Autoholiks » Volvo

Wards Auto Declares 2010 Auto Interior Award Winners

admin — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 05:46:59 +0000

The Best? You bet!

Interiors is an area which is often overlooked as far as auto awards are concerned but the fact remains that you spend most of your time inside your car with the interiors. Wards Auto has announced the winners of its annual Auto Interior of the year awards for the year 2010.

A total of 40 cars in different categories were evaluated for a number of parameters to come up with the winners list. One of the most coveted of them has gone to Infiniti M56 which has been rated number one for having the best interiors in a luxury car. Other notable winners include Lexus HS 250h for the best interiors in a hybrid car, Chevrolet Camaro in the sports car category and BMW 550i, the only german entry apart from the Porsche Panamera which won it for Inspired Design, for Design Versatility.

Jump over to check out the complete list of winners.

Source: wards auto

2010 winners, Best Auto Interiors:

Subaru Outback (Popular-Priced car under $29,999)
Infiniti M56 (Premium-Priced car)
Lexus HS 250h (Hybrid car)
Chevrolet Camaro (Sports car)
Chevrolet Equinox (Popular-Priced truck under $39,999)
Volvo XC60 (Premium-Priced truck)
Acura ZDX (Design Breakthrough)
Mazdaspeed3 (Brand Expression)
BMW 550i Gran Turismo (Design Versatility)
Porsche Panamera Turbo (Inspired Design)

Liked this, you may also want to read these

March 18, 2010 -- Diamler India Commercial Vehicles Unveils Test Track In Chennai
May 7, 2010 -- 2010 Toyota Corolla Gets a Facelift In Europe – Altis To Follow?
July 26, 2010 -- Leaked Official Images: Audi A7 Sportback
August 10, 2010 -- Spy Shots: BMW M5 F10, Interiors Shots For The First Time
February 4, 2010 -- 2010 Bajaj Pulsar 150 DTSi Coming Soon
April 12, 2010 -- 2012 Audi A6 Rendered
March 31, 2010 -- Volkswagen Launches Passat 1.8 TSI Petrol and Jetta 2.0 CDR Diesel

Volvo Goes To Geely For $1.8 Bn

admin — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 04:56:33 +0000

Image Courtesy: boston.com

China’s largest private run car maker, Zhejiang Geely Holding Group has today agreed to buy Ford motor company’s Volvo car division for $1.8 bn, country’s biggest overseas auto purchase. The sale will be closed by the third quarter of this year, pending regulatory approvals.

The final purchase price includes some of Volvo’s intellectual property and physical assets. The agreement allows Volvo to grant sublicences to certain portions of Ford’s intellectual property used by Volvo cars to third parties, including Geely. Ford will also continue to supply powertrains, stampings and other system to Volvo for an undisclosed transition period due to component sharing between the two companies.

“Volvo is a great brand with an excellent product lineup. This agreement provides a solid foundation for Volvo to continue to build its business under Geely’s ownership,” said Alan Mulally, Ford’s president and CEO. “At the same time, the sale of Volvo will allow us to further sharpen our focus on building the Ford brand around the world and continue to deliver on our One Ford plan serving our customers with the very best cars and trucks in the world.”

The new owner Geely plans to keep the brand and operations including Volvo’s headquarters, production facility and research facility in Sweeden.

“Zhejiang Geely would like to pay tribute to Ford’s stewardship of the Volvo brand, and we look forward to continued cooperation as Volvo embarks on the next stage of its evolution with Geely,” said Li Shufu, chairman of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Company Limited.

Jump over to read the press release.

Press Release

FORD REACHES AGREEMENT TO SELL VOLVO CARS AND RELATED ASSETS TO GEELY; SALE EXPECTED TO CLOSE IN THIRD QUARTER

DEARBORN, Mich., 28, 2010 – Ford Motor Company [NYSE: F] today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell Volvo Car Corporation and related assets to Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Company Limited.
The sale is expected to close in the third quarter of 2010, and is subject to customary closing conditions, including receipt of applicable regulatory approvals.

