THE NEW VOLVO S80 POWERED BY A NEW IN-LINE 6-CLYINDER ENGINE

GÖTEBORG (January 31, 2006) – Volvo Car Corporation has unveiled a new, efficient, in-line 6-cylinder engine featuring an advanced induction system that contributes to both good performance and impressive fuel economy. Through innovative engineering, the compact engine can be installed transversely in the 2007 Volvo S80’s engine bay, a design that contributes to the new luxury car’s performance, interior space and collision safety.

The compact 6-cylinder engine, designed by Volvo Cars, features a main structure that is made entirely of aluminum. In spite of its compact dimensions, the new engine has a larger displacement than its predecessor -- 3.2 litres compared to 2.9 litres. The new engine’s output has also been improved, with 232-horsepower and 221 lb.-ft. of torque, representing an increase of 41-horsepower and 30 lb.-ft.

“The engine has been designed to be mated to the new Volvo 6-speed automatic transmission,” says Derek Crabb, Vice President Powertrain at Volvo Cars. “And the entire driveline has been designed together with the rest of the car to create a harmonious, high-class driving experience in every respect.”

Two engines in one

The engine features a range of technologies designed to improve fuel efficiency and power delivery. Through an advanced valve train and a variable intake system, the engine can be exploited efficiently throughout the rev range, improving throttle response.

The valve train features Variable Cam Timing (VCT) and Cam Profile Switching (CPS) on the inlet side – two key elements in providing the engine with excellent flexibility.

With CPS, the camshaft is designed to lift the inlet valves to two different heights, depending on engine speed and load. In normal driving with normal throttle opening and low engine revs, fuel consumption is modest yet torque is sufficient to provide good drivability.

In more enthusiastic driving, which involves full throttle and high engine revs, the engine response is near instantaneous, providing a thrust of power at both low and at high engine speeds.

“In principle, Cam Profile Switching creates two engines in one,” explains Crabb. “We can unite widely differing demands on the engine, and easily meet the requirements of customers with entirely different wishes. For instance, we can satisfy customers who prioritize performance as well as those who are more interested in driving comfort and fuel economy with equal ease.”

A Variable Intake System (VIS) has been equipped with two throttle flap valves which adjust the intake manifold volume to suit the current driving situation. This results in a uniformly high and broad torque curve.

“Through precise interplay with the flap valves we actually get three different torque curves that are integrated with one another,” says Crabb. “Consequently, we can exploit the engine’s capacity to the maximum and extract the highest possible power throughout the rev range. The result is alert response to the accelerator pedal at both low and high speeds, with generous power and good drivability.”

Compact format contributes to impressive safety

Despite the engine’s 3.2 litre displacement, the exterior dimensions are extremely compact. The complete engine package is only about 3 mm (0.1 inches) longer than the Volvo 5-cylinder engine. The total engine length is less than 625 mm (25 inches).

“A compact format contributes to safety,” explains Crabb. “It is particularly important that the engine takes up minimal space longitudinally in the vehicle. Volvo’s engines are fitted transversely and a compact engine thus has more space to move inside the engine compartment in the event of an impact that deforms the car’s front. This helps reduce the risk of engine penetration into the passenger compartment.”

The engine itself cannot be made all that much smaller since the cylinder spacing and block structure are roughly the same as in the five-cylinder engine. Instead, the focus was on building the entire installation, encompassing the engine, automatic transmission and ancillaries, in as compact a package as possible. One additional condition that had to be taken into account was that the transmission would be a six-speed automatic.

Integrated drive system with shaft-in-shaft design

The compact dimensions of the transversely mounted, in-line 6-cylinder engine are ensured by locating the ancillaries, such as the power steering pump and air conditioning compressor, behind the engine and above the gearbox. Consequently, there is no front-end drive of the ancillaries. Instead they are driven via gears at the rear end of the crankshaft. This engineering solution is known as Rear End Ancillary Drive (READ). The alternator is direct-driven and installed on the engine block. This solution means that the entire engine and transmission package takes up minimum space, particularly in the car’s longitudinal direction.

By designing the drive system in the form of a small gearbox with an intermediate shaft inside the driveshaft – known as a shaft-in-shaft design – it was possible to ensure a very short package. The two shafts are driven by different gears that give them different speeds (one speed for camshaft drive and one for the ancillaries).

