Stadel Volvo's automotive expertise is a product of our sustained interest in industry trends and characteristics. We are privileged to share the latest news from Volvo and others with the hope the information will enhance your shopping experience.
ROCKLEIGH, N.J. (Dec. 15, 2011) -- Five Volvo models today were named 2012 Top Safety Pick winners by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a total unsurpassed by any other luxury car brand. Top Safety Pick winners included the Volvo C30, S60, S80, XC60 and XC90.
"Safety has been a hallmark of Volvo since we were founded in 1927," said John Maloney, president and CEO of Volvo Cars of North America. "Our employees around the world take great pride in making, selling and servicing our cars. Still, it's very humbling to be recognized in such a manner."
Other luxury brands receiving Top Safety Pick awards included Mercedes-Benz (5), Audi (4) , Acura (3), Infiniti (2), BMW (2) and Lexus (2).
Volvo Announces More Horsepower, Torque
for 2012 S60 R-Design and XC60 R-Design
NEW YORK (April 20, 2011) - The 2012 Volvo S60 R-Design sport sedan and XC60 R-Design crossover will get significant horsepower and torque increases when they go on sale late this summer, the company announced today at the New York International Auto Show.
Both models will be powered by Volvo's T6 engine, a turbocharged, inline six-cylinder that will now produce 325 horsepower and 354 lb.-ft. of torque. The standard T6 engine in both models produces 300 horsepower and 325 lb.-ft. of torque.
The S60 R-Design will have a starting price of $42,275* and the XC60 R-Design will start at $43,150*.
"The jump in performance will re-define these two R-Design models," said Doug Speck, president and CEO of Volvo Cars of North America. "Along with styling and suspension features that set them apart from other versions, our two newest R-Design models will have a higher 'fun-to-drive' quotient. I see that as a positive thing, and so will car buyers."
After developing the all-new S60, which is Volvo's most dynamic model ever, the chassis team focused on further refining a number of details. "The challenge was to boost the dynamics without making the chassis feel raw," says Stefan Sallqvist, manager of vehicle dynamics. Taking the S60 R-Design to the next level required a critical dissection of the already capable chassis and the addition of a number of performance enhancing sub-systems.
The chassis team fitted a strut brace under the hood that ties together the suspension strut towers. This is a classic method of stiffening up the body structure and to improve steering response. At the rear, the S60 R-Design features monotube dampers. Unlike the twin-tube dampers used in the S60 T6, the monotube system features compression and return damping via the same valve. This gives shorter, faster fluid flow, which in turn means the damper responds more quickly.
The front and rear springs have been shortened by 15 mm to give the car more visual attitude. What is more, spring stiffness is 15 percent higher compared to the dynamic chassis in the S60 T6. The bushings with which the rear dampers are attached to the body are 20 percent stiffer compared with the Dynamic chassis found in the standard S60 T6. The front tie-blade bushing, that is to say the attachment in the rear of the car, is a massive 400 percent stiffer than before to counteract wheel bouncing and shaking.
Ride control and confidence inspiring handling are nothing without the appropriate muscle and the S60 R-Design won't disappoint. The turbocharged T6, displacing 3.0 liters, is the most powerful six-cylinder engine currently offered by Volvo. Maximum torque now is achieved from just 3,000 rpm and remains available throughout the rev range. Power is transmitted to the wheels via Volvo's second-generation six-speed automatic Geartronic transmission with sport mode. New valves and lower friction mean faster gear changes than before. Similar to the S60 T6, the S60 R-Design will be offered standard with Volvo's electronically controlled all-wheel-drive system with Instant Traction® and Corner Traction Control with torque vectoring.
Corner Traction Control uses torque vectoring for smoother cornering. This technology is a further refinement of the Dynamic Stability and Traction Control (DSTC). When cornering, the car's inner driven wheel is braked while, at the same time, more power is transmitted to the outer driven wheel. This allows the driver to take the corner more tightly while reducing any tendency to understeer.
Helping to set the S60 R-Design apart from the S60 are a number of visual design cues. On the outside the cars have an imposing redesigned lower front fascia with a grille painted in glossy piano black. The sporty stance is further enhanced with color-matched body components, details in matte finish and a hexagonal pattern that is repeated both front and rear. Incorporated within a sporty rear exhaust baffle are distinctive, 90mm twin exhaust tailpipes and unique R-Design exclusive five-spoke 18-inch diamond cut wheels emphasize the sporty overall appeal. The introductory, R-Design exclusive color is Passion Red but the Volvo S60 R-Design also will be available in four other colors. Additionally, the S60 R-Design features a rear trunk spoiler and standard Dual Xenons with Active Bending Lights.
