Volvo Cars faces industry slow-down in North America

With the recent plunge in the US economy, Volvo Cars is battling the drop in North American sales with a tried-and-true method-a promotional partnership with the Costco Auto Programme.

Volvo Cars S80Hoping to repeat their successful December holiday promotion targeted to Costco members, which generated more than $40 million in sales of Volvo's XC90 SUV, Volvo has partnered with the Costco Auto Programme for a summer promotion offering great value on Volvo's C70 hardtop convertible and popular S80 sedan.

Joey Large, promotional director of the Costco Auto Programme, says, "Consumers are tightening their belts to combat rising fuel prices and other cost-of-living increases.

Costco members recognise a deal and are responding to this promotion because of the great savings offered on two quality vehicles."

The results to date have far surpassed expectations and continue to climb. By receiving $500 off Volvo's employee price, all available rebates and incentives, an exclusive rebate offer on select Volvo accessories and a $500 Costco Cash card after their vehicle purchase, it's no surprise that Costco members are taking advantage of this offer.

Volvo Car launches 'Road Traffic Information' system

New Delhi, Jun 24, 2008 (Asia Pulse Data Source via COMTEX) -- VOLVY | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Luxury car maker Volvo Car India today said it has introduced Road Traffic Information (RTI) in its products for hassle free ride to predetermined unfamiliar destinations.

The navigation system, which facilitates travel to predetermined places and through unfamiliar traffic environments, would be available on demand at an additional cost of Rs 1.5 lakh, the company said in a statement.

The system functions on the basis of the information stored in a hard disk in the car and then it communicates with the satellite system to guide the driver to the defined destination.

"The RTI is an important infotainment unit in Volvo Cars globally and we are very happy to introduce it in India as well," Volvo Car India Managing Director Paul de Voijs said.

2009 Volvo XC60

The new XC60 has its world premier unveiling at the Geneva Motor Show in March, with the first cars reaching dealers in Europe in fall 2008.

The "Small Premium Utility" segment is growing quickly. Within the next few years, buyers will have at least ten crossover models to choose from. By 2009, this segment is expected to expand by 75 percent to 443,000 units.

"In order to succeed in that kind of competition, you have to create a vehicle that stands out from the crowd," says Arp. "The new XC60 bases its unique appeal on the synthesis between daringly sporty design and a range of intelligent safety systems that help the driver avoid accidents."

The big safety news is City Safety - a unique system that can help the driver avoid or reduce the effects of the type of low-speed impacts that are common in city traffic. If the car is about to strike the vehicle in front and the driver does not react, the car automatically applies the brakes.

"Volvo is the first in the world to offer this type of feature as standard," says Arp. "City Safety clearly signals that the new XC60 is the safest car Volvo has ever produced. The car is packed with our accumulated safety know-how and technology, both when it comes to preventing accidents and protecting all the occupants in a collision."

Volvo Tandem Car Concept

With a bunch of states finally getting around to banning text messaging while driving, I began to wonder what other bad-idea auto activities are illegal. Actually, the only one I really care about — or engage in — is "road head" (when the driver of a car receives oral sex, for those prudes/pedestrians out there). It's kinda mainstream, since it's been featured in movies like Crash and friggin' Parenthood, but I was thinking that since it is kinda dangerous, and potentially deadly, it must be moving violation. Right?

I couldn't find any specific written laws (by state, that is) that says that road head is a no-no. But that's actually because in so many states, regular, plain ol' BJs are totally illegal, no matter where you're giving or receiving them. Many states have ye olde tyme-y anti-gay rules that outlaw any sex that isn't penis/vagina. Here are a list that I was able to put together.

Volvo recalls 65,000 cars for air bag problem

Sweden's automaker Volvo Cars said on Monday it will recall 65,000 cars for a problem with side-impact air bags.

The recall affects 2008 models such as the V70 and XC70 and they were sold primarily in Europe, Volvo Cars spokeswoman Maria Bohlin said in a statement.

The cars' so-called "inflatable curtains" did not deploy as quickly as designed in a European safety test in the winter, due to a software problem, she said.

Volvo will recall the cars to fine-tune the software that triggers the release of the air bags, Bohlin said, adding that the company will send letters to all the owners of the affected cars and tell them to take the car to a mechanic to get this upgrade.

Volvo Teams with Pet-Safety Site

Volvo has teamed up with pet-friendly Web site BarkBuckleUP to promote in-car pet safety.

