Volvo Concept You - Designer Talk

Volvo Concept You Business Newsfeed - Videos

Peter Horbury talking about Volvo`s new direction

Volvo Concept You - PromoVids and PR

Concept You from Volvo Car Corporation:Luxurious Scandinavian design with intuitive smart pad technology

The Volvo Car Corporation now takes the next bold step in the evolution of the company's upcoming large luxury sedan.

The Concept You, revealed at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, combines a sleek coupe-like exterior with a luxurious high-tech interior that keeps the driver in command via intuitive smart pad technology.

The Concept You picks up where the Concept Universe, revealed at Auto Shanghai earlier this year, left off. It gives the global car buying public another exciting glimpse of the Volvo Car Corporation's future.
With a full interior, Concept You allows luxury sedan customers to fully experience the craftsmanship and intuitive technology that will be the hallmark of future Volvos.

"The new Concept You roofline stretches all the way back to the tail lamps - creating that dynamic fastback look that is very much in vogue among European car buyers at the moment," says Peter Horbury, Vice President Design at the Volvo Car Corporation.

Touch-control cockpit and pure craftsmanshipThe luxurious interior of the Concept You features a blend of intuitive smart pad technology and first-class craftsmanship.

"The Concept You explores new territories in our search for the ultimate intuitive car that makes the owners manual a thing of the past. Smart phones and smart pads have brought mobile infotainment into a new era. Here, we use a number of touch-screens to replace buttons and controls in order to make the driver totally connected, totally in control. The technology also helps us to create a refreshingly uncluttered interior," explains Peter Horbury.

The Concept You control centre consists of four main areas; a digital Driver Information Monitor (DIM), a head-up display on the windscreen, a touch-screen in the upper part of the centre console and a touch-screen between the two individual rear seats. The wood/leather steering wheel has aluminium and glass paddles with integrated touch-screens.

The touch-screen in the upper part of the centre console remains in sleeping mode until the driver looks at it. A hidden infrared camera registers the eye movements and information is displayed on the screen.

Another sensor registers hand movements and triggers the Infotainment system's control mode. The possibilities vary depending on whether the screen is approached by the driver or by the front passenger.

"Certain functions, such as surfing the Web, are only accessible from the passenger side while the car is rolling. The technology knows who is the present operator and adapts itself automatically," says Peter Horbury.

The driver can "flip" data from the central touch-screen to the head-up display - and can exchange data with the rear passengers. A light guide in the free-floating centre console indicates file transfer.

Unique air-powered sound systemThe Infotainment system also integrates a high-end sound system from Alpine. It features the unique "FreshAir" subwoofer - a not yet released technology that uses the air outside the car to create the ultimate listening experience.

The sound system consists of small, optimised units that considerably cut weight - while still producing a better sound than today's systems.

Comfortable and cultivatedThe interior is dedicated to offer design-driven customers a comfortable, cultivated, Scandinavian inspired environment that is also user-focused and refreshingly uncomplicated. Every detail has been chosen with the customer experience in focus.

The interior is driver-orientated at the front and comfortably relaxed in the rear. The dynamic feel and dark colour scheme in the front seats fades seamlessly towards the rear until it fully transforms into a light rear seat haven of calmness.

The rear seat passengers are embraced by pure comfort, as if their favourite lounge were magically integrated into the car. The interior moulds into the rear seat and becomes part of the seating environment.
The Volvo Car Corporation has partnered with several other famous brands in order to create a genuine feeling of luxury with the right Scandinavian touch.

Leather, suede and suit fabricThe four individual seats, inspired by ultra-comfortable chairs, blend chrome-free leather from Bridge of Wear with Dinamica ecological suede. The off-black front seats have suede in the centre to create optimal grip. The soft beige rear seats are designed for pure comfort with leather in the centre and suede on the sides.

The Concept You design also integrates the luxury qualities of a tailor made suit into the car. The back of the front seats and the door panels feature exclusive Italian fabric and designs from Swedish fashion house Oscar Jacobson.

The designers have also been generous with large, handcrafted pieces of walnut - accompanied by leather panels, Dinamica suede roof lining and carefully chosen aluminium details.