Inside, a number of new features help to further differentiate the S60 R-Design. The driver and front passenger sit in sports seats in which the highly supportive backrest from the S60 is matched by an all-new seat cushion with deeper side bolsters. The upholstery will be offered in off-black leather with contrasting stitching and a sport-oriented textured leather accent with an embossed R-Design logo across the front-seat backrests. The interior also features a sport steering wheel with R-Design logo, gear selector, sports pedals, floor mats and a blue watch-dial instrument cluster.
On the safety front, the S60 R-Design is available with Pedestrian Detection with Full Auto Brake. This driver assistance system consists of a newly developed radar unit integrated into the S60's grille, a camera fitted in front of the inside rearview mirror and a central control unit. The radar's task is to detect any object in front of the car and to determine the distance to it while the camera determines what type of object it is. Up to 22 mph, the system helps the car avoid hitting a pedestrian. At higher speeds, the system helps mitigate the severity of an impact.
The function is also programmed to respond to vehicles in front that are at a standstill or are moving in the same direction as the car fitted with the system. Thanks to the newly developed dual-mode radar's much wider field of vision, pedestrians about to step into the roadway can also be detected early on. The camera has higher resolution than the previous-generation unit. This makes it possible to detect the pedestrian's pattern of movement.
ROCKLEIGH, N.J. (July 19, 2011) - A newly published analysis from the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) indicates that Volvo XC60s get into fewer low-speed crashes than comparable vehicles thanks to Volvo's City Safety technology, a standard feature on all XC60s.
HLDI examined claim frequency under property damage liability, bodily injury liability and collisions. Their data concluded frequency rates for the XC60 were lower than all other midsize luxury SUVs, specifically:
· Claims under property damage liability coverage were filed 27 percent less often for the XC60 than other midsize luxury SUVs.
· Claim frequencies for injuries for the XC60 were filed about half as often compared to other midsize luxury SUVs.
· Collision claim frequencies for the XC60 were 22 percent lower than all other midsize luxury SUVs.
"This is our first real-world look at an advanced crash avoidance technology, and the findings are encouraging," said Adrian Lund, president of HLDI and IIHS. "City Safety is helping XC60 drivers avoid the kinds of front-to-rear low speed crashes that frequently happen on congested roads."
IIHS last year estimated that current crash avoidance features have the potential to prevent or mitigate as many as 1.9 million crashes each year, and current users have stated the systems help them to be safer drivers.
"It is great to see validation from HLDI and IIHS of the safety systems that we at Volvo are continually developing," said Thomas Broberg, Volvo Car Corp.'s senior safety expert. "This is another step towards achieving our Vision 2020 of eliminating serious injuries and fatalities by the year 2020, and an even larger step towards a crash-free future."
HLDI also looked at how the crash reductions for the XC60 affected overall insurance costs:
· Overall payouts under property damage liability for XC60s were 20 percent lower than losses for all other midsize luxury SUVs.
· Estimated overall collision losses for the XC60 were 31 percent lower than all other midsize luxury SUVs.
"The lower claim frequencies found by HLDI prove that City Safety is preventing crashes and thus reducing insurance costs," said John Maloney, VCNA's vice president of marketing and product planning. "There's an opportunity here for insurance companies to begin offering a discount on vehicles equipped with City Safety or similar crash-avoidance technologies."
HLDI analysts compared insurance claims data for the 2010 model
XC60 with two control groups: other 2009-10 midsize luxury SUVs and other
2009-10 Volvo models. The analysis controlled for a variety of geographic and
demographic factors that can affect claims. Geographic factors include garaging
state and vehicle density (the number of registered vehicles per square mile).
Demographic factors take into account such things as the primary driver's age,
gender and marital status. Other factors include calendar year plus the policy
deductible.
HLDI defines the three types of auto insurance coverage as follows: property damage liability pays for damage an at-fault vehicle does to another's property as the result of a crash. Bodily injury liability generally pays for injuries to people involved in the crash other than the insured at-fault driver. Collision pays for damage to the insured vehicle.
