2009 Volvo S60 Concept

Smooth and horny tend to be words which are rarely associated allowing for
Volvos. Rather, the legal brand name Volvo
generally inspires adjectives such though safe and secure. Nonetheless, the
2009
Volvo S60 concept seeks to modification that notion and instead prove
that a Volvo are often both safe and sexy.
The concept ditches the brand's aged Scandinavian artwork in
favor from the daring styling of the handsome
XC60 crossover. In front, on hand could be the robust upward stance,
thank you to the attitude of the trapezoidal grille and decrease air
intakes. The LED headlights are modeled to appear to be miniature
Viking longboats sailing up back to the V-shaped hood.
The front doors open conventionally whereas the rears are
electronic and swing out then slide rearward. The roofline is coffee
and the overall beltline is high for that coupe-like sedan profile constructed
well-liked by the
Mercedes Benz CLS. The car's lines observe a "race track" scheme
as they continue smoothly throughout the body rather in comparison to ending
abruptly. Volvo says it plans to implement about that kind of styling
into future models and that we have a tendency to may gain no longer approve added.
Inside, the concept seats four together a floating crystal center
console that runs up of front to keep. The slender leather seats are
essentially cantilevered from the center stack, and both the armrest
and seatbelt are integrated to can assist in giving the appearance that everything
is hovering. The instrument cluster continues the floating theme
and houses a different speedometer where low numbers appear farther
away. The intention is to provide the driving force a reminder of forward
motion, as though on the lookout the windshield would not suffice.
To read more concerning the 2009 Volvo
S60 Concept, move to our 2009 Detroit auto display blogs coverage.
Each one the hottest blogs from the Editors of Automobile Magazine can be
found These.
We've were given got our whole employees wandering the floor at Cobo Hall bringing
back measure footage and more knowledge about all the recent debuts from
Detroit.
For whole coverage of the 2009 Detroit auto show, click
HERE.



The concept also is sufficient to showcase a number of Volvo's
latest safety breakthroughs-namely its "Collision Warning with Full
Auto Brake and Pedestrian Detection." The highlight of the
technology is its talent to automatically activate the car's full
braking power in certain cases - one of and is the explanation why after a pedestrian
steps into the trail of the vehicle; a more in-depth is when a low-speed
collision is detected. The system warns the motive force via a heads up
display and will intervene if he or he or she does not attain off the
Blackberry and briefly step on the brakes.
A new turbocharged four-cylinder 1.6-liter engine lies beneath
the hood of the concept. The engine is the first to apply Volvo's
economical GTDi (Gasoline Turbocharged Direct Injection) technology.
It also uses stratified combustion that enables the engine to
operate along with a surplus of air, thus reducing fuel consumption. It
is mated to a Powershift dual-clutch gearbox, and brands One hundred eighty
hp.
Volvo says the concept will return an spectacular 5.0 l/100 km
(47 mpg), less than doing therefore is no longer purely the duty of the new engine and
transmission. The auto features alternative eco-goodies such as electrical
power guidance, auto start/stop, and a "DRIVe-Mode." During this mode,
fuel consumption is additional reduced by shutting off non-essential
accessories. The car's body is created from lightweight materials, and
flat underbody panels and a grille shutter lessen aerodynamic
drag.
If the 2010 S60 production model is even just favor the concept,
perhaps Acura
and BMW
be afflicted by reason for worry. The S60 hasn't ever been the toughest
warrior during the competitive entry-luxury sedan market, but this
mid-sizer could be the Viking awl that Volvo needed to go back on a swing
at its Japanese and German rivals.
To read more about the 2009
Volvo S60 Concept, go to our 2009 Detroit auto show blogs
coverage. All the latest blogs from the Editors of Automobile
Magazine can be found HERE.
We've got our whole staff wandering the floor at Cobo Hall bringing
back live photos and more information about all the new debuts from
Detroit.
For complete coverage of the 2009 Detroit auto show, click
HERE.

2009 Volvo XC70

Likes:
The smooth Scandinavian interior allowing for brushed aluminum.
The beautiful matte-wood accents (part up of the $2995 Premium
Package).
The funky plus distinct exterior styling.
Dislikes:
The over the top side-to-side body shake taking place the highway.
The extra-wide and nonsupportive seats.
The occasional tinny metal grinding noise returning up of the left
front undercarriage.
The price.
The fuel economy.