Hand-tufted wool carpetsThe wooden floor, which echoes Scandinavian homes, is covered with a specially designed hand-tufted carpet from world-famous Swedish brand Kasthall. Just like the rest of the interior it fades from dark in the front to light in the rear. The front texture has a sporty firmness, while the rear part of the carpet is luxuriously soft.

"The interior is full of classic forms, materials and textures, used with a twist to create a special contemporary luxury experience. It is exceptionally refined, yet with all the simplistic assets that make Volvo champions of the uncomplicated," explains Peter Horbury. He concludes:
"We are carving out a unique position among the luxury car makers with our special kind of Scandinavian Design. It will be unmatched in performance, technology and craftsmanship, but without superficiality or complication."

Inspiration from Georg JensenThe Concept You is finished in a light blue, liquid metal paint from DuPont. The ventilated disc brakes are developed by Volvo's racing specialists Polestar.

The car's fast silhouette is emphasised by the 21-inch polished aluminium wheels with a twisted twin-spoke design and tyres from Pirelli (275/30/21).

Up front, the Concept You grille - which has a more classic appearance than the Concept Universe - features details with the same beautifully polished craftsmanship.

"The design of the wheels, the grille and details in the innovative headlamps have been inspired by the exquisite works of world-famous Danish design house Georg Jensen. Their precious items capture the essence of Scandinavian design. Uncluttered, organic surfaces and superb craftsmanship that radiate timeless luxury," says Peter Horbury. He adds:
"This eternal beauty of Georg Jensen design is what we are aiming for with the whole concept car. Just like the finest luxury goods, this design should feel handcrafted and durable enough to stand the test of time."

The dipped beam comes from LED lamps in four "ice blocks" on top of the high beam lights. The "ice blocks" are installed with the same technology that jewellers use for mounting precious stones.

Volvo Concept You

Volvos lyxiga Concept You

Is this the next S80? Is Horbury hinting on the next large Volvo sedan?

A new concept from Volvo

Volvo History: SCC turns 10 years

"When we began work on the concept car at the end of the 1990s, Volvo was still primarily known for making family cars designed to protect their occupants in a collision. The SCC signaled the start of a new approach which enhanced safety for the occupants, where the car's most important safety task is to help avoid dangerous situations and accidents in the first place," explains Östen Strandberg, who was responsible for the development of the SCC.

Volvo SCC turns 10 years:

No other concept car in the history of Volvo Car Corporation has meant more for the company's technological advancement than the Volvo SCC (Safety Concept Car).
Ten years after its 2001 world premiere in Detroit, the Safety Concept Car can look back on a fantastic "career".

• It was the starting point of the company's leadership in active safety. About 15 of the advanced technical solutions found in today's Volvo models first saw the light of day in the Volvo SCC.
• From the design viewpoint the SCC also inspired the design of the successful Volvo C30 model.

The Volvo SCC is an early example of the cumulative effect of close cooperation between Volvo Cars' designers and engineers.
"Concept vehicles are usually design or technology studies that give car buyers a taste of the future. The Volvo SCC, however, has added impact because it was both attractive and high-tech. It is an early example of how we design our cars around our customers' wishes, needs and limitations," says Volvo Car Corporation's President and CEO Stefan Jacoby.

One of the project group's most important goals was to demonstrate the possibility of combining world-class safety with a sporty, sleek shape all packaged in a relatively small car. 
"When we began work on the concept car at the end of the 1990s, Volvo was still primarily known for making family cars designed to protect their occupants in a collision. The SCC signalled the start of a new approach which enhanced safety for the occupants, where the car's most important safety task is to help avoid dangerous situations and accidents in the first place," explains Östen Strandberg, who was responsible for the development of the Volvo SCC. He adds:
"With the driveable Safety Concept Car, we showed that all these smart, collision-preventive technological solutions were within reach. It is fair to say that the success of the SCC project triggered Volvo Car Corporation's groundbreaking dedication to active safety systems."

