Autoblog

Diesels and hybrids are currently fighting it out on sales floors across the world, with diesels taking claiming early victory in Europe, while hybrids hold their own in America. Volvo plans to combine the two fuel-saving technologies by 2012 in both the U.S. and across the pond. According to early reports, the system used by the Swedish automaker will be an advanced full-hybrid, with either the electric motors or an oil-burning engine capable of moving the vehicle independently. All-wheel drive will also be part of the package, as the front wheels would be powered by the diesel engine while the rears would be electrically motivated. Shortly thereafter, the automaker would release a plug-in version of its hybrid.

Before any of this takes place, Volvo will take a few hybrid baby-steps in the form of stop/start technology on its smaller models before spreading across the line. In contrast, the diesel hybrids will begin at the top, equipped in larger sedans and SUVs. Considering that Volvo's been able to get up to 76 mpg from its non-hybrid diesel DRIVe models, we will have high expectations for its diesel hybrids.


[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

In the wake of Paul Newman's passing just over a week ago, we've seen countless, wonderful tributes to the man written from different points of view. He's remembered as an actor, a colleague, a racer, and most importantly, a towering philanthropist. One of the best non-written remembrances, however, comes from the mouth of David Letterman, who paid respect to Newman in one of his monologues on The Late Show last week.

The whole thing's worth watching, but at around 3:45 in, Dave gets to the story about when Newman called him up one day and talked him into buying a custom Volvo wagon (a 960) with a supercharged Ford V8 underhood. You see, Newman was having one made and was very pumped up about it, so he asked if Dave wanted one, too. And you know, how do you say no to Paul Newman? Dave recounts the whole affair beautifully, and of course, it's also funny.

After you watch the clip, head over to Swedespeed, where in 2003 they profiled a third car just like the ones built for Newman and Letterman, with even more background about Newman's car and what went into the build. This is the very definition of "sleeper."

[Source: The Sheila Variations]

Vehicle sales are brutal everywhere of late, but Volvo has been tanking long before any industry-wide slowdown took place. That makes the March 2009 arrival of the XC60 crossover that much more important, as it's the first all-new Volvo (besides the low volume C30) in many years. Since customers have been turning away from the Volvo brand of late, marketing will play a big part of the XC60's success. Volvo has unleashed its new campaign for the CUV already with the tagline, "The new Volvo XC60. From Sweden with löv." We get it. Volvo is stressing its Swedish roots in marketing its new vehicle. Hey, it works for IKEA, right? Volvo even utilized the Swedish spelling for 'love' to give its new crossover more Euro appeal.

Our tipster Caitlin didn't think it works at all. The reason? Löv means 'leaves' in Swedish and has nothing to do with that certain brand of affection that makes our cheeks blush. According to Caitlin, Lov without the umlaut means 'vacation' or 'break', which sounds like a better advertising angle for a CUV than leaves, but just doesn't look as "Swedish" in print. The proper translation of 'love' into Swedish is "kärlek", so when you begin seeing the XC60 on U.S. streets next March, just remember that it comes from Sweden with kärlek. Thanks for the tip, Caitlin!


[Source: Volvo]

Rumors of a new Volvo hot hatch have gotten hot again with talk of a new 300-horsepower C30 for Europe. According to reports, the new model would be powered by the same 2.5-liter inline-five cylinder turbo engine that powers the new Ford Focus RS. One difference between the two cars, which share a similar platform, is that the Swedish beauty would be offered with a Haldex all-wheel drive system in contrast to the Blue Oval's torque-steer inducing front-engine, front-drive layout. Larger 20-inch wheels ought to fill out the arches quite nicely, and a special body kit should bring the whole look closer to the tarmac. To keep demand high, Volvo may limit the new model to 4,500 units worldwide, though we have no idea where it will offer the hatch besides the U.K. Considering that the Swedish automaker has diluted its R-nameplate, we're also not certain what this performance-minded C30 will be called, but we're sure it'll be the most fun we've had in a Volvo for quite a long time.


[Source: Autocar]

If you think your morning commute looks (and feels) like a bunch of insects randomly swarming toward a multitude of random destinations, you'd be mostly right. But only mostly. Research by the Insect Vision Laboratory shows that like your fellow rush-hour drivers, swarming African locusts are busy calculating the position, direction and speed of the other travelers around them. Unlike all those other drivers, African locusts never run into each other. We'd be willing to argue that's definitive proof most drivers are dumber than common insects.

Volvo, however, sees more than just the obvious. Instead, they see a possible way to keep all those clueless drivers safe by studying just how those locusts are able to avoid collisions.