City Safety keeps a watch on vehicles in front with the help of a laser sensor built into the windscreen at the height of the rearview mirror. Between 2-19 mph, the car automatically brakes if the driver does not respond in time when the car in front slows down or stops - or if the driver is driving too fast towards a stationary object. If the relative speed difference between the two vehicles is less than 9 mph, the collision can be entirely avoided. If the speed difference is between 9-19 mph, the speed at impact is reduced by about one half, thereby mitigating the collision. City Safety also is also standard on the 2011 and 2012 S60, 2012 S80 and 2012 XC70.
In addition to City Safety, the XC60 is available with Pedestrian Detection with Full Auto Brake as part of its optional Technology Package. Pedestrian Detection with Full Auto Brake uses forward-looking radar and digital camera identification that scans an object and matches its shape against an image database of about 10,000 forms. The system can track up to 64 pedestrians and their paths - all within 50 milliseconds.
If a pedestrian walks into the car's path and an impact is imminent, a warning light and tone warn the driver. If the driver does not react, the car will apply up to 100 percent available braking force, thereby avoiding a collision if the car is traveling 19 mph or less. At 20 mph and higher, the available breaking force will significantly mitigate the collision.
In the effort to continually be the industry leader in safety, Volvo is working on plans for the next generation of active safety detection which features animal detection. The system, much like today's pedestrian detection, will feature a radar sensor and infrared camera - and it will function in the dark when the likelihood of hitting an animal increases. The system must be complex in order to recognize a variety of animals in differing sizes - from dogs to moose. According to IIHS, from 1993-2007, 2,499 people died in collisions involving wild animals and the number of collisions continues to increase.
ROCKLEIGH, N.J. (April 11, 2011) - Volvo Cars of North America (VCNA) today announced the all-new S60 sports sedan has received yet another prestigious industry award - this time being named to Ward's 10 Best Interiors list. The S60 is also fresh-off-the-heels of taking home a Ward's 10 Best Engines award for its 300-hp T6 engine.
According to Tom Murphy, Executive Editor of Ward's AutoWorld, "The Volvo S60 is a study in Scandinavian serenity. From the beautifully angular door panels to the floating center stack, the S60 is an undiscovered gem in the heart of the luxury market. Among the S60's best features are the sleek head restraints for front-seat occupants, which stand out in a world of intrusive head restraints up-sized to meet new federal crash standards. Leave it to Volvo to make a safety device sexy."
"Scandanivan design and functionality are hallmarks of what we do best," said Doug Speck, president and CEO of VCNA. "We designed this car to create a visual excitement every time the owner steps in. The S60 continues to exceed even our expectations for what it promises, as evidenced by the '10 Best' awards from Ward's for both the engine and the interior."
The S60's masterful exterior design carries over to every inch of the interior, where each detail is well thought out. Volvo's designers obtained their inspiration from the road racing tracks as they pursued the uncompromising sportiness inside the all-new S60. The graphic character of a road course is apparent in the instrument panel and in the doors. Every detail looks like it's in motion. The instruments and center stack are angled towards the driver to create a sensation of focus and control. The new dynamic three-spoke steering wheel and new sports seats with extra side supports are standard.
The interior is full of driver-oriented details, but it is still a five-seater car offering comfortable space for all its occupants. Beige and black are the main colors of the upholstery range, which is spiced up with the new highlight shade Beechwood Brown. The décor inlays are available in Shimmer Graphite aluminium or Urbane Wood.
This year, Ward's evaluated 51 vehicles in their search to find the 10 best interiors. Ward's editors picked the winning interiors using the same methodology employed for the annual Ward's 10 Best Engines program. Scoresheets are completed for each vehicle driven based on materials, ergonomics, safety, the human-machine interface, comfort, fit-and-finish, overall value and aesthetics.
ROCKLEIGH, N.J. (Feb. 8, 2011) - The Volvo C30
was awarded the IntelliChoice Best Overall Value of the Year (BOVY) award in its
Premium Sporty/Coupe class. The Volvo XC90 3.2 also received a BOVY award in the
Luxury Crossover/Wagon class. The annual BOVY awards identify the best-in-class
vehicles that deliver outstanding value and lower than expected costs over time.
Unlike previous years when there have been as many as 46 winners, this year's BOVY's include only 21 winners. The vehicles selected represent a significantly lower total cost of ownership compared to competitive models in the same class.
"Volvo's two wins speak volumes to what the brand stands for," said Doug Speck, president and CEO of Volvo Cars of North America. "The C30 and XC90 offer their respective buyers the total package: an attractive price point, great fuel efficiency, exceptional maintenance coverage, beautiful designs, and of course, the unmatched industry-leading safety reputation we were built upon."