The purchase price for Volvo Cars and related assets (primarily intellectual property) is $1.8 billion (U.S.), which will be paid in the form of a note in the amount of $200 million (U.S.), and the remainder in cash. The cash portion of the purchase price will be adjusted at close for customary purchase price adjustments relating to pension deficits, debt, cash and working capital, the net effect of which could be a significant decrease in the cash proceeds to Ford.

Ford will continue to cooperate with Volvo Cars in several areas after the sale has been completed in order to ensure a smooth transition, but will not retain any ownership in the Volvo Cars business.

Following completion of the sale, Ford will continue to supply Volvo Cars with, for differing periods, powertrains, stampings and other vehicle components.

As part of the sale, Ford also has committed to provide engineering support, information technology, access to tooling for common components, and other selected services for a transition period to ensure a smooth separation process.

Ford and Geely have established agreements to govern the use of intellectual property; these agreements will allow both Volvo and Ford to deliver their business plans and provide appropriate safeguards against misuse. These agreements also will allow Volvo Cars to grant sublicenses to certain portions of Ford’s intellectual property used by Volvo Cars to third parties, including Geely.

“The Volvo team has done an exceptional job of restructuring its business and remaining focused on delivering its plan during the sale process,” said Lewis Booth, Ford’s chief financial officer. “With Ford’s continued investment in Volvo, it has launched its best-ever product range and remained true to its core values – safety, quality, environmental responsibility and modern Scandinavian design.

“We look forward to continuing to work with Volvo Cars, and wish the management team, employees and new owners every success for the future.”

Stephen Odell, CEO of Volvo Cars, added, “The Volvo management team fully endorses Ford’s sale of Volvo Cars to Geely. We believe this is the right outcome for the business, and will provide Volvo Cars with the necessary resources, including the capital investment, to strengthen the business and to continue to move it forward in the future.

“Geely has been very supportive of Volvo Cars’ business plans and management team. We look forward to building a strong relationship between Volvo Cars and Geely, and to maintaining a strong relationship with Ford in those areas where we will continue to work together to ensure a smooth transition.”

March 21, 2011 -- Honda CBR250R Priced At Rs 1.43 Lakhs Non-ABS & Rs 1.68 Lakhs For ABS
October 17, 2010 -- Ford Figo Becomes The 5th Highest Selling Car In India
October 6, 2010 -- Ford Figo Discover Smart Drive Kicks Off
September 14, 2010 -- Ford announces the Ford Figo Smart & Smarter India Tour
September 14, 2010 -- Ford Launches Endeavour 3.0-litre 4×2 Automatic (AT)
September 2, 2010 -- Ford August 2010 Sales Jump Three Fold To 7,925 Units
August 26, 2010 -- Ford To Launch 8 New Models By Mid Decade In India

2011 Volvo S60 previewed ahead of Geneva Debut

admin — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 11:17:28 +0000

Volvo has previewed its newest midsize sedan, the S60 is out before its official public debut at the upcoming Geneva motor show.

Remaining true to the concept shown at the Detroit motor show last year, the new S60 is a serious blend of cutting edge technology and safety features. The new S60 comes with a new pedestrian detection system that can force the car to a full stop if a collision with a person is imminent. The car is able to avoid accidents at speeds upto 35 kmph and if travelling faster, the system is able to significantly reduce the speed to lessen the impact.

The front end sits lower and is rounded and therefore pedestrian safe while the sloping coupe like profile and high shoulder give this car a very squat planted stance. The headlights come with now starndard for the industry daytime running lights and the front bumper now includes air inlets to cool the brakes. The “less wrapping” rear lamps which now extend to the boot lid are LEDs. The new S60 is longer, wider and has a longer wheelbase like it with every next generation iteration and weighs less than 100 pounds more than the outgoing model.

Jump over for more details, image gallery and detailed press release.

