Volvo V60 Labeled as a Lifestyle Wagon by Consumer Reports

The Volvo V60 Wagon looks very different from traditional boxy Volvo wagons, and Consumer Reports’ Tom Mutchler believes that’s a good thing from a styling point of view. However, when it comes to practicality, the V60 doesn’t live up to its predecessors. That’s why Consumer Reports see the V60 more as a lifestyle wagon.

After Body Panel Batteries, Volvo Gets into EV Cordless Charging Too

Volvo has announced the successful completion of a “research project, which included inductive charging for cars and buses” that took place in Belgium’s Flanders region, being partially funded by the local government.

Lennart Stegland, VP of electric propulsion systems at Volvo, stated that “the tests demonstrated that our VolvoC30 Electric can be fully charged without a power cable in about two and a half hours.”

There’s clear incentive to get this wireless charging tech up and functional, because it will boost the appeal of owning an EV in town, as you will be less troubled about parking it in the street and the prospect of petty people snipping the cord for fun. Also, there’s now the prospect of hiding the charging pads in plain sight as manhole covers – will work wonders against the aforementioned vandals, as they’ll just walk on by and overturn a trash bin or something of the sort instead.

Volvo’s intentions in the field of electrification are very clear. Not only have they launched a diesel-electric version of the V60 that went into production in 2012 and is doing very well, but they also have the C30 full-EV that they use as a test bed. It has an output of 120 hp and a maximum range of 150 km or 93 miles.

Moreover, they’re now also looking into making the batteries built into the structure and panels of a car using carbon fiber – it’s actually trick stuff, but a long way from becoming a commercially viable solution.

By Andrei Nedelea

PHOTO GALLERY

Volvo Releases the Bulls on Its New FL Distribution Truck

Remember Volvo Trucks’ promotional video featuring a hamster? Well, the Swedish truck-maker has released a similar commercial, only this time it used bulls to promote one of its products, the Volvo FL distribution truck.

In the new film named “The Chase”, the FL truck is chased by bulls in a race through Spain’s medieval town Ciudad Rodrigo. With precision driver Rob Hunt behind the wheel, the red-painted truck manages to squeeze through the town’s narrow streets while being pursued by angry bulls.

The idea behind the video is to show how easy the 12-ton FL truck is to maneuver in a demanding urban environment, on a 2-kilometer (1.24-mile) long course. “The town is old, the streets are narrow and we drive on slippery cobblestones. To be chased by bulls on top of that is a real challenge,” said Rob Hunt.

To keep ahead of the herd of bulls, he had to maintain a speed of at least 30 km/h (18.6 mph). “The bulls maintained a consistently high speed and were really close sometimes, but the truck handled the corners very well so it was just a matter of driving,” said Rob Hunt.

You can watch the unusual chase after the break.

By Dan Mihalascu

PHOTO GALLERY

VIDEO

Volvo Sends 508hp S60 Polestar Performance Concept to Russia

For a car that has already been sold to an unidentified American buyer for the paltry sum of $300,000 or the equivalent of a BMW M5 ($89,000) sedan, a Porsche 991 Carrera Convertible ($93,700) and a Corvette ZR1 ($112,600), the one-off Volvo S60 Polestar Performance Concept is sure racking up a lot of miles.
On the other hand, the buyer had been informed by Volvo officials that he would receive the car only after Polestar finishes promoting it to the media and the public.

Volvo Expands V40 Family with Sportier R-Design and Tougher Cross Country Models

The all-new Volvo V40 R-Design and V40 Cross Country received their world premiere today at the 2012 Mondial de l'Automobile in Paris. Both models are more about style than essence with the R-Design placing the emphasis on sporty looks and the Cross Country on its off-road appearance.
Beginning with the R-Design version, the Swedish carmaker's premium hatchback obtains a slightly more aggressive exterior thanks to a re-profiled front bumper, a silk-metal finish for the front grille, the new rear diffuser and the exterior mirrors, chrome exhaust pipes and 17-inch or optionally, 18-inch alloy wheels.