"The most important thing about choosing a car wisely is knowing that it's not just about the lowest sticker price," said Charlie Vogelheim, executive editor of IntelliChoice. "In fact, the purchase price is just the first cost; there are many other factors to consider when gauging overall cost."
The Volvo C30 and XC90 are included in Volvo's Safe + Secure Coverage Plan. A complimentary program, Safe + Secure wraps a comprehensive list of benefits into one package. Volvo has combined additional time and mileage limits on warranty repairs and roadside assistance coverage, and has increased wear-item and factory scheduled maintenance coverage. Specifically, it provides:
The Volvo C30 was previously awarded the 2010 Motorist Choice Award Winner in the Premium Brand, Cute Category by IntelliChoice and AutoPacific. Volvo was also recently named the "best Premium Certified Pre-Owned program for 2011," marking the fourth consecutive year the CPO program has been awarded this honor by IntelliChoice.
Detroit, Mich. -- (Jan. 9, 2011) By displaying a crashed Volvo C30 Electric in its stand at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Volvo Car Corporation will take a unique, very visual approach to future safety.
"We are the first car maker in the world to show what a truly safe electric car looks like after a crash," says Stefan Jacoby, President & CEO of Volvo Cars.
Keeping the high voltage batteries and cables entirely intact after a collision is vital for safety as this kind of power system becomes more popular with buyers. Volvo's crash tested C30 Electric in the Volvo stand shows how it can be done. Even though the car has been subjected to a very demanding 40 mph (64 km/h) off-set frontal test, the key electric components of the car are undamaged.
"This is of utmost importance not only to the people riding in an electric car, but also to for example first responders" says Stefan Jacoby. "We note that not everyone that now launches or is in the process of launching electric cars are approaching the safety challenges as we are. But Volvo will never compromise on our stringent safety demands," Jacoby continued.
At a press conference in the Detroit show on Tuesday, Volvo Cars will show the car in detail, thus being the first car manufacturer displaying a crashed electric car an international motor show.
|
Studies show that up to 90 percent of all traffic accidents are caused by driver distraction.
Now Volvo Cars introduces Driver Alert Control - with a technology solution that is a world-first in passenger cars. The system aims to alert the driver when his or her concentration level is affected, for instance during long journeys.
Another new system, Lane Departure Warning, alerts the driver if the car crosses one of the road markings without an obvious reason.
Lane Departure Warning and Driver Alert Control will be part of the same option package, called Driver Alert System. It will be available in the Volvo S80, V70 and XC70 at the end of 2007.
"Real life safety is the key to our safety philosophy. When it comes to preventive safety, we have the same approach as when we develop protective systems. In other words that our research and technical development focus on areas where new technology can create significant results in real-life-traffic," says Ingrid Skogsmo, Director of the Volvo Cars Safety Centre.
Based on the accident statistics above, Volvo Cars is focusing on developing efficient technology to help drivers avoid or reduce the severity of accidents caused by distraction and driver fatigue.
Driver Alert Control (DAC) - a unique innovation
As a result of extensive studies on how drivers operate behind the wheel, Volvo has developed Driver Alert Control - a world-first innovation that registers the car's progress on the road and alerts unconcentrated drivers.
Driver fatigue is a major traffic-safety problem the world over. According to the U.S. NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), drivers who fall asleep at the wheel cause about 100,000 accidents annually in the United States alone, resulting in 1,500 fatalities and more than 70,000 injured drivers and passengers.
The situation is similar in Europe. The German Insurance Association GDV estimates that about 25 percent of all fatal accidents on the German Autobahn are caused by driver fatigue.
Volvo's Driver Alert Control is an important innovation. It is primarily intended for situations where the risk of losing concentration is the greatest and where an accident would have severe consequences. For example a straight, smooth road that lulls the driver into a sense of relaxation and where the risk of distracting activities or falling asleep is higher. The system steps in at 65 km/h and stays active as long as the speed exceeds 60 km/h.
Registers what's happening on the road
Driver Alert Control monitors the car's movements and assesses whether the vehicle is being driven in a controlled or uncontrolled way. This method is unique among vehicle manufacturers and is very reliable.