Christina Selter, the founder of BarkBuckleUP, and Volvo hit the recent New York auto show armed with facts about the dangers of driving with unsecured pets. Most people buckle up in order to save lives, Selter says, but not much thought is given to traveling pets.

“In fact, less then 2 percent of American pet parents actually utilize a pet restraint system. After an accident, first responders often have little time to access injured occupants and pets pose a unique set of problems we never thought about,” Selter said in a release.

BarkBuckleUP says the possible injury to the pet is just the most obvious pet safety issue. Pets, like people, become projectiles in an accident; a larger dog in the car with you can transform into about 3,000 pounds of deadly force, enough to kill it and a human passenger. Pets in cars also can be a danger for rescue personnel who may fear the pet will attack, especially if it’s injured. Unrestrained pets also could run into the road, causing even more problems, and involving even more people.

Volvo Boosts C30 With R-Design

Volvo Cars of North America has announced that the limited edition C30 R-design will be available in April and priced at $25,700, not including destination.

The C30 R-Design is a striking version of the new C30 hatchback. A car tweaked like this new version has to have the power to back up the tuned look, and the C30 R-Design has just that–a 227-horsepower engine that produces 236 ft-lb of torque. It’s a version of the 2.5-liter turbo five-cylinder that makes 218 hp in lesser C30s.

Four exterior colors–Black Sapphire, Titanium Grey, Orinoco Blue, and Passion red–make the car hard to miss. With a sport body kit and matte silver mirror housings, Volvo’s new “R-Design” badge seems to set out on the right foot.

Volvo Car Corporation has joined forces with fellow Swedish automaker Saab

"I see this project as a positive further development of sustainable personal transport. We have a unique opportunity to take the lead when it comes to innovations for advanced green-car technology", said Fredrik Arp, President and CEO of Volvo Car Corporation.

The joint venture will begin this year with the construction of 10 plug-in low emission vehicles that will utilize the latest in hybrid and electric technologies. Volvo will invest over 11 billion SEK ($1.8 billion) during the course of the five-year project that will primarily be undertaken in Sweden.

Both Volvo and Saab have recently shown green concepts, Volvo's at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show with the C30 Recharge, a plug-in hybrid based on the automaker's entry-level hatchback; while Saab displayed their 9-X BioHybrid at the 2008 Geneva Auto Show just last week.

Volvo Cars launches new Alcoguard to help reduce the number of alcohol-related road accidents

Alcoguard utilises fuel-cell technology - the very same technology that is used by most police forces in Europe. Before the car can be started, the driver has to blow into the wireless hand-held unit. This unit is the size of a remote control and it is stored and charged in a compartment behind the centre console. The driver's breath is analysed in the hand-held unit which then transmits the results via radio signal to the car's electronic control system. If the blood-alcohol limit of 0.2 g/l is exceeded, the engine will not start. Thanks to advanced sensors, it is not possible to use external air sources such as a pump to cheat the system.

"Fuel-cell technology is more expensive but it also produces far better results. Unlike semi-conductors, for instance, fuel-cells only react to ethanol and nothing else. In the fuel-cell, the ethanol molecules pass through a sensitive membrane and an electrical current is generated. This current is then measured. Higher current means more alcohol in the driver's breath," says Cecilia Svensson, Technical Manager for Alcoguard at Volvo Cars.

Volvo, workers to resume talks Wednesday

Volvo Trucks North America said negotiators trying to settle a strike at the company's Dublin plant will resume talks Wednesday.

"It remains the company’s major objective to arrive at a fair contract for all through the collective bargaining process. But it will require change to further develop this facility, move forward, and justify the Volvo Group’s continued investment," according to an employee memo signed by Per Carlsson, the company's president and chief executive.

Some 2,600 Volvo employees struck the plant Feb. 1 in a walkout organized by the United Auto Worekrs. The company said Thursday the plant is resuming limited production of vehicles, a claim that brought a reaction of disbelief from a union official.

Volvo XC Series

Counted among the safest cars in the world, Volvo products are synonymous with high safety standards that are its USP, but over-emphasis on this main feature of family vehicle manufacturing has worked towards allowing little scope for styling leave alone any radical lines that could ever be remotely considered fashionable. That's the first impression one gets of the XC90, which is among the best luxury SUV models in India that buyers keen on taking a full family load across long distances, safely and song-fully can hope for. However, when it comes to the good looks department, Volvo does not really stand a chance against the exclusivity of the BMW or Merck models – and the makers seem to know this pretty well, focusing, as they always have, with ensuring smaller volume manufacturing albeit in a wide choice of models to the Indian market.