“We are very proud of this compact solution,” relates Crabb. “A lot of highly advanced development work was required in order to arrive at a design that ensures smooth and quiet operation.”

The vibration damper, which compensates for vibration in the engine’s relatively long crankshaft, has been moved inside the engine block. The Internal Viscous Damper (IVD) is a fluid type – something not unusually found in passenger cars.

“All told, the new 6-cylinder engine offers a premium experience in every respect,” comments Crabb. “This applies to its performance and fuel efficiency, and also to its driving comfort and the sound of the engine. The fact that the engine’s design also helps enhance safety isn’t something the customer usually thinks about, but it is naturally a central part of the Volvo product concept.”

Built in Wales

The new 6-cylinder engine will be built in Ford’s modern engine factory in Bridgend, Wales. The factory was built in 1980 and had already manufactured ten million engines by 2001. In recent years, considerable investments have been made to meet the stringent quality requirements imposed by Ford’s Premium Automotive Group (PAG).

“Bridgend is a dedicated engine production unit,” explains Crabb. “The factory builds many of the six- and eight-cylinder engines for the PAG brands. Although the new Volvo engine is being built in Bridgend, it was specified, designed, engineered and developed entirely by Volvo. The engine will start production in March, 2006.”

Engine specifications

Engine type: 6-cylinder in-line engine, gasoline, normally aspirated
Engine location, drive: Transverse, front-wheel drive
Cylinder displacement: 3,192 cc
Cylinder bore x stroke: 84 mm x 96 mm
Engine block, material: Aluminum
Cylinder head, material: Aluminum
Valves per cylinder: 4
Number of camshafts: 2
Maximum power output: 232-horsepower at 6,300 rpm
Maximum torque: 221 lb.-ft. at 3,500 rpm
Fuel injection: Port Fuel Injection (PFI)
Fuel consumption: TBD
Emissions levels: ULEV II, Euro 4
Weight: 180 kg (396 Lbs)

NEW VOLVO S80 CHALLENGES CLASS WITH SCANDINAVIAN LUXURY

GÖTEBORG (January 31, 2006) – Volvo Car Corporation has unveiled photos of the new Volvo S80 luxury sedan, the second generation of the company’s ground-breaking flagship sedan characterized by its dynamic design language, firm focus on premium comfort, smooth driving properties and world-class safety.

The new Volvo S80 will be unveiled at the international motor show in Geneva on February 28, 2006, followed by a North American debut at the New York International Auto Show on April 12, 2006. The new S80 is expected to go on-sale in Canada in the second half of 2006 as a 2007 model.

The new S80 will feature a V8 engine, a new in-line 6-cylinder engine and a highly evolved all-wheel-drive system as part of its appeal to buyers in a demanding market segment.

“ The new S80 is entering an immensely tough segment where the competition is razor-sharp and the customers have very high expectations,” says Fredrik Arp, President and CEO of Volvo Cars. “We are now challenging the best in the segment with a very special car. It radiates what we call ‘Scandinavian Luxury,’ clean and elegant lines and intelligent functionality where every single detail has been designed with the user’s well-being in mind.”

Inviting and intelligent

“Scandinavian Luxury,” radiates with a slightly different, more human prestige by combining aesthetics and technology in an inviting and intelligent way, the company says.

In the case of the new Volvo S80, luxury will be expressed through a simple yet elegant design, technology that gives the user practical benefit or sheer enjoyment in every single detail, and a sense of responsibility in the form of world-class safety and environmental care.

“The new S80 is about evolutionary design,” explains Steve Mattin, Volvo Cars’ Design Director. “All the shapes and materials represent a continuous development of our design language. On the outside we have given the S80 a more youthful and dynamic stance. Inside, we have created an even more inviting atmosphere with refined materials and colours that blend smoothly with smart, user-friendly technology.”

Engine range includes a V8 and a new in-line six

The second-generation S80 will be the first sedan model available with the company’s compact, transversely-mounted V8 engine. With four catalytic converters and advanced electronics, this engine, which was first introduced in the 2006 Volvo XC90, is one of the cleanest eight cylinder engines on the market. The engine produces 311-horsepower and 325 ft.-lbs. of torque.