"We do not monitor human behaviour - which varies from one person to another - but instead the effect that fatigue or decreased concentration has on driving behaviour. Our system is based on the car's progress on the road. It gives a reliable indication if something is likely to go wrong and alerts the driver before it is too late," explains Daniel Levin, project manager for Driver Alert Control at Volvo Cars. He adds:
"We often get questions about why we have chosen this concept instead of monitoring the driver's eyes. The answer is that we don't think that the technology of monitoring the driver's eyes is mature enough yet."
Driver Alert Control can also cover situations where the driver is focusing too much on his/her cell phone or children in the car, thereby not having full control of the vehicle.
"This is a positive side-effect of our concept, and this is possible since the system evaluates driving behaviour rather than human behaviour," says Daniel Levin.
Text messages and audible signals
From a technical viewpoint, Driver Alert Control consists of a camera, a number of sensors and a control unit.
The camera, which is installed between the windscreen and the interior rear-view mirror, continuously measures the distance between the car and the road lane markings. The sensors register the car's movements. The control unit stores the information and calculates whether the driver risks losing control of the vehicle.
If the risk is assessed as high, the driver is alerted via an audible signal. In addition, a text message appears in the car's information display, alerting him or her with a coffee cup symbol to take a break.
What is more, the driver can continuously retrieve driving information from the car's trip computer. The starting-point is five bars. The less consistent the driving, the fewer bars remain.
"It is, of course, always the driver's responsibility to take a break when necessary, but sometimes you might not realise that you're not alert enough to drive. In such situations, Driver Alert Control can help the driver make the right decision, like taking a refreshing break or a nap, before the concentration level becomes too low," Daniel Levin concludes.
Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
On US Highways, single-vehicle road departures account for approximately one fourth of all accidents and one third of all fatalities, statistics that emphasize the risk of losing concentration in smooth driving conditions.
Volvo Cars addresses this by introducing Lane Departure Warning. The system helps prevent single-vehicle road departure accidents as well as head-on collisions due to temporary distraction.
Volvo Cars' researchers estimate that the LDW system can help prevent 30-40 percent of these types of accidents at speeds between 70 and 100 km/h.
LDW is activated via a button on the centre stack and it alerts the driver with a gentle warning sound if the car crosses one of the road markings without an obvious reason such as use of the turn indicator.
The system also uses a camera to monitor the car's position between the road markings. LDW steps in at 65 km/h and stays active as long as the speed exceeds 60 km/h.
System limitations
Some of the described systems' availability depends on the number and quality of visible road markings. The lane markings must be clearly visible for the camera Poor light, fog, snow and extreme weather conditions can make the system unavailable.
New Collision Warning with Auto Brake helps prevent rear-end collisions
Volvo Cars continues to address the problem of rear-end collisions by introducing Collision Warning with Auto Brake - a refined warning system that makes the car brake by itself if the driver doesn't act when a rear-end collision with a moving or stationary vehicle is imminent.
"This can mean the difference between a serious injury and minor consequences for the occupants of both vehicles," says Ingrid Skogsmo, Director of the Volvo Cars Safety Centre.
The new system will be available in the Volvo S80, V70 and XC70 at the end of 2007.
Rear impacts represent a third of all reported accidents - and in more than 50 percent of these accidents, the driver doesn't brake at all.
The new Collision Warning with Auto Brake (CWAB) initially warns the driver and pre-charges the brakes. The brakes are automatically activated if the driver doesn't act when a rear-end collision with a moving or stationary vehicle is imminent.
Collision Warning with Auto Brake has an elevated technology level compared to the Collision Warning with Brake Support that was introduced in 2006.
Combining radar and camera
While the original system, introduced in the Volvo S80, is radar-based, Collision Warning with Auto Brake uses both radar and a camera to detect vehicles in front of the car. The long-range radar reaches 150 metres in front of the car while the camera range is 55 metres.
By using Data Fusion to combine information from the radar and the camera, the system becomes more efficient.
"Since the system combines information both from the radar sensor and the camera, it gives such a high confidence level that automatic braking is possible if a collision is imminent. The system is programmed to activate autonomous braking only if both sensors agree that the situation is critical," says Jonas Tisell, technical project manager for Collision Warning with Auto Brake at Volvo Cars.
One of the main advantages of the camera is the possibility of detecting stationary vehicles and warning the driver while maintaining a low false-alarm level.
"Statistics show that 50 percent of all rear-end collisions involve a stationary object, which means that Collision Warning with Auto Brake covers twice as many situations as with the present system," says Jonas Tisell.