The XC70 could be the brilliant automobile. It does everything it possesses engineered
to perform and appears and feels damn sensible doing it; a legitimate SUV
different.
Unlike Jean, I found the seats to be supportive and
comfortable. Yes, they are already wide less than I found them to be firm with
simply the correct quantity of facilitate give to cosset my tush.
The controls are intuitive and straightforward to apply, and which i found it thus
refreshing to be in an exceedingly beautifully designed and lavishly furnished
car and not be afflicted by a multi-media interface to contend with. Evidence
that it looks feasible to build a luxury car with every one the bells and
whistles while not having a one-button system to management it all, and
doing it in a tidy, logical approach that does not overwhelm the motive force
along with a ocean of dash buttons. I prefer the matte wooden and purely Volvo
can canopy an interior from floor to ceiling with light-weight coloured
materials and change it work. It's simple, delicate, and oozes
modernity.
Entering and exiting are a breeze for the reason that the XC70 is taller
in comparison to a sedan but shorter than an SUV. The hatch swallows a load of
stuff, and the ultimate well-placed carry out something positive concerning on the interior of the hatch door
brands it simple to close while not touching the outdoors of the auto,
which explains a bonus after the vehicle is coated in road salt.
The mileage is a little touch disappointing. But if you compare the
XC70's numbers with the ones of mid-size crossovers just like the Mazda
CX-7 or the Lexus
RX, they do not seem to be that a long way off.



I admire to assume about myself as a devoted Yankee. I've never
visited Canada. I eat red meat lots of times pertaining to week and build certain
to throw out all or any leftovers. I have been currently known to disparage the
Useless, er, United Nations. But as I piloted the XC70 around a
supermarket parking heap crammed with SUVs and crossovers, I may gain
not help but wonder: What is inaccurate with about that
country?
Seriously, spending previous point during the XC70 makes it awfully challenging
to appreciate why individuals have such an aversion to station wagons.
The Volvo
has dozens of room for five people and his or her situations, features
all-wheel-drive versatility, and handles and rides sort of a car -
because it is a car. A really good one at that.
I loved shopping at all the offbeat shapes and grains on the
dash, also if all of them felt a little added durable than what one expects
in a close to $50,000 vehicle. Like Jean, I consideration the seats could make use of
a little more bolstering, but that probably had a lot to do with the
way I used to be driving. Of course, I had to demonstrate those high-sitting
buffoons what they were missing.



The Volvo
XC70 has such a enormous amount of things definitely going for it, it's too dangerous it does not
drive better. This Volvo
strikes me as a european Buick.
It is very relaxing to drive and a pleasant car overall, but the inability of
body control and some distance too cushy suspension attain ancient briefly. As Jean
pointed out, on hand is way an excessive amount of side-to-side motion and head
toss in the Volvo. Plus, large undulations in the line overwhelm
the suspension. I am sure this holds not helped by the greater ride
height during this XC model. My only alternative complaint about this wagon
is from a styling standpoint. I loathe the exterior plastic
cladding or the proportions of the current newest version of Volvo's
iconic wagon.
But then there is the great things. The interior is beautiful, and
the seats are typical Volvo excellent. The heated seats and the
climate control attend figure quickly, and the outward visibility is
outstanding. I also like the scale of this wagon. It is a great step
up from my wife's
Subaru Legacy, offering more rear seat room and a nice bump in
cargo space.
Finally, I advise that any one who requirements an XC70 to opt up for
this turbocharged engine. Both models of the XC70 get lovely
horrible fuel mileage (15 in the city, and coffee 20s on the highway),
but the smoother, more powerful turbocharged model gets the identical
18-mpg combined rating and loses out on only one mpg on the highway
(22 mpg on the highway). Continue to, I expected better mileage of the
this car. An AWD Ford
Flex gets slightly better EPA ratings than this XC70. More to
the purpose, the 2009
Audi A6 Avant also has all-wheel-drive plus a more powerful,
supercharged V-6, and it is rated at Eighteen mpg city, Twenty-one mpg combined,
and Twenty-six mpg highway. That could be a considerable improvement in comparison with
the Volvo.