The new S80 will also offer a new, naturally aspirated 6-cylinder engine, a unit so compact that it is about the same size as Volvo Cars’ existing 5-cylinder engines. It can be mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission since the camshaft drive mechanism and the ancillaries have been relocated and partially integrated into the engine block itself.

The new in-line six has a displacement of 3.2 litres, producing 232 horsepower and 221 ft.-lbs. of torque.

Standard all-wheel drive

The second generation of the largest Volvo sedan model will feature All-Wheel Drive (AWD) as standard equipment in Canada, regardless of engine choice.

The new S80 can be equipped with an optional Continuously Controlled Chassis Concept (Four-C) active chassis. Four-C, which was introduced in 2003 with the S60 R and V70 R, automatically adjusts chassis settings to better suit the current driving conditions.

For further control, performance and safety, Dynamic Stability and Traction Control (DSTC) is fitted as standard equipment.

New safety systems

The new S80 is a true Volvo with world-class safety features. The structure has been highly engineered and newly patented and the design is supplemented with new active safety systems.

The new S80 will be the first Volvo model to feature Adaptive Cruise Control with Collision Warning and Brake Support.

This available system encompasses two functions:

1) The adaptive cruise control automatically maintains a selected distance to the vehicle in front.

2) If the adaptive cruise control is not being used and the gap to the vehicle in front closes so fast that a collision is likely, the system alerts the driver by activating a buzzer and warning lights. At the same time, the braking system is prepared for the situation to make braking more effective.

The new S80 will be available with active Bi-Xenon headlights that react to steering wheel input adjusting the beam of light to the direction of the road and provide better visibility.

The advanced PCC (Personal Car Communicator) remote control unit is a world's first, featuring a number of new functions. Even before the driver gets to the car, he or she can check its security status to determine if, for example, the car is still locked or whether the alarm has been activated. A heartbeat sensor warns if someone is hiding inside the car.

World-class audio system

The new Volvo S80 can also be equipped with the Volvo Premium Sound audio system. A Digital ICE power amplifier from Alpine, Dolby Pro Logic II Surround Sound processing and loudspeakers from DynAudio of Denmark all work in concert to produce a superb audio experience.

“We are convinced that the new Volvo S80 will be a very strong contender that will appeal to many new customers,” says Arp. “We expect 70 percent of the 50,000 cars a year to be purchased by customers who do not drive a Volvo today. The main markets will be the USA, Germany, Spain, Sweden and China.”

NEW VOLVO DRIVER ALERT SYSTEM TO ASSIST TIRED AND INATTENTIVE DRIVERS

GÖTEBORG, Sweden (November 30, 2005) -- Volvo Car Corporation is taking a decisive new step toward helping drivers avoid vehicle collisions with its new Volvo Driver Alert system, technology designed to monitor a vehicle’s progress on the road and alert the driver if it detects signs of fatigue or distraction. The system helps drivers make the right decision, rather than taking control of the vehicle.

The company intends to patent the Driver Alert technology and plans to make the system available in Volvo vehicles within two years.

Driver fatigue is a major traffic safety problem around the world. According to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), approximately 100,000 collisions are caused every year on American highways by drivers who fall asleep. Fifteen hundred of the collisions result in fatalities and a further 71,000 lead to physical injuries. In Europe, the situation is very similar: the German Insurance Association -- GDV (Gesamtverband der Deutschen Versicherungswirtschaft e.V.) -- estimates that 25 per cent of all fatal collisions on German roads are caused by fatigue.

Based on the statistics from the NHTSA, GDV and the company’s own research, Volvo Cars recognized a need for the Driver Alert system. The company’s goal was to ensure the system would only activate where the risk of falling asleep is the greatest and where a collision would have severe consequences. For example, a straight, smooth road has the potential to lull a driver into a relaxed state while traveling at a high speed. The system is activated at speeds above 65 km/h and remains active until speeds fall below 60 km/h.

Driver Alert monitors the vehicle’s movements to determine if the vehicle is being driven in a controlled way. This method is unique among vehicle manufacturers and designed to be reliable in a variety of circumstances.

“We have chosen to monitor the vehicle’s progress on the road instead of steering wheel input or the driver’s eye movements,” explains Dr Wolfgang Birk, project manager in charge of Driver Alert at Volvo Cars. “This gives us a more reliable indication if something is likely to go wrong, allowing the system time to alert the driver before it is too late. We do not monitor human behaviour – which varies from one person to another -- but instead the effect of that behaviour. That is why there is less of a risk of false alarms.”