Power for the range topping S60 comes from a twin-scroll turbocharged 3.0 litre inline-six engine developing a healthy 304 bhp and 404 nm of torque available right from an almost idle 1500 rpm! The engine is mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission while the power is harnessed by a Haldex all wheel drive system to enable it to accelerate from o-100 kph in 6.5 seconds, topping at a heady 250 kmph. Inspite of all the power and performance, Volve claims a 10 percent reduction in fuel consumption to 23 mpg for the combined cycle.

Other engine options include the brand new 2.0 litre turbocharged GTDi direct injection unit that produces 203 bhp and 300 nm of torque for a 7.7 second 0-100 kph sprint time. Two diesel engines will also be on offer, a 2.0 and 2.4 litre turbodiesel engines developing 163 bhp of maximum power and 400 nm maximum torque and 205 bhp maximum power and 420 nm of maximum torque respectively. Volvo will add three more petrol engines and a diesel during the course of second year of production.

For the first time buyers will also have a choice for the suspension setup. Three system are available – Base, Dynamic and Four-C Adaptive. The optional Dynamic package will use stiffer springs and bushings with retuned dampers and thicker piston rods while the Four-C system utilize Volvo’s new adaptive damping system.

The new Volvo S60 will go on sale starting this summer.

Image Gallery: 2011 Volvo S60 Sedan

The all-new Volvo S60 – sculpted to move you

The all-new Volvo S60 has its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show on the 2nd of March. It makes its entry into one of the automotive world’s toughest segments and is backed by an extroverted attitude that promises to deliver a thrilling driving experience, innovative safety and gorgeous design.

The all-new S60 has been sculpted to move you – both physically and emotionally.
It is without a doubt the most dynamic car model Volvo has ever introduced – and its Pedestrian Detection with Full Auto Brake is a groundbreaking safety feature.

“The sporty design delivers a visual promise of enthusiastic driving characteristics and I can assure you that the all-new S60 truly lives up to that promise,” says Volvo Cars President and CEO Stephen Odell. “Its driving properties are better than those of any previous Volvo. The all-new S60’s innovative new technologies help you become both a better and a safer driver.” With the all-new Volvo S60, Volvo Cars is advancing its position in one of the car world’s most competitive segments: CD Premium.

“The competition is razor-sharp and the customers know exactly what they want. The emphasis is on emotional stance, sporty design and dynamic driving properties. Success in this segment means a lot for the brand’s image and we are convinced that the all-new S60 will be one of the strongest contenders,” continued Odell.

Stunning coupe design with four doors
The all-new S60 is sportier and more dynamic than any previous Volvo. But it is still an unmistakable representative of Scandinavian design at its best.

“The S60 has been sculpted to move you. Every single line in its design is there to transport you both physically and emotionally. Its profile is very coupe-like so that the rear doors come as something of a pleasant surprise when you examine the car close-up,” noted Volvo Cars’ Design Director Peter Horbury.

The C-pillar of the all-new S60 stretches sensually all the way to the tail lamps – and the slim coupe-like roof line is accompanied by a new contour at the shoulders on either side of the lower body, creating a gentle yet powerful double wave that sweeps continuously from the headlights to the tail lights.

The dip in the middle of the double wave visually pushes the car down. This enhances the S60’s aggressive stance and makes the car look sleeker and lower. The sculpted hood and the short overhangs front and rear also emphasize the sports-car feel.

The most dynamic Volvo ever
The all-new S60 is much more than a beautiful study in design. It is without a doubt the most driver-oriented car model Volvo has ever presented.

“This project has been about pure passion for the task of driving Volvo’s chassis development expertise to its very pinnacle. We’ve crossed into territory where we’ve never been before,” commented Stefan Sällqvist, who is in charge of developing the chassis of the all-new S60.

In the U.S., it is planned that the all-new S60 will be offered with the sporty “Dynamic” chassis as standard, while other markets will be offered with a “Comfort” chassis as standard and the “Dynamic” chassis as an option.

