which the side of a vehicle is struck by a barrier moving at 31 mph (50 km/h). The barrier represents the front end of a pickup or SUV.
- To earn a good rating for rollover protection, the car roof must withstand a force of four times the vehicle's weight before reaching five inches of crush.
- Rear crash protection is rated using a dummy that measures forces on the neck. This test simulates a collision in which a stationary vehicle is struck in the rear at 20 mph (32 km/h).
Outstanding U.S. NCAP rating
Volvo Car Corporation's dedication to car safety has been recognized in several recent studies.
The XC60 is also the only SUV crossover with an IIHS Top Safety Pick and an overall 5 star U.S. NCAP rating. In the 2010 test, the XC60 received 5 stars in all individual crash tests, including 5 stars for the driver and 5 stars for the passenger in the frontal collision as well as 5 stars in both side tests.
Auto brake results in fewer accidents
Earlier this year, the benefits of the groundbreaking City Safety technology - featuring automatic braking in low speed situations - were documented in another IIHS report stating a reduction of the collision frequency with up to 22 percent. The IIHS study of insurance claims involving a Volvo XC60 shows that City Safety reduces the costs for personal injury claims with 51 percent - while vehicle repair costs were lowered by more than 20 percent.
A similar study by the Swedish insurance company Volvia shows that Volvo cars equipped with automatic braking are involved in 22 percent fewer rear end accidents than cars without auto brake.
** Courtesy of Volvo Cars Newsroom
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Way to go Seahawks!
Monday, December 12, 2011
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Order Parts Online
Ordering new parts has never been easier thanks to Sandberg Northwest Volvo. Just head over to our website and fill in the required information. Get started here: http://bit.ly/tbee9S
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
A ’67 Volvo 122 Wagon vs 2011 Ferrari
Some years ago we did a couple of advertisements comparing our 740 wagon to a Lamborghini. To make the comparison even, well not really even but you get the idea, we hooked up a trailer to the Lambo. At one of our U.S. auto shows, I think Detroit, I was checking out one of their cars and mentioned to their PR guy, “No luggage space.” His answer was one I guessed the moment I asked the question, “His attendants follow in their other car.” Lesson learned, clearly I was/never will be, in that league.
So we sold really fast Viking wagons, Turbo InterCooled was fast, but Wayne Balding and I found ways to make it faster. By simply loosening a 10 mm nut on the waste gate shaft, and put in about 2 turns was just about perfect to pump up boost pressure/hp, IF we were lucky we could keep the fuel pump from shutting off. Anyway, with tongue in cheek, what if we compared a 745 TIC to a Lambo. Here’s our print ad from that time:
Can a Volvo be fast? For gear heads the ultimate kind of cars are ‘sleepers’. You know, with a ratted out interior, a baby seat in the back, “Baby On Board” sign, Save the Whales bumper sticker – a white station wagon that’s stuffed with some monster V8 and a cab the size of a 55 gallon oil drum. Here’s one way to snuff a Ferrari:
** Courtesy of Volvo Cars US Blog
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Monday, December 5, 2011
Volvo Car Corporation launches automatic DRIVe diesels with the same fuel consumption as manual versions
- The 1.6-litre diesel combined with automatic Powershift gearbox now comes with the same low fuel consumption and CO2 levels as the manual DRIVe versions.
- At the same time, CO2 emissions from the turbocharged, 1.6-litre T3 petrol engine with manual gearbox are down to 135 g/km.
The new possibility to combine the four-cylinder, 1.6-litre diesel engine (115 hp) with the six-speed Powershift gearbox is available in four models: Volvo S60, V60, V70 and S80.
"For the first time ever, we have managed to bring the fuel consumption in variants with automatic gearbox down to the same level as in the manual versions. An impressive achievement by our powertrain experts," says Peter Mertens, Senior Vice President Research and Development at the Volvo Car Corporation.
Fuel consumption in the Volvo S60 with the 1.6D engine and Powershift is 4.3 l/100km. This translates into CO2 emissions at 114 g/km. The corresponding figures for the Volvo V60, V70 and S80 with the same engine and gearbox are 4.5 l/100 km and 119 g/km.
The low consumption and emission levels are the result of a number of technological improvements:
- Friction between gearbox components has been reduced.
- The engine and gearbox software have been modified.
- The start/stop system cuts off the diesel engine when the car is still rolling (below 5 km/h).
- All electrical systems have been optimised to create lower energy consumption.
Petrol powered T3 under 140 g/km
Volvo Car Corporation's DRIVe Towards Zero also includes improvements of the petrol engines.
By optimising the four-cylinder, 1.6-litre T3 engine (150 hp), which is available in the Volvo S60 and V60, the engine experts have managed to bring fuel consumption down do 5.8 l/100 km in the S60. This corresponds to CO2 emissions at 135 g/km.
The figures for the direct-injected T3 engine combined with automatic Powershift in a Volvo S60 are 7.1 l/100 km and 164 g/km.
"Keeping the CO2 emissions below 140 grams is essential since this is a level used by many fleet customers. We have managed to do this in the T3 version through a number of small, significant improvements. We have also optimised the gearbox gearing for maximum fuel efficiency without loosing the engine characteristics," says Peter Mertens.
European leader in CO2 reduction
Volvo Car Corporation leading position among European carmakers when it comes to reducing carbon dioxide emissions is shown in the annual analysis presented by the European Federation for Transport and Environment (T&E).
Volvo Car Corporation outperformed Europe's eight largest car manufacturers in 2010 by cutting overall CO2 emissions with no less than 9 percent.
"This excellent result is the outcome of a dedicated environmental focus under our "DRIVe Towards Zero" banner. One third of our research budget is earmarked for reducing CO2 emissions. Our new, upcoming Volvo Environmental Architecture engine range, which consists solely of four-cylinder engines, will ensure that we continue to beat our toughest competitors when it comes to fuel economy," says Peter Mertens.
** Courtesy of Volvo Cars Newsroom
Thursday, December 1, 2011
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