To adapt the warning system to different conditions and individual driving styles, its sensitivity can be regulated in the car settings menu. There are three alternative sensitivity positions.
Begins with a warning - and pre-charging of the brakes
If the car approaches another vehicle from behind and the driver does not react, a red warning light flashes in the head-up display on the windscreen. At the same time, an audible signal can be heard. This helps the driver react and an accident can be avoided in most cases.
"The head-up display gives a clear and very efficient warning. The red light appearing on the windscreen in front of the driver produces the same gut-reaction effect as when you see a brake light in front of you", says Jonas Tisell.
If the risk of a collision increases despite the warning, the brake support is activated. To shorten the reaction time the brakes are prepared by the brake pads being placed against the discs. The brake pressure is also reinforced hydraulically, ensuring effective braking even if the driver does not press the brake pedal particularly hard.
Auto Brake lowers impact speed
If the driver doesn't brake and the sensor system determines that a collision is imminent, the brakes are activated.
Auto Brake is designed to lower the impact speed as much as possible and thereby reduce the risk of injury to the occupants of both vehicles.
"A reduction in collision speed from 60 km/h to 50 km/h, for example, gives approximately 30 percent less impact energy. This can mean the difference between a serious injury and minor consequences for the occupants. Depending on the circumstances, it is also possible that the Auto Brake can help avoid the impact entirely," says Jonas Tisell.
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
To make driving more comfortable, Volvo Cars has developed Adaptive Cruise Control, ACC. It helps the driver by maintaining the distance to the car in front and the system contributes to relaxed driving control when the traffic flow is uneven.
Adaptive Cruise Control uses a radar sensor to continuously measure the distance to the vehicles in front and the system automatically adapts the speed of the car to ensure that the distance is maintained.
The driver activates the cruise control, sets the desired maximum speed between 30 and 200 km/h and chooses a time interval to the car in front. There is a choice of five different time intervals between 1 and 2.6 seconds.
When the radar sensor detects a slower vehicle in front of the car, the speed is automatically adapted to that vehicle even when it changes speed.
"Since Adaptive Cruise Control handles part of the routine driving operations the driver can focus further ahead and drive with greater safety margins," says Jonas Tisell.
Distance Alert (DA)
Distance Alert is another new comfort feature that helps the driver keep a proper distance to the vehicle in front even when the Adaptive Cruise Control is disengaged.
Distance Alert is activated via a button in the centre console. As with ACC, the driver can choose between five settings. If the time gap to the car in front becomes shorter than the selected value, the driver gets visual information in the head-up display on the lower part of the windscreen.
If Distance Alert is engaged and ACC is activated, the DA system becomes temporarily disengaged.
Both ACC and Distance Alert are tailored to help the driver comfortably follow certain national regulations defining the required distance to the vehicle in front.
System limitations
Some of the described systems' availability depends on the number and quality of visible road markings. The lane markings must be clearly visible for the camera Poor light, fog, snow and extreme weather conditions can make the system unavailable.
| VOLVO C70 is a top performer in crash tests | ||||
| ARLINGTON,
VA -The Volvo C70 earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's
TOP SAFETY PICK award for superior crash protection in the first tests
the Institute has conducted of 10 midsize convertible models. The Volvo C70 earned the top rating of good for protection in front, side, and rear crashes. The C70 included standard electronic stability control (ESC), which research shows can help drivers avoid crashes. The lowest rated convertible model overall is the Pontiac G6 (see attached ratings). It is acceptable for frontal crash protection but only marginal for protection in side and rear impacts. While the Audi A4 and BMW 3 series earn good ratings in frontal offset tests, both are rated marginal for side impact protection and poor for protection in rear crashes. | | |||
The TOP SAFETY PICK designation is intended to make it easier for consumers to find top-rated vehicles without sorting through reams of crash test results. To earn this award, a vehicle must have good ratings in all 3 Institute crash tests. It also must have ESC. The Institute adds a requirement for convertibles, which must be equipped with rollbars designed to preserve occupants' headroom if a convertible rolls over. The C70 is equipped with standard pop-up rollbars behind the rear head restraints that deploy if sensors detect a serious crash. "The performance of the C70 is impressive," says Institute president Adrian Lund. "It combines what convertible buyers should look for if they're shopping with safety in mind. The Volvo C70 not only provides good protection in high-speed front and side crashes but it also has good seat and head restraint designs for protecting against whiplash in rear crashes." "We wanted to test convertibles because sales are increasing," Lund says. "We also wanted to evaluate a group of vehicles that automakers wouldn't expect us to test to see if crashworthiness improvements in mainstream cars also are being built into convertibles. For the most part we found that this is happening." Five models earn the highest rating of