The system also warns if the driver loses concentration for a reason other than fatigue. The system can detect if the driver is focusing too much on the navigation system, audio system or children in the vehicle, issuing an alert before control is lost.

Driver Alert consists of a camera, a number of sensors and a processor. The camera, which is installed between the windscreen and the rear-view mirror, continuously measures the distance between the vehicle and the markings on the road surface. The sensors register the vehicle’s movements while the processor stores the information and calculates whether the driver is at risk. If the risk is assessed as high, the driver is alerted via an audible signal and a text message appears in the vehicle’s information display.

What’s more, the driver can retrieve a safety rating about their driving style, based on consistency of performance. Included in the vehicle’s trip computer, a display will provide the driver a rating out of five stars. The less consistent the driving, the fewer stars illuminate.

“Driver Alert should not be confused with a system that alerts the driver if a lane marker is passed without activating a turn signal,” says Birk. Driver Alert monitors the way the vehicle is being driven and alerts the driver to their actions, rather than the vehicle’s position relative to a lane marker. In fact, Driver Alert will respond without the vehicle even crossing a lane marker.

Birk explains that Driver Alert has been tested both in vehicles and in simulators, with excellent results and high dependability. “During our tests, the system never once missed a driver who was falling asleep at the wheel,” says Birk. “Nonetheless, we will continue to test and fine-tune the system until Driver Alert is offered to Volvo customers. We expect it to be available within two years.”

Volvo’s floating centre stack a doorway to customization

TORONTO (October 19, 2005) – The ultra thin, free floating centre stack first introduced in the Volvo S40 sports sedan and V50 sportswagon was presented as a means to simply and easily operate the audio and climate control systems. But it can also be the gateway to customizing an array of clever functions in the two newest Volvo models – functions that go far beyond controlling the radio station and the temperature.

“The centre stack is a gateway that allows customers to manipulate features such as the remote entry system, power door locks, lights, fan speeds and even obtain information about the vehicle itself. Of course you can use it to customize the audio system’s sound,” says Bryan Lamontagne, National Retailer Training Manager for Volvo Cars of Canada Ltd., “but this lets you do so much more.”

The display in the centre stack offers an in-car menu system that will allow users to program how the power door locks will operate. For example, the user can program the doors and trunk to lock as soon as the car starts to move. It also lets the owner dictate, with one press of the “unlock” button on the remote, whether all four doors or only the driver’s door should unlock.

The vehicles’ external lighting system can also be programmed from the same display. As part of Volvo Cars’ safety commitment, all Volvo vehicles are equipped with Approach and Home Safe lighting for personal security. The lights on the S40 and V50 can be programmed through the centre stack to stay on for 30, 60 or 90 seconds after the customer closes the door. Home Safe lighting is activated by a pull of the high beam lever. The headlights stay on to illuminate the driver’s path to their destination. The turn indicators can also be programmed to react to when the car is locked and unlocked. Approach lighting illuminates the turn indicators so the driver can look for puddles or ice, and turns on the interior dome light.

Through the in-car menu, owners can program the electronic climate control system’s blower speed to low, normal or high while the system is in AUTO mode. It will also allow the user to turn the recirculation timer on or off. When the timer is active, air will be recirculated in the car for 3-12 minutes (depending on the ambient temperature).

Finally, should the driver need to contact Volvo On Call roadside assistance service from the safety of inside their S40 or V50, they can access the car’s Vehicle Identification Number from the same display.

“It’s important to many buyers to be able to customize their new cars in ways beyond what’s visible from the outside. Tailoring the convenience functions of the S40 and V50 to the tastes of discriminating buyers is part of the appeal of these cars,” Lamontagne says.

Special Edition vehicles highlight Volvo AWD popularity

TORONTO (October 12, 2005) – In advance of the imminent winter weather, Volvo Cars of Canada Ltd. has launched two Special Edition vehicles complete with the company’s compelling new all-wheel drive system.

Released to Volvo retailers this week, the S60 AWD and V70 AWD Special Edition models offer a feature package that includes sport leather seats, unique 17” wheels, front fog lights, interior trim appointments and Volvo’s Dynamic Stability and Traction Control system. If purchased individually, the options would amount to $6,650 for S60 and $7,150 for the V70, however the Special Edition package will retail for $4,375 and $4,875, respectively. But the heart of the appeal of these two new versions of popular Volvos is the Volvo AWD system, updated for the 2006 model year with Instant Traction for improved performance.