Star in DetroitThe Volvo SCC generated enormous interest at its unveiling to a massive audience on the Volvo Cars stand at Detroit Auto Show in January 2001. That autumn, the world press had the opportunity to test-drive the concept car in a closed-off section of Seville International Airport in southern Spain.
The following year, Swedish Prime Minster Göran Persson was one of many people that tested the car - and later the car went on a nationwide tour of the USA, reaping immense praise from coast to coast.
"The attention it attracted was actually greater than we dared hope. I'm convinced that this was largely because the SCC was attractive as well as technically advanced - but without being complicated. That's exactly the combination that echoes Volvo's approach and it is still our strength," says Mikael Edvardsson, one of the engineers responsible of the technology integrated into the Safety Concept Car.

From concept to productionIn 2002 work got under way on translating the technical studies showcased in the Volvo SCC into production-ready safety technology. One year later, Volvo Car Corporation initiated the project that would result in the world debut of the Volvo C30 in Paris in 2006.

Today - ten years after the premiere success - around 15 of the technological solutions presented in the Volvo SCC can be found in Volvo Car Corporation's model range. Technological solutions that now help drivers the world over avoid both minor incidents and major collisions.

"One small but revealing example of just how much of the SCC made it into series production is the fact that even the car's livery became reality - the paintwork of the one-off SCC bears a remarkable resemblance to the Orange Flame colour that you can specify for your Volvo C30," relates Östen Strandberg.

There's an exception to every rule, however. One of the SCC's most attention-grabbing features never made it into production: the Eiffel Tower-like see-through A-pillars remained a part of the C30 project, but eventually made way for a conventional alternative owing to obstacles when it comes to strength, build complexity and cost.

SCC technology in today's Volvo modelsHere is a list of the technological solutions that made it from the Volvo SCC to some or all of Volvo Car Corporation's current models:

• Forward collision warning - today in its third generation with Pedestrian Detection, Collision Warning and Full Auto Brake. In addition, there is the ground-braking low-speed system, City Safety, which is fitted as standard to several Volvo models.
• Information projected on the windscreen - today the head-up display is part of the Collision Warning system.
• Technology that monitors vehicles in the "blind spot" and alerts the driver. Today this is known as BLIS (Blind Spot Information System).
• Warning system to alert the driver to the risk of straying from the lane. Today known as Lane Departure Warning and Driver Alert.
• Cruise control that maintains a set distance behind the vehicle in front. The present ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control) operates all the way down to standstill in cars with automatic transmission.
• Flashing brake lights during hard braking - today known as Emergency Brake Lights.
• Safety cameras - today there are integrated reversing camera and grille-mounted camera offering drivers a 180-degree field of vision (accessory). A camera is also a key component in the Pedestrian Detection and Collision Warning system.
• Advanced headlights that follow the curvature of the road as the car turns - today Active Bending Lights.
• Further-developed HMI (Human Machine Interface) - now Volvo Sensus.
• Height-adjustable rear seat. Present today in the integrated two-stage child booster cushions.
• Protection for pedestrians - today this system is found as the energy-absorbing front structure and bonnet and in Pedestrian Detection.
• Steering wheel adjustable for height and reach - fitted today as standard.
• Passive unlocking and engine starting - today Keyless Go.
• Communication with the car via mobile phone - today via a newly developed Mobile Application that was introduced in spring 2011.

Ahead of its timeMikael Edvardsson sums up:
"When the Volvo SCC was unveiled, it was packed with sensational technology. Bearing in mind the interest of the car-buying public in active safety systems today, it's easy to see that the concept car was way ahead of its time. It's evidence that Volvo is and will remain at the cutting edge when it comes to automotive safety."

source: Volvo

Happy 50 P1800 Again!

A true cosmopolitan turns 50


Volvo P1800 1961 - 2011

Planned in Sweden, designed in Italy, unveiled at the car show in Brussels, built in Britain and a huge success in the USA. The Volvo P1800 is perhaps Volvo's most internationally renowned model ever and the one that arouses most emotions. In 2011 this remarkable people's favourite turns 50. It was in 1961 that it entered production and reached showrooms after four years of careful planning and development, remaining in production for the next twelve years. From the sales perspective it played perhaps a marginal role for the company, but from the image viewpoint it played a far bigger role than any previous Volvo model – and few if any subsequent models have matched it image-wise.