But there's a lot of work to do before the automaker can put nature to work on the streets. The researchers theorize that the bugs can easily miss hitting each other because they're somehow able to send information straight from their sensory organs to their wings, completely bypassing their simplistic brains. That ability to instantly translate data into action keeps the locusts crash free. The problem is that currently automotive technology can't match the locusts' data-processing talents. So for at least the immediate future, have a little sympathy for those other guys out there. They actually are less intelligent than the bugs stuck in your grille.

[Source: Wired]

Amidst constant rumors of a sale of the Volvo brand, and the constant denials from Ford, the brand has seen some massive sales declines, both in Europe and in the United States. Even if Ford does choose to keep the brand, which does seem likely at the moment, fewer cars to sell means fewer workers needed. The latest round of cuts is said to amount to about 900 jobs in 2009, all of which could come from its home country of Sweden. An entire shift will be canceled at its plant in Goteborg in the western side of the country, which may or may not include a portion of those 900 job losses. It would appear that new president and CEO Stephen Odell has his work cut out for him as he attempts to turn the automaker around.

[Source: The Detroit News]

Volvo's presence at the Paris Motor Show next month will center around three new ultra-efficient diesel-powered models that maximize fuel efficiency and, in turn, reduce carbon dioxide emissions. The DRIVe C30, S40 and V50 models are all motivated by a 1.6-liter turbo-diesel inline-four mated to a five-speed manual transmission with longer gear ratios in 3rd, 4th and 5th to maximize efficiency. While that's nothing new (the 1.6-liter has been around for some time), what's unique is the attention to aerodynamics, most of which were originally previewed on the C30 ReCharge concept from the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show.

The trio of Volvos all benefit from a 10mm lower ride height, a covered radiator to reduce air turbulence, wind deflectors ahead of the front wheels and unique rollers wrapped in low rolling resistance Michelin tires. The S40 and V50 cribbed the T5's front spoiler and the C30 gets a new rear bumper design, hatch-mounted spoiler and underbody trays.

All this adds up to 76 mpg in Europe's combined cycle testing, and, perhaps just as important to customers abroad, emissions of less than 120 grams of CO2 per kilometer.

After the three models debut in Paris, production will begin in November and sales will start in Europe at the beginning of 2009. Best of all, the DRIVe equipment only commands a 150 to 450 euro premium over the standard 1.6-liter diesel model. Check out Volvo's full press release below the fold.


[Source: Volvo]

The last time we heard the name Stephen Odell, it was in connection to a list of possible replacements for current CEO Alan Mulally. While we aren't here to report on the top executive position at Ford, Odell has been tapped as Fredrik Arp's replacement as CEO of Volvo. Arp, who is leaving the automaker for other pursuits, had been serving as Volvo CEO and President since his appointment in October of 2005. Starting in October of this year, Odell will be responsible for leading Volvo towards "sustained profitability", something not seen by the Swedish automaker in quite a while. According to the newly-appointed CEO, the Volvo brand will continue to stand for "safety, environmental concern and its Scandinavian design." Frederik Arp is the third Ford exec outside the U.S. to leave in the last few weeks, following Bill Osborne -- the previous President of Ford Australia -- and Barry Engle, who had been serving as Ford of Canada's top official.

[Source: Ford]

It's not a large recall, but the effort will correct a potentially serious problem. Slightly more than 1,000 C1 platform cars -- C30, S40, V50, and C70 -- are in need of a replacement power steering return line. The hose isn't up to spec and could rupture, leading to a rapid loss of fluid and with it, power assistance, making steering dangerously difficult. Some drivers would welcome a blissfully simple and surgically accurate manual rack in their cars, but jettisoning power steering while underway might not be what they had in mind. Contact your Volvo dealer to see if your car is one of the roughly 1,020 affected, the fix is free of charge.

[Source: Inside Line]

Click to view a hi-res gallery of the Volvo C30 Green Racer

Let's play a little word association game here. When I say "Volvo", what comes to mind? Swedish. Safety. Soccer moms. Station wagons. But racing?

Granted, Volvo is not one of the better-known names in motorsport, but the company has been competing for the last couple of seasons in the Swedish Touring Car Championship. Volvo Motorsport actually took the first two championships of the series in 1996 and 1997, and came back to the series last year with an E85 ethanol-powered C30, campaigned by Polestar Racing AB. Although the green racing hatch has yet to reclaim the national title for Volvo, it has won a couple of races against conventionally-fueled competitors from the likes of Audi, BMW, Mercedes and Opel. The Swedish automaker has now decided to bring the vehicle up a level to the World Touring Car Championship when the series comes to Brands Hatch in the UK next weekend. It will be interesting to see how the E85 Volvo will fare against the diesel-powered Seats and the other gasoline-powered regulars in the WTCC, however Volvo's entry will be strictly for exhibition and not eligible for points. Press release after the jump and images in the gallery below.

[Source: Volvo]