“The new all-wheel drive system found in the S60 and V70 models was developed for the XC90 V8 luxury SUV,” says Larry Futers, Vice President of Sales for Volvo Canada. “Because of the popularity of all-wheel drive with Canadians, and because it was upgraded for 2006, we decided to expand the availability of the system into the S60 and V70 for this model year.”

The Volvo electronically-controlled all-wheel drive system with Instant Traction improves tire grip on slippery surfaces. Instant Traction engages the rear wheels with up to 80 Nm (59 lb.-ft.) of torque ‘pre-load’ for instantaneous power transfer to reduce the likelihood of wheelspin when accelerating from a standstill. At higher speeds, the new AWD system will also engage the rear wheels faster than the previous generation. Engine power is distributed to the rear wheels after less than a one-seventh of a rotation (spin) of the front wheels.

Today, the new all-wheel drive powertrain can be found in more than 40 per cent of all S60 and V70 vehicles sold. The Volvo AWD system is available as optional or standard equipment on all Volvo vehicles. In 2005, nearly 60 per cent of all Volvo vehicles are equipped with the feature.

Volvo Car Corporation: Moving into the Third Age of Safety

GÖTEBORG (September 22, 2005) – The subject of safety has defined and differentiated Volvo since it was founded in 1927. Now, safety engineers at Volvo Car Corporation are moving the company into the “Third Age of Automotive Safety” with a concrete vision to further enhance automotive safety and leading-edge technology.

The Third Age of Automotive Safety builds on Volvo Cars’ existing, industry-leading passive and active safety technologies. The company plans to equip its vehicles with highly sophisticated systems that not only enhance the driver’s physical perception of the road, but can even take over direct control of the car in critical situations where a driver is not responding sufficiently fast enough to avoid an emerging collision.

“The motoring environment grows ever more complex, with more and more things fighting for a driver’s attention, both outside and inside their cars, putting extra pressure on their ability to cope with what’s happening around them,” says Jan Ivarsson, safety, strategy and requirements manager at Volvo Cars. He believes the only safe way forward is to provide “sophisticated, advanced, automated driver support programs in addition to Volvo Cars’ traditional passive and active safety approach.”

Driver support programs
For Volvo Cars there is nothing remotely ‘Big Brother’ about its approach. Jan Ivarsson notes that several industries have for many years used computerized systems to negate the chance of natural human error causing a disaster, including the nuclear power and airline industries.

“ A commercial pilot, responsible for the lives of hundreds of passengers, is supported by a massive array of systems that fly the plane largely automatically, taking into account weather, traffic and other conditions, and able to land the aircraft even in dense fog – something usually beyond the ability of a human,” says Jan Ivarsson. “Our emerging safety thinking at Volvo Cars is about putting natural human abilities at the centre of our research and develop systems designed to increase safety and ensure drivers can enjoy their motoring experience. Over the years we have provided significant passive and active safety systems, but now our challenge is to deliver software and hardware that serve as a sympathetic ‘co-driver’ for the motorist. Our vision contemplates creating a partnership between the human driver and the vehicle.”

Jan Ivarsson added that Volvo Cars will build upon today’s existing fully functional systems such as its Blind Spot Information System (BLIS), adaptive cruise control, radar-based collision warning system, and the IDIS Intelligent Driver Information System. The European IDIS system continuously monitors steering wheel movement, turn signal indicators and degree of braking to delay incoming phone calls or SMS messages during intense activity such as overtaking or braking.

Driver error
Volvo Cars safety research shows that driver error is a major contributor to collisions and the company believes the answer is to provide driver alert functions designed to reduce information overload. The company is developing technologies that can anticipate an upcoming problem and help solve it, either by alerting the driver or, in the ultimate case, by temporarily taking over control of the vehicle and reacting faster than a normal human could.

The Volvo Cars’ Driver Alert™ system, now in the final phase of development, uses cameras and radar systems with software designed to identify moving or stationary objects posing a potential threat to the vehicle. Initially alerting a driver using warning lights and sounds to the upcoming danger, the Volvo Cars system steps-in to help reduce impact severity using brake support and automatic brake activation.