I prefer the appearance and the pricetag (about $4000 less) of the
fewer butch V70, but the XC70 certainly incorporates a lot to present
(all-wheel drive, aggressive tires, increased ground clearance) for
certain consumers, particularly Snow Belters who measure on gravel
roads. The turbocharged engine also is simply not on the market on the V70,
even though I could slightly tell that this car had the turbo, because
it is a particularly low-pressure unit, and this is numerous car to move
around. The XC70 has good enough power, are not getting me wrong; it's just
not rapid.
As Jen noted, the interior is beautiful and intensely stylish,
typical of Volvo's
latest efforts. (The hot, hot heated seats are great for both
Sweden and Michigan winters, too!) I also like the exterior
styling, although I'm not wild about the dark diminish cladding.
Still, the XC70 doesn't go overboard on the SUV features/looks, and
it is very functional. Sure the fuel mileage could be better,
but a minimum of this pseudo-SUV is no longer as wasteful as genuine ones.



2009
Volvo XC70
Base Price (with destination): $40,295
Price as tested: $46,935
Options:
Metallic Paint - $475
Premium Package - $2995
-Power Glass Moonroof
-Power Passenger's Seat
-Modern Wood Interior Decor Inlays
Child Spice up Seats/Climate and Tech Package - $3170
-Heated Front Seats
-Heated Windshield Washing machine Nozzles
-Integrated Infant Booster Seats
-Active Bending Headlights
-Premium Surround System
-SIRIUS Satellite Radio
Fuel Economy: Fifteen / Twenty-two / 18 mpg (city/hwy/combined)
Engine:
Size: Turbo 3.0L in-line 6
Horsepower: 281 hp @ 6200 rpm
Torque: 295 lb-ft @ 3200 rpm
Safety Ratings (in stars, 1-5):
Frontal Crash Driver: To Be Determined
Frontal Crash Passenger: TBD
Side Crash Front Seat: TBD
Side Crash Rear Seat: TBD
Rollover: TBD
Transmission: 6-Speed Automatic
Weight: 3970 lb
Wheel/Tire Info:
- 17" Aluminum Wheels (size)
- All-Season Tires

2009 Volvo XC90 AWD

Boy could be which about that automobile obtaining ancient. From the legal antiquated dash
artwork to the squeaks plus rattles around city, I suppose it appearance previous point
for Volvo
to discover started brooding concerning launching a recent 3-row SUV. Also,
the three.2-liter inline-six isn't always any or each one smoother compared to a good amount up of V-6 engines
and the final fuel economy of the current XC90 is simply not spectacular.
Like most Volvo models, the nice qualities shine after you
settle keep to the cosseting seats on a swish highway run. In that
state of affairs, this Swedish SUV continue to feels lovely sensible.



Yep, the smartest factor about this Volvo
XC90 tend to be its terribly handsome, very comfortable seats, swathed in
wealthy, creamy leather and accented allowing for contrasting piping. They
virtually appear to be they returned from a choice Rover. Less than the remainder of the
vehicle, as Marc points out, is pretty superseded, and the vehicle's
dynamics are a comprehensive generation in the dirt the competition.
It's troublesome to inform what is definitely going on to take place to Volvo
- its owner, Ford,
is attempting to locate somebody to install the Swedish carmaker - but after it
lands a new caretaker, the first order of industrial desires to be
development of a fashionable, three-row crossover SUV. Readily available are purely a just
approach too several crossovers out there for this kind of money that are
a heap better to drive than the XC90.



I additionally suffer from never driven an XC90 in years, thus I consideration it might be a
good concept to spend a weekend with this R-design example. As Marc
and Joe have pointed out, the 3.2-liter I-6 is getting tired together
with the remainder of the vehicle. There have been a couple squeaks and rattles
present, but I did not mind that the maximum amount as Marc because I spent most
of my time making an attempt to plow through a fresh dusting of snow. I
appreciated the awd but the braking performance, with all-season
tires, used to be pretty poor in snow.
Inside, the XC90 still looks and feels good. As Joe points
out, the seats appear upscale and are supremely comfortable. It has
amazing what percentage automakers carry out not have comfortable seats in luxury
automobiles. Volvo
might not have much right with the XC90 anymore but a minimum of there is
no physical discomfort and the ergonomics are acceptable.