The difference in ride and handling between the two chassis alternatives can be found in the dampers and the front and rear subframes. The Comfort variant has a somewhat softer setting to give a smoother ride on poorer road surfaces.

During the development process, the chassis team carved out a holistic solution featuring changes and refinements for virtually every single detail that influences a car’s driving properties. This includes improved steering, stiffer springs and bushings as well as more damping than in any previous Volvo.

The software in the All-Wheel Drive (AWD) system, which is standard on the S60 T6, has been modified to exploit the sporty new chassis to the limit. The all-new S60 can be specified with the advanced, self-adjusting FOUR-C active chassis. The FOUR-C active chassis has been modified and refined for better control and more comfortable feel compared to previous Volvos.

First sedan with Advanced Stability Control
The dynamic new chassis in the all-new Volvo S60 is backed up by a range of electronic systems that sharpen the driving experience even further.

The S60 is the first sedan model on the market with Advanced Stability Control. With a new roll angle sensor, it is possible to identify any skidding tendency at a very early stage. This means that the Dynamic Stability and Traction Control (DSTC) can step in earlier and with greater precision. Advanced Stability Control is a great asset in dynamic driving involving considerable lateral forces, thus improving handling and rapid avoidance maneuvers.

Corner Traction Control for tighter cornering
Corner Traction Control is a new feature that uses torque vectoring so the car takes curves with agility and precision. This technology is a further refinement of the DSTC system. When cornering, the car’s inner driven wheel is braked at the same time as more power is transmitted to the outer driven wheel. This allows the driver to take the curve more tightly while reducing any tendency to understeer.

A highly advanced braking system is an important part of the dynamic driving properties of the all-new S60. The sedan is equipped with a number of features that interact to provide the shortest possible stopping distance in all scenarios.

Exquisite quality inside
The interior of the all-new S60 takes Volvo Cars to a new dimension in terms of exclusive quality. In addition, Volvo Cars’ designers have added excitement, contrast and playfulness to the clean simplicity of Scandinavian design tradition.

“The interior has a more extroverted attitude than before, but without losing any of its practical Scandinavian roots. The all-new S60 brings us up to a whole new level when it comes to the integral experience of color, form, material and technology,” said Horbury. Scandinavian design is often described with rational adjectives such as functionality, simplicity and clarity. When creating the all-new S60, the design team added a modern touch and details that generate excitement, contrast and playfulness.

The interior of the all-new S60 is lavish in terms of its driver-oriented details, but it is still a five-passenger car offering comfortable space for all its occupants. The sculpted outer rear seats give the passenger in the middle welcome side support. The all-new S60 benefits from a nearly 2.5-inch increase in wheelbase, from 106.9 inches to 109.3 inches over the previous-generation S60. This increase has a direct impact on rear seat leg room. Rear passengers will notice a 2.0-inch increase in leg room. Knee space in the rear seat has also increased by 1.2 inches compared with the previous-generation S60. The rear seat splits 40/60 and the trunk is 4.2 inches wider than in the previous S60.

Pedestrian Detection with Full Auto Brake
The sporty interior of the all-new S60 is also the most advanced vehicle ever offered to a Volvo driver.

“The interior of the all-new S60 is all about innovative design in two areas: form and technology,” noted Tomas Ahlborg, Project Director for the all-new S60. “The design is characterized by sporty freshness down to the smallest detail. The technological aspect includes smart solutions that contribute to a driving experience unlike that of any other Volvo – from collision avoidance safety and comfort systems to infotainment and audio excellence of absolute world class.”

Pedestrian Detection with Full Auto Brake is a groundbreaking technological solution. It can detect pedestrians who walk into the road in front of the car, warn the driver – and automatically apply full braking power if the driver does not respond in time.