Design coup
The Volvo P1800 was born for that very reason – to attract the attention of passersby to Volvo's display windows and to increase what today is known as 'floor traffic' so that people who entered the showroom left it in a new Volvo.
Volvo had tried its hand at a sports car back in the early 1950s – the open two-seater plastic-bodied Volvo Sport which was built from 1955 to 1957 with a total production run of just 67 cars. "Not a bad car, but a bad Volvo" was the way Volvo President Gunnar Engellau put it when he retired the model. However, he did recognise the importance of having a prestigious and exciting model to boost overall sales, and Volvo dealers were desperate for just such a car.
Design proposals were ordered from Italy, where Volvo consultant Helmer Petterson – who was deeply involved in the planning of the new car – had got his son Pelle a job at Pietro Frua thanks to Pelle's fresh degree in industrial design from the Pratt Institute in New York. When the time came to unveil the four proposals to Volvo's board in 1957, Helmer sneaked in his son Pelle's fifth design – and that was the one that everyone picked. Engellau in particular liked it since he had very definite views about wanting an Italian-designed car. That of course is precisely what he did get, but it was penned by a 25 year old native of Göteborg who would later make his mark as a boat designer and win Olympic medals in yacht racing. Eventually, however, the truth behind the winning design proposal emerged. The choleric Engellau blew his top, felt he had been hoodwinked and promised that Pelle would never be acknowledged as the car's designer. And indeed many years went by before the truth was made known and Pelle Petterson received the credit he was due for penning one of the world's most attractive sports coupes.

The new sports car – which is how Volvo presented the model – had a fixed roof, a steel body, a lot of the mechanical components lifted straight from the Amazon and the newly developed B18 engine in its 100 hp sports version when it eventually arrived in the showrooms.
Three prototypes were built by Frua in Turin in 1957-1958 on Amazon underpinnings and these cars were used for a variety of purposes, for instances as templates for the production of press tools, in a range of tests, at shows, for press work and advertising photo-shoots and much else. All three have survived and are still on the road.

Production overseas
At this time, Volvo found itself in a hugely expansive phase and the company realised from the outset that it did not have sufficient in-house capacity to manufacture the new model – not for pressing of body panels, nor for painting or assembly, not even on a small scale. The hunt for a suitable partner got under way, led by Helmer Petterson, and after much deliberation a decision was taken to use two British companies to build the car: Pressed Steel would build the bodies and Jensen Motors would paint and assemble the cars. Production got under way but this was a far from friction-free method. Constant problems with personnel, working methods, quality, suppliers and logistics along with an unwillingness to deal with these issues meant that as soon as it was possible, Volvo transferred production home to Sweden.

As of spring 1963 – after 6000 Jensen-built cars – production of the 1800 started up in Volvo's Lundby factory but it was not until 1969 that body pressings were transferred from Pressed Steel in Scotland to Volvo's press shop in Olofström. The move home also coincided with a change of name for the P1800. First it was badged the P1800 S, later in 1963 it was known simply as the 1800 S, S standing for Sweden.
During the coupe's long life, no radical changes were made to the successful exterior lines. Only details such as the grille, trim mouldings, wheels and colours differentiate the various model years. From the technical viewpoint the 1800 shadowed the development of Volvo's other models and was continuously upgraded. Disc brakes all round, more powerful engines and electronic fuel injection were the most noticeable changes.

Cult car for The Saint and a world record-holder
In 1971, however, a new body variant was presented, the 1800 ES. A sporting hatchback with an extended roofline and an estate car rear featuring a large glass tailgate. A GT and estate car combined. The ES was designed in Göteborg and attracted considerable attention, but it also divided opinion into two camps. It has nonetheless achieved cult status along with its coupe sister and many have survived to this day. Volvo's 1800 models are very sought-after by enthusiasts – there are several clubs serving the model – and they were for many years relatively inexpensive to buy, although in recent years their prices have started to rise on the classic-car market. Renovating an 1800 is neither easy nor cheap. Many parts are no longer available, particularly for the Jensen-built cars, but owners who have taken the trouble can expect many miles behind the wheel of an exceptionally pleasant, agile and robust car whose value to Volvo in terms of image can never really be fully quantified.