Yes, the XC90 is beginning to demonstrate its age, but the qualities
for which Volvo
is better currently known - its security measures - are still there in spades,
with roll stability management, a blind-spot warning system, and high
ratings in each and every NHTSA crash take a look at. On the plus facet, the cabin
environment is comfortable (the better seats during the business), and,
with all-wheel drive, this SUV is comforting to plow through the
snow. Still, the XC90 would absolutely advantage from a bunch of upgrades,
starting with the base engine - the 281-hp 3.0-liter inline six
that can gain be in the hot XC60 would appear to be an excellent work. Updated
interior and exterior styling would not damage, either.



I concur: seats from the gods! If I could have pulled one out
and dropped it in my living room, I might have. The leather is
amazingly cushy and the contrasting colour insert and side piping is
a rich, engaging detail which, as DeMatio noted, brands them look
as though they came from a Number Rover. The upright seating position
and tall side windows can assist in giving the driving force a commanding view of the line
underneath, a closer aspect that could be paying homage to a
Land Rover.
If only the remainder of the vehicle felt as prime quality. After
only a couple of minutes in the XC90, the mechanism inside the direction
wheel adjustment lever broke exiting the lever dangling from the
side of the column and forcing me to brace the wheel for the rest
of my drive so it did not move up, down, or forward. The lever
ultimately popped back into place but it is indicative of the
second-rate quality that is sprinkled throughout the XC90's
cabin.
The engine is not particularly smooth and it struggles to move
this almost 4500 pound vehicle with any urgency. Another negative
is the legal giant turning radius which I discovered pulling into my
side-entry garage. I had to back up and take a look at out once added. Twice. This
would definitely come back into play around town and in decent parking
lots.



These posh seats that everyone's fawning over are reputedly
a section of our tester's R-design package, which explains one of the number of
attempts Volvo's
constructed at modernizing the XC90. Between the flowery seats, sporty
wheels, and an auxiliary audio jack awkwardly placed right smack
between the cupholders, there's small to distinguish this 2009
XC90 from an original 2002 model.
Perhaps this wouldn't feel so dated if Volvo did not have more moderen
all-wheel-drive crossovers in its lineup. Nevertheless it does. And when the
all-new XC60 (or even a XC70, for that matter) looks and drives so
much better, you may begin puzzling over if the new model isn't value
the additional $200 over a base XC90.
Although you'll get rid of two seats and a few interior space in the
process, I would argue that the XC60 is the legal much better vehicle. You'll
still get the identical all-wheel-drive grip, but during a package that's
both sublime and latest. Unless you absolutely wish to have your next
Volvo to be a seven-seater, I'd have a look at the second XC models.



Inline sixes seldom shake prefer wet dogs at idle. This one
does. The explanation why few manufacturers cram such an engine sideways
between the front wheels is that it results in a massive flip circle.
In the Volvo
XC90, you want a full 40 feet to whole a U-turn between
curbs, 2.4-feet more than just in an Acura
MDX. To take a look at winter mobility, I drove into the teeth of a
Michigan hurricane, an assignment this hulk completed with pride.
Except for a marginally lazy stability-system engagement, the XC90
soldiered forth sort of a letter carrier anticipating the finish of his
route. To learn about passenger accommodations, I ushered four adults and
three youngsters aboard to move to Detroit's gala boat display. Loading the
back row posed a more awkward climb than is typical of minivans but
otherwise this mid-size SUV performed like a consummate servant.
For $40,000+, it ought to. But since fun-to-drive is missing, I'd
sooner invest in a Grand Caravan and pocket the $10,000 value
difference.



2009
Volvo XC90 AWD
Base Price (with destination): $42,245
Price as tested: $47,590
Options:
- Metallic Paint - $525
- Climate & Technology Package - $2970
- Heated Front Seats, Rain Sensor/Headlight Washers, Dynaudio
Premium Sound System, Rear Seat Headphone Jacks and Audio
Controls
- Electronically Controlled AWD - $1850
Fuel Economy: Fourteen / 20 / Sixteen (city/hwy/combined)
Engine:
Size: 3.2 Liter 6-Cylinder DOHC Alloy Engine
HP: 235 HP @ 6200 RPM
Torque: 236 lb.-ft @ 3200 RPM
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Weight: 4464 lb.
Wheel/Tire Info:
- 19" Alloy Wheels
- All-Season Tires