“We are truly proud of our success in making our technology so reliable that we can offer a complete system that can avoid a collision with a pedestrian by detecting, alerting and applying full braking. It’s a world first, to the best of our knowledge,” noted Thomas Broberg, Senior Safety Advisor at Volvo Cars. “With this technology we have increased the braking force in our automatic braking system from fifty percent to full stopping power,”

Can avoid collision with a pedestrian at up to 22 mph
In an emergency situation the driver first receives an audible warning combined with a flashing light in the windscreen’s head-up display. At the same time, the car’s brakes are pre-charged. If the driver does not react to the warning and an accident is imminent, full braking power is automatically applied.

Pedestrian Detection with Full Auto Brake can avoid a collision with a pedestrian at speeds of up to about 22 mph if the driver does not react in time. At higher speeds, the focus is on slowing down the S60 as much as possible prior to the impact.

A lower speed of impact means that the risk of serious injury is significantly reduced. For instance, if speed is cut from 30 mph to 15 mph, Pedestrian Detection with full auto brake is expected to reduce the fatality risk by as much as 20 percent and in some cases by up to 85 percent.

City Safety standard
The all-new Volvo S60 also features City Safety as standard.

With City Safety, the car automatically brakes if the driver fails to react in time when the vehicle in front slows down or stops – or if he or she is driving too fast towards a stationary object. The system can lessen or even entirely avoid low-speed rear-end impacts at speeds up to 18 mph.

More powerful T6 version offered in the U.S.
In the U.S., the all-new S60 will be initially offered with a more powerful version of the T6 engine currently offered in the XC60 premium crossover. All T6 models come standard with Volvo’s all-wheel-drive system.

The turbocharged T6 displaces 3.0 liters and has been improved still further, primarily thanks to lower internal friction. It now pumps out 300 hp and no less than 325 lb.-ft. of torque. Acceleration from 0-60 mph takes 6.2 seconds and top speed is electronically limited to 155 mph.

The engine’s power is delivered to the wheels via Volvo’s second-generation six-speed automatic Geartronic transmission. New valves and lower friction mean faster gear changes than before.

New infotainment system – and world-class audio system
The all-new S60 gets an all-new infotainment system where information from the audio unit, navigation system, Bluetooth-enabled phones and other functions are presented on a seven-inch high-resolution color screen (U.S. models) in the upper part of the center console. The screen is installed high in the instrument panel to make it easy for the driver to keep his or her eyes on the road.

“We are one of the few manufacturers to give the driver access to all infotainment functions via controls in the steering wheel,” noted Ahlborg,

The audio experience in the all-new S60 has been enhanced compared with previous models.

One of the first car models with MultEQ
The Volvo S60 is one of the first car models in the world to use Audyssey Laboratories MultEQ technology, the standard for room equalization in the home and professional theater markets. MultEQ removes distortion caused by the car cabin’s acoustics, enabling crisp, clear sound with improved sound quality for everyone in the car.

“Our most advanced system, Premium Sound, has a class-D digital 5×130W amplifier with circuits from Sweden’s Anaview, Dolby Digital in combination with Dolby Pro Logic II Surround, the award-winning MultEQ from Audyssey Laboratories and 12 loudspeakers. All this creates an audio experience of absolute world class,” said Ahlborg.

In addition to the top-of-the line Premium Sound, the all-new S60 is available with a choice of three other audio systems.

Annual target 90,000 cars globally
The initial annual target for the all-new Volvo S60 is 90,000 cars. The customer base is spread unusually uniformly throughout the world. Europe (including Russia), North America and the rest of the world will each account for about one-third of total sales.

The all-new S60 is built at the Volvo Cars factory in Ghent, Belgium. The first cars will be delivered to European customers this September, with U.S. S60s arriving late 2010. Pricing for the all-new S60 will be announced closer to the car’s on-sale date in the U.S.

“Irrespective of whether the customers are in the USA, Europe or elsewhere in the world, they all prioritize the same characteristics. Now we are giving them an entirely new S60 that has a unique appeal to even the most discerning of buyers,” says Stephen Odell.