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.