good for front and side crash protection. Seven of the 10 convertibles have standard side airbags designed to protect the heads of occupants in the front seats, and 8 have ESC as standard or optional equipment. Absence of roof is inherent disadvantage: High-speed crashes are violent events, and the roof of a hardtop helps to keep people's heads and arms from flailing outside the vehicle. Roofs also provide protection if a vehicle rolls over. Data from real-world crashes indicate that the overall risk of death isn't higher in a convertible, but this doesn't mean there aren't any safety disadvantages. The absence of a roof makes it a challenge to design a convertible for safety. The roof helps to maintain the rigidity of the structure around the occupant compartment and keep the compartment intact in a serious crash. The main structures of convertibles have to be strengthened to compensate for the support that's lost in removing the roof. The Institute's crash test results show that many modern convertibles compensate well. | ||||
| World Traffic Safety Symposium Awards Volvo Cars For Innovative Child Booster Cushion System | ||||
| New York, NY - April 13, 2007. Volvo Cars new booster seat helps protect children who have outgrown their toddler seat. In combination with an extended Inflatable Curtain and new, stronger side body structure, and load limiting seat belts this world's first two-step integrated booster cushion recently received international acknowledgement as a unique engineering solution to give children a safe and comfortable travel experience. | ||||
At this year's World Traffic Safety Symposium a panel of judges from Dept. of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Automobile Association of America Foundation for Traffic Safety, National Road Safety Foundation, and New York Police Department Traffic Safety Division awarded Volvo first prize in the Automotive Manufacturer category for this innovative safety feature. The award stands among three other safety acknowledgements: Public Service, Media Activity and Aftermarket Product Design. "Our goal is to help protect occupants. This award acknowledges our efforts to help protect our smallest passengers, our children," commented Thomas Broberg, Senior Safety Advisor, Volvo Car Corporation, Sweden. "This new seat, in conjunction with our refinements in side body structure and the inflatable curtain will have a significant reduction in child injuries." Safety Potential Prediction Seat belt positioning for children of different heights is important for better placement and protection. Several studies have shown that proper positioning with the use of a booster cushion helps reduce abdominal injuries caused by the child slipping under the seat belt. Field data in several studies supports these findings and emphasizes the importance of booster seats, and that the booster be designed to hold the belt firmly across the pelvis or thighs during a frontal impact. The overall effectiveness (Maximum Abbreviated Injury Scale) of booster seats is estimated as 31 percent as compared to using only a seat belt and as high as 75 percent as compared to no restraint at all. Getting all children of appropriate age and size to use booster cushion offers a potentially significant safety benefit. Booster Cushion Usage For children using a booster cushion different types of misuse varies depending on which study is analyzed, but the share is significant. According to a study carried out by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA, 2004), 39.5 percent of the 664 children inspected in belt-positioning booster cushion were considered as critical misuse. The most common occurring misuse was improper fitment of the shoulder belt followed by loose belt, improper fit of the lap belt and inappropriate age/fit. In Germany, the misuse rate was reported to be 46.8 percent. A Spanish study identified that nearly 50 percent of the children aged 6 to 12 restrained with a child restraint had some type of misuse, the most common being the seat belt placed behind the child. Children's Attitudes Toward Booster Cushion A questionnaire-based study[1] on 4 to 11 year old Australian children reported that one of the reasons for moving the child from a booster to the adult seat belt only (69 percent) was primarily that the child was too big for the booster. Another major reason was the child disliked sitting in a booster and would be more comfortable using only the seat belt and, not surprisingly, the child thought they were too 'grown-up' for a booster cushion. The study concluded that the design of booster cushions should have the capacity to seat larger children as well as being more appealing to children. By offering the integrated two-stage booster cushions, Volvo believes the level of acceptance will increase among this age group. Combined Safety System "We took into account the child's physical size and weight, seat belt misuse, child physiology, along with redesigning our vehicle side body structure and side impact inflatable curtain to come up with this new integrated two-step booster seat," noted Broberg. "There will be better fitment of our three-point seat belt, a wider age and weight range, and better attitude for the child who can now easily see outside with the added benefit of reducing driver distraction. Hopefully we will hear less often: 'Are we there yet?'" [1] Charlton J, Koppel S, Fitzharris M, Congiu M, Fildes B. Appropriate Use of Booster Seats and Seatbelts by Australian children Aged 4-11 Years. 4th Int. Conf. Protection of Children in Cars, München, Germany, 2006 | ||||
"This award is a great honour because it singles out
our great commitment to the development of innovative safety systems," said
Thomas Viehweg, Managing Director of Volvo Car Germany, at the award ceremony on
Wednesday during the Auto Mobil International (AMI) in Leipzig.