Just ask Roger Moore, who was fortunate enough to drive a P1800 in his role as debonair crime-fighter Simon Templar, a sort of modern-day Robin Hood, in the British TV drama series based on Leslie Charteris's "The Saint". The TV production company was looking for an attractive sports car that would suit a gentleman of independent means, and after being turned down by Jaguar approached Volvo to ask for the P1800. Volvo was quick to oblige. It was a brilliant PR move for the new Volvo model and the car became etched firmly in the minds of everyone at the time. To this day the P1800 is still often referred to as The Saint's car.

Another person who can testify to the car's excellence is New Yorker Irv Gordon, who has covered more than 4,500,000 kilometres in the 1800 S he purchased in 1966, making him the holder of a Guinness world record that will probably never be able to be beaten. Irv Gordon has spent a total of almost 12 years behind the wheel of his car and he is now aiming for 3,000,000 miles, that is to say about 4,800,000 kilometres. On the same engine!

Timeless 50 year old
The Volvo P1800, this alert 50 year old, was never intended to be a mass-produced car. It was and still is a niche product, the top of the model range, yet at the same time viable enough to be within the reach of ordinary people who wanted a car that looked like a Ferrari but cost and functioned like a Volvo: pleasant, reliable and economical. It appealed to people even before it arrived in the showrooms in 1961 and its design has been shown to stand the test of time: it is timeless, classic and sporty in a well-balanced way. Congratulations to Gunnar Engellau and Helmer Petterson who pushed for Volvo to build the car, to Pelle Petterson who designed it, to Volvo who kept the model going in good times and bad over a period of twelve years, and to all those people who today own and value an 1800 – a truly living piece of Volvo history.

source

2011 Volvo C30 - vids

Top Talk: Volvo

After spending $1.7 billion last year to acquire Volvo from Ford Motor Co., the Chinese automaker Zhejiang Geely Holding Group now plans to spend as much as $11 billion on Volvo products and facilities over the next five years.

A growth strategy for the United States will be completed by the end of next month. Doug Speck, CEO of Volvo Cars of North America, says the plan will call for new vehicles and perhaps a U.S. plant eventually.

Last week, Speck, 52, was named acting senior vice president for marketing, sales and customer service at Volvo's headquarters in Sweden, effective June 1. He was interviewed by Staff Reporter Diana T. Kurylko at Volvo's U.S. headquarters in Rockleigh, N.J., prior to the reassignment.

Q: How many vehicles will you sell in 2011 in the United States?

A: 60,000 to 70,000 cars. Last year we sold about 54,500. There is some uncertainty out there related to what the effect of the Japanese disaster will be in terms of production.

Do you source much from Japan?

We have some sourcing from there -- electronics. It could affect our production. Most everyone in the automobile business is, but it is not clear how and, if so, how much.

What will drive your increase in 2011 sales?

Predominantly S60 sales. We sold slightly over 2,000 S60s last year because we stopped building it while we were changing over the plant. We could easily see ourselves selling 15,000 to 20,000 S60s this year -- a huge increment year-on-year from that car line.

Are you attracting conquests or is this pent-up Volvo owner demand?

Right now 45 percent of the volume is from Volvo owners; obviously, the other 55 percent is from other brands. The brands we see run the gamut -- about 20 to 25 percent are other luxury marques, and the other 20 to 25 percent are mass brand move-ups from Toyota, Honda, Ford.

Earlier this year, Volvo Car Corp. CEO Stefan Jacoby announced plans that include more than doubling U.S. sales to 120,000 units by 2020. How will you achieve that goal?

A lot of that depends on what will happen with the industry so it is difficult to be precise. If the industry grows as we expect it to, that is not an unrealistic goal for our business.

The cornerstone of our business will be the two "60s" near term, the S60 and the XC60. Over the midterm XC90 will clearly be a product we will count on for some volume.

Were your product plans put on hold during the process of Ford's selling Volvo?

During the sale, the product plan did not change at all. Ford was out speaking to potential buyers and had a vision for the business for the future and that was a component of why Volvo had value. It was important while they were in the process not to have change in that regard.

How do you define your product strategy?