The Driver Alert system can also monitor a car’s path between the lane markers on a highway. If the car detects growing aberration in the way the car is being handled it sends a warning to the driver that he or she may be getting drowsy. The Volvo Cars solution is unique because, unlike existing systems that measure eyelid movement, its system can issue a warning well in advance of sleep on-set.

According to the National Health and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), approximately 1,500 people are killed and over 70,000 are injured every year from approximately 100,000 fatigue-related vehicle collisions. A survey by the National Sleep Foundation of America from 1998, entitled “Omnibus Sleep In America”, some 23 per cent of people admitted to falling asleep at the driving wheel!

New Volvo models currently in the launch pipeline, such as the S80 and V70 replacements, will come equipped with the company’s first generation ‘co-driver’ technology.

City proof cars
Volvo Cars’ futuristic safety vision also encompasses helping owners ‘city-proof’ their vehicles by reducing the risks of low speed collisions. Volvo Cars believes vehicles equipped with forward-and rearward-facing systems would significantly reduce injuries caused during these low speed collisions. Volvo Cars’ research shows that 88 per cent of all collisions occur at speeds up to 40 km/h (25 mph). Apart from reducing physical damage to vehicles, new technology would reduce the impact severity and the risk of whiplash injuries for passengers and drivers, both in the owner’s Volvo vehicle and in the vehicle being struck.

“ Our ‘co-driver’ technology approach is the umbrella for Volvo Cars’ new human ability safety approach and vision for the year 2020,” says Jan Ivarsson. “From the safety perspective, our sustainable mobility moves are about developing the relationship between car, driver and the traffic environment into an unthreatening, dynamic, exhilarating and safe union making everyday motoring enjoyable.”

Volvo Cars of Canada Ltd. is part of the Volvo Car Corporation of Göteborg, Sweden. The company provides marketing, sales, parts, service, technology and training support to the 43 Volvo automobile retailers across the country. The company’s product range includes the flagship S80 luxury sedan, the versatile V70 wagon, the S60 sports sedan, and the completely redesigned S40 sports sedan and V50 sportswagon. For buyers looking for more rugged versatility, the Volvo XC-line of vehicles that includes the XC70 and the award-winning XC90 sport utility vehicle.

Volvo Car Corporation: Borrowing a leaf from nature to deliver on sustainable mobility

GÖTEBORG (September 22, 2005) – Engineers at Volvo Car Corporation are developing manufacturing techniques to realize a future where much of a vehicle’s interior is literally borrowed from nature. They are experimenting with fabrics, floor mats and other materials based on renewable and sustainable sources such as hemp, jute, rapeseed and soya.

As part of a visionary roadmap to sustain humankind’s future mobility through 2020 and beyond, Volvo Cars’ environmental vision goes beyond studying new technologies to replace conventional oil-burning engines with hybrids and alternative fuel options. Volvo Cars' research and design teams are working towards a vision in which, by 2020, the textiles and materials in its vehicles will increasingly use renewable natural products.

“ We are accelerating into the fast lane of the green auto revolution by taking key steps today towards seeing drivers and passengers sitting in Volvo cars with ‘hard’ components such as dashboards and ceilings made of flax and cellulose rather than petroleum-based polymers, and enjoying comfortable seats using natural fiber and soya-based foam fillings,” says Katarina Sundqvist of Volvo Cars R&D vehicle engineering department.

Bio-based products make huge sense
Integrating bio-based products into Volvo vehicles to replace petroleum-based components makes a lot of sense for a number of ecological and economic reasons, says Katarina Sundqvist. “Using bio-based products would reduce the need to transport materials since many agricultural parts are made locally. Bio-based products are also easy to manufacture, help reduce agricultural waste and improve a vehicle’s biodegradability and recyclability.”

After two years of development, Volvo Cars has started a pilot production of a cargo floor tray that replaces the traditional polyester with 100 per cent biodegradable flax. Easy to break down and compost, the cellulose tray also gives better noise reduction qualities. The natural materials used in the tray can also be used to make hard panels such as centre consoles or pillar panels in vehicles.

Volvo Cars 2020 vision also envisages using naturally grown fibers to replace glass fiber in plastics and resins.

