The Story of the Volvo Car Company Told in Inspirational Video

The current image of Volvo, even if it’s now Chinese-owned, is intrinsically linked to its original philosophy. The goal, back in the 1920s when it all started, was to make cars as safe as possible, and that’s still the company’s top priority in 2015.

The Swedish automaker recently released a short but inspirational promo video detailing the (dramatized/romanticized version of) brand’s history.

The need to create safe and durable cars was born out of necessity in Sweden, as it was deemed that imports simply couldn’t handle the treacherous conditions of the northern European nation’s road network and harsh weather combination.

This helped shape the brand into what it is today, according to the video, made in an effort to convince people that Volvo is still Volvo even under the control of Geely.

Interestingly, they don’t mention any of their new cars but the XC90, and that sounds like they’re not that proud of the models they’ve been churning out for the last decade or so. Now, they want to be defined by the XC90and future models along its lines.

Read More

New Audi Q7 vs Volvo XC90

You asked for it, so here it is: a visual comparison between the two freshest arrivals in the large luxury SUV segment, the 2016 Audi Q7 and the 2015 Volvo XC90.

We'll give you a basic rundown of the two premium models before we let you go over the gallery and cast your vote on which one has your attention.

Audi presented the second-gen Q7 on Friday, ahead of a world premiere in Detroit in January, with highlights including a drastic reduction of 325 kg or 717 pounds in weight and new innovative tech features like the available full-TFT instrument panel.

Right now, the only confirmed engine for the U.S. is a new 248hp (252PS) 2.0-liter TFSI four-pot gasoline unit, while Europe will get a 3.0-liter TDI V6 diesel in 215hp (218PS) and 272PS (268hp) flavors, plus a 328hp (333PS) 3.0-liter TSI supercharged V6 gasoline and a plug-in hybrid combining a 3.0-liter diesel V6 and an electric motor delivering 368hp (373PS), when it goes on sale next year.

Volvo's long-overdue XC90 replacement had its first public outing at the 2014 Paris Motor Show in October, though it won't reach showrooms until spring of 2015. Like the Q7, it also sits on a new platform and has seating for seven in three-rows.

In the States, the new XC90 will be offered at launch exclusively with Volvo's new 316hp T6 2.0-liter turbo- and super-charged, inline-four gasoline engine linked to an 8-speed automatic and standard AWD with a starting MSRP of $48,900. Later on, Volvo will add a T8 plug-in hybrid variant that enhances the same four-cylinder unit with an electric motor for a combined output of around 400hp. Select markets around the world, including Europe, will get a pair of D5 turbo diesels with 190hp and 225hp.

In the coming months, both Audi and Volvo are expected to add more powertrain options to their respective lineups.

The two SUVs are very close in size, with the Q7 measuring 5,050mm long, 1,970mm wide and 1,740mm tall with a 2,990mm wheelbase, and the XC90, 4,950mm long 1,775mm tall 2,008 wide with a 2,984mm wheelbase.

Read More

2016 Volvo XC90 SUV

It seems that Volvo spent more time crafting the interior of its mid-size luxury SUV which at a first glance, looks stylish and modern. The dashboard contains a large tablet-style infotainment screen angled towards the driver, which replaces the traditional selection of buttons and controls in the center stack. 

The 2016MY (or 2015, we're not sure yet) XC90 is Volvo's first car to be built on the firm's Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) modular chassis that was developed in-house. 

Previously, Volvo said that the new XC90's powertrain lineup will comprise several four-cylinder petrol and diesel Drive-E engines. These will include a range-topping T8 Hybrid with a 2.0-liter supercharged gasoline unit driving the front wheels and an 80hp electric motor turning the rear axle, for a combined output of 400hp, and a D5 twin-turbo diesel with 190hp and 225hp. 

Photos via Worldcarfans & Autoblog.nl

Read More

2015 Volvo XC90

Volvo's new XC90 is the talk of the day and while we've covered both the leaked shots and the official release with pricing, two things were missing: a full high-resolution gallery and videos, and we have plenty of both below.

Most of you seem to agree with our preliminary assessment that Volvo's designers were too cautious and unadventurous with the second-gen XC90's exterior design, especially with the station-like profile that would have benefited from more sculpted surfaces, but did a great job with the interior. 

We'll remind you that North America will get two petrol engine options, a 316hp, 2.0-liter turbocharged and supercharged inline four for the T6 and a 400hp plug-in hybrid version that adds an 80hp electric motor to the mix. The Euro-market model also gets a pair of D5 twin-turbo diesels producing 190hp and 225hp. 

After sharing U.S. pricing ($48,900 for the base T6 AWD and  $65,900 for the T6 AWD First Edition), Volvo also announced prices for the UK, where the diesel-powered D5 AWD Momentum starts at £45,000 and the 225hp D5 AWD First Edition from £68,000. Volvo's UK dealers will begin accepting orders for the regular models in October, but they won't deliver cars before May of 2015. 

Read More