"The
strong point of this system is that it automatically intervenes when it is too
late for the driver to prevent an accident," said Dr Christoph Lauterwasser,
managing director of the Allianz Centre for Automotive Technology
(AZT).
AZT has been researching vehicle damages and ways to prevent
traffic accidents since 1971.
The Allianz "Genius" was awarded for the
fifth time this year. The award honours a technological development which has
already been implemented and contributes to greater safety in road traffic.
Moreover, the innovation must be proven to have a permanent effect in reducing
claims frequency and the severity of accidents.
The Genius award was the
third major award Volvo City Safety has received in Germany in 2009. Last week
the City Safety System was named "All-Wheel Drive Innovation of the Year" by
Auto Bild Allrad and at the beginning of the year Volvo received the "Paul
Pietsch Award 2009" by the automotive magazine "Auto Motor und
Sport".
Rockleigh, N.J. (December 7, 2010) - Volvo's hot new S60 sport sedan continues to impress the pundits with the announcement of its powerful T6 engine being lauded as one of Ward's 10 Best Engines for 2011. With a blistering 300 horsepower, 325 lb.-ft. of torque at a low 2,100 rpm and combined fuel economy of 21 mpg, it's easy to see why.
This year marks a first for Volvo to win the annual award bestowed by the editors of Ward's. In all, 38 vehicles with new or significantly improved engines were tested and evaluated. "Volvo clearly benchmarked BMW in developing the supremely smooth T6 engine, based on its delicious mid-range power band and paucity of turbo lag," noted Tom Murphy, Executive Editor of Ward's AutoWorld in his December 7 article highlighting the awards. "This engine is perfectly suited for the all-new S60 and powers it into contention against bigger, better-established luxury entries."
The T6 engine, internally known as the B6304T, matches the torque of Volvo's V8, but makes its power far lower in the rev range: 2,100 rpm compared to 3,950 rpm. While boasting 300 horsepower, fuel economy figures for the T6 of 18 mpg city and 26 mpg highway make it one of Volvo's most fuel efficient engines offered in the U.S. In fact, the T6 engine is 17 percent more fuel efficient than the V8. Aside from the S60 sport sedan, the turbocharged T6 engine is also available in the 2011 S80, XC60 and XC70.
"The S60's T6 engine is simply the best engine Volvo's ever produced," noted Doug Speck, President and CEO, Volvo Cars of North America, LLC. "It's powerful, smooth, and gets great fuel economy. We're honored that Ward's is recognizing the T6 engine as one of its 10 Best for 2011."
Essentially a heavily modified version of the T6 originally introduced in the 2009 XC60 premium crossover, the goal for the 2011 iteration was to perfectly balance performance with fuel economy and maintain a low environmental impact. Volvo engineers focused their efforts on reducing internal friction, increasing power output and improving fuel economy.
The B6304T T6 benefits from improved valve tappets, which feature Diamond Like Carbon (DLC) coating. The carbon structure is extremely hard and has self-lubricating properties. The DLC surface reduces camshaft friction, enabling lower fuel consumption and extending service life. Additionally, a new type of Denso Super Ignition Spark Plug results in increased power output, improved fuel economy, better cold starting performance and longer service life. Highly polished cam shafts also result in reduced friction which helps contribute to the T6's excellent fuel economy and performance.
Volvo also developed new engine management software optimized for fuel economy. The six-speed "Geartronic" transmission received revised mapping software that allowed for a new "Sport" mode. In "Sport" mode, the transmission remaps the shift points, holding the shifts higher in the rev band for improved performance. Other enhancements include revised frame bearings within the crankshaft, a low-friction accessory drive belt tensioner and aluminum water pump housing, all designed with improved engine efficiency in mind.
Volvo will be honored at the upcoming Ward's 10 Best Engines banquet on January 12, 2011 at the Renaissance Center Marriott in Detroit, MI.