“Not only are natural fibers such as sisal, hemp, jute and flax a renewable, sustainable resource, but bio-fibers also reduce both the weight of a car and the cost of materials,” says Anders Högström of Volvo Cars interior and climate engineering strategy department. “Replacing glass fiber with lower density natural fiber can slash the weight of some of the materials used in a car by up to 30 per cent, contributing to lower fuel consumption and less pollution.”

Benefits of replacing glass fiber with natural fibers
“ In addition saving weight, the benefits of using natural fibers include improved damping characteristics, less abrasion on tooling, and better recyclability,” adds Anders Högström. “Thermoset materials using natural fibers cut petroleum dependence and deliver cost and performance advantages. The bio-based materials developed by Volvo Cars also give improved safety because natural fibers absorb energy extremely efficiently in the event of side collisions and do not crack or splinter.”

Today, some 85 per cent by weight of a Volvo vehicle is recyclable, with 26 per cent comprising plastics and other non-metallic materials. Volvo Cars already uses vegetable-based renewable materials in close to 100 components, mostly for sound absorption or mats made of cotton fibers. As well, a number of door panels and head linings are also based on renewable sources. Volvo Cars believes that by switching more materials to bio-based products it could contribute to reducing global use of crude oil for plastics by around 550,000 barrels annually by 2020. Today’s challenge is to ensure a natural-based product can withstand high temperatures of manufacturing and cope with the moisture and dampness experienced during a vehicle’s useful life.

“ But our vision for 2020 is to leap even further ahead,” says Lex Kerssemakers, Senior Vice President, Brand, Business and Product Strategy at Volvo Cars. “We are only at the start of an exciting journey designed to make Volvo Cars one of the absolute environmental leaders among makers of premium cars.”

Committed to a cleaner ecological footprint
As part of its commitment to create a cleaner ecological footprint, Volvo Cars is working to use biopolymers, which can be composted, to reduce the use of finite resources as well as the production of waste. Underlining Volvo Cars’ intent to be as acclaimed for its environmental contributions as for its attention to safety, Lex Kerssemakers adds: “Our aim is to clean up our ecological footprint, as well as enhance the opportunities for individuals to benefit from sustainable mobility.”

Although Volvo Cars carries out much of its research internally, the company has forged strong collaborative links with the Ford Motor Company and external suppliers and technological institutions such as the Chalmers Institute of Technology in Gothenburg.

A strategy for putting human well-being and the environment first
With its vision for 2020 Volvo Cars is exploring an environmentally friendlier future where human health, well-being and the environment are prioritized by its safe, attractive and ecologically sustainable mobility solutions. “Our vision is to be part of the solution for the main environmental challenges for the automotive industry – climate change, air quality, oil dependency and traffic congestion,” says Lex Kerssemakers.

Knowing it cannot achieve sustainable mobility alone, Volvo Cars will focus on areas where it can contribute the most: energy efficiency, health and personal mobility. Thus, Volvo Cars is pursuing a company-wide strategy for sustainable mobility geared to manage business processes, projects and product development in line with its sustainability aspirations.

Volvo Cars of Canada Ltd. is part of the Volvo Car Corporation of Göteborg, Sweden. The company provides marketing, sales, parts, service, technology and training support to the 43 Volvo automobile retailers across the country. The company’s product range includes the flagship S80 luxury sedan, the versatile V70 wagon, the S60 sports sedan, and the completely redesigned S40 sports sedan and V50 sportswagon. For buyers looking for more rugged versatility, the Volvo XC-line of vehicles that includes the XC70 and the award-winning XC90 sport utility vehicle.

The all new Volvo C70 – both a convertible and a coupe

• Second-generation convertible from Volvo Cars
• Power retractable hardtop
• Youthful, technology-inspired interior
• Space and comfort for four adults

FRANKFURT (September 12, 2005) – Volvo Car Corporation today introduced its second-generation convertible, the all new 2006 Volvo C70, with classic proportions, four comfortable seats and a retractable hardtop that folds away into the trunk.

“We wanted to create two cars in one, without compromise,” says C70 Project Manager Patrik Widerstrand. “We have succeeded in creating a car that is both an elegant convertible and a sporty coupe.”

“It’s a very special experience to see half the car open up and swallow the other,” says Fedde Talsma, head of design for the new Volvo C70. “One simple press of a button and the transformation takes place automatically and the whole process takes just thirty seconds.”

Apart from the flexibility offered by the retractable hardtop, it also makes for a quieter, more comfortable coupe. The normal-sized glass rear window offers good visibility to the rear and the hardtop provides extra rigidity for the body.

Rounded shapes and a powerful profile
The new Volvo C70 is slightly shorter, sits lower than its predecessor but is just as wide. With a slightly shorter front overhang, its dimensions give the car a powerful profile. The corners, in true modern Volvo style, are gently rounded.

The shoulder line, or catwalk, glides up towards the rear to give an impression of dynamism and reinforces the feeling of a protective collar around those traveling in the back. The slope is balanced visually by the wave-shaped sill line.

“Achieving harmonious lines both with and without a roof is not an easy task,” says Talsma. “We opted to first design the new Volvo C70 as a coupe. Once we were satisfied with the result we made the necessary convertible adaptations. In our experience, this is the best approach.”

The rear section is cut away sharply and has the characteristic Volvo rear lights. On the new Volvo C70 they have a lower profile than on the sedan models to highlight the coupe body style.

Interior with a Scandinavian feel
The interior of the new Volvo C70 is marked by Volvo’s modern, innovative design features, inspired by Scandinavian tradition with clean surfaces, genuine materials and good functionality.

“We have chosen to give the new Volvo C70 a youthful, technology-inspired feel,” says Talsma. “Inspiration has been drawn more from Scandinavian product design than pure car design.”

The super-thin, “floating” centre stack, introduced in the Volvo S40 sports sedan and V50 sportswagon has also been included in the new Volvo C70. Special upholstery has been developed for the new Volvo C70. Vulcaflex is a synthetic material with a skin-like surface structure and a high-tech feeling. Vulcaflex is used both in combination with textile and with soft leather. Full leather upholstery is an option.

Good comfort for four adults
The new Volvo C70 is designed to accommodate up to four adults. The two rear seats have comfortably angled backrests and generous hip room while the front seats are ergonomically shaped and offer plenty of leg room. With a practical control on the backrest they can be moved forwards easily to facilitate entry to the rear seat. The optional electrically operated seats move forwards twice as quickly as in the previous C70 model.

Flexible, carefully considered design
The passenger compartment offers spacious storage areas beside each seat. Several of them are linked to the car’s central locking system through the remote control.

The trunk has been designed to provide spacious storage for a convertible of this size. It has a 400-litre capacity with the roof up and 200 litres with the roof down. A practical trunk divider makes it easy to assess how much can be loaded with the roof down. To facilitate loading and unloading when the roof is down, the whole roof package is lifted approximately 200 mm with the aid of an electric motor and a control button.

A ‘ski hatch’ in the backrest of the rear seat also makes it possible to transport long objects inside the car.

“We really have tried to make use of every centimetre in the car to enhance passenger comfort,” says Talsma. “Despite the compact dimensions of the car there is ample space and room for personal effects.”

Facts about the retractable hardtop on the new Volvo C70
• Roof panels made of steel and divided into three sections
• The joints between the sections have rubber seals
• An electric motor, hydraulic pump and computer are used to open and close the roof
• The roof is opened/closed in approximately 30 seconds (regardless of the weather)
• The car must be at a standstill when the roof is opened/closed
• The rigidity of the body is improved by approximately 15 per cent when the roof is up
• The trunk lid is made of aluminum and opens in two different ways, for operation of the roof or for access to the luggage compartment.

Dimensions of the new Volvo C70 (compared with the previous C70 model)
Length 4580 mm (4716 mm)
Width 1820 mm (1820 mm)
Height 1410 mm (1429 mm)
Wheelbase 2640 mm (2664 mm)
Track, front 1550 mm (1521 mm)
Track, rear 1560 mm (1521 mm)

Volvo Cars of Canada Ltd. is part of the Volvo Car Corporation of Göteborg, Sweden. The company provides marketing, sales, parts, service, technology and training support to the 43 Volvo automobile retailers across the country. The company’s product range includes the flagship S80 luxury sedan, the versatile V70 wagon, the S60 sports sedan, and the completely redesigned S40 sports sedan and V50 sportswagon. For buyers looking for more rugged versatility, the Volvo XC-line of vehicles that includes the XC70 and the award-winning XC90 sport utility vehicle..