Most of the brands we compete with have two to three cars that do the bulk of sales, and then they have niche products. We are approaching it the same way if we can do a good job with the two 60s and XC90. Both are brand new or fairly new, and we have a plan to refresh and bring an all-new XC90 to the market. We will be competitive in key volume segments.

Our aspiration is to be a luxury brand competitor. Even with S60 and the XC range, we see cross-shopping with BMW, Audi and Mercedes. We are on the shopping list for folks looking at other luxury marques.

Does this mean Volvo will be rolling out derivatives of the S60 sedan and other models as niche products?

My personal philosophy is you have to be very good first with the core products ... with competitive cadence for refresh and all-new before you start to debate if you have niche products off the core products. In the short to medium term, that is where Volvo's focus will be. And we will be very competitive with powertrain and refreshing. After we have secured that position, then we can worry about niche products.

How long will it take for you to become a significant player in the compact luxury segment with the S60?

The foundation of this business needs to be S60. The car we have introduced right now is very competitive, whether you talk design, craftsmanship, technology or performance. We see that in the results that show up every month.

We actually have a very good base plan for S60, a solid refresh activity in the right time frame. The average refresh is in three to four years and the all-new in six to seven years, and we need to compete in those time frames. The S60 base plan does that.

How have things changed since Geely acquired Volvo?

Most dramatically to me, there is a lot of energy behind a 10-year plan.

We all need to understand what we are doing with the brand and what activities it will take to deliver the brand aspirations that we have -- the volume aspirations we have, the profit aspirations we have -- and we all need to be heading in the same direction.

You're strong in the Northeast and in places such as Colorado. Where is the potential for growth?

Clearly we have to improve our market share in the Sun Belt. Products like S60 and XC60 are the foundation off of which we will do that.

If you look at segment dynamics, the Sun Belt is much larger in the sedan business and in the luxury business than crossovers.

Where we are historically strong is the wagon and crossover world and, as a result, in places where those segments are largest we have good market share. Where we have to be much better is the sedan side, and by doing so we will improve in the Sun Belt.

Are you making inroads?

We have great growth in Miami and Los Angeles -- all on the back of S60 and XC60.

How goes Safe + Secure, your free scheduled maintenance program? Is it bringing in new buyers?

If the dealer feedback I get is any indication, then the message is yes.

There are two components of this program that are important:

One, it helps us maintain a good balance between buy and lease. Someone who buys their car attaches more value to a 5-year/60,000 mile coverage warranty versus someone that leases.

Two, it clearly is an attribute that distinguishes us from other luxury marques, and it helps people at our dealerships with their conversion rates. It is a great closing tool.

It definitely improves customer satisfaction. And the most recent J.D. Power CSI survey is an example. People who responded to the survey who have Safe + Secure coverage -- on average their score was 50 points higher than folks who have older cars without Safe + Secure.

And it is a great tool to continue to wed the customer to our service shops, which is important not only for dealer profitability but also for loyalty.

You launched a dealer-consolidation program a few years ago and have had key projects in cities such as Dallas. What more do you need to do, and how much more do you need to consolidate?

We went from 365 to 315 dealers in the country over a 24-month period. The bulk of it was done in 2008 and 2009. I said before that if the opportunity presented itself we could be a brand that has about 300 outlets. We are not actively pursuing consolidation right now, but we will look for consolidation in an opportunistic fashion, when it makes sense.

We will migrate away from consolidation as a core component of our network strategy toward consistency of improvement of the ownership experience.

Correlated to this is the 10-year strategic review that is under way and will result in significant investments in America to grow our business and improve our brand. Over time, we would expect investments to improve the ownership experience on the network side.

Can you elaborate on that?

We need to show dealers we are committed through consistency of marketing dollars, competitiveness and with products. Having delivered that consistency of commitment for a certain period of time, we will have earned the right to come out to dealers and say now we need you to make strategic investments as well.

Such as?

Facility improvements, personnel as it relates to training, etc. -- all the things that result in the customer saying: "I really enjoyed that purchase or service experience."

Do you need to do a facility-improvement program?

It is not something we will do this year. We are out there working with dealers. Some raise their hand and say, "I want to make an investment; it's time." As we leave this year and go into subsequent years, we will put emphasis on that project.

You can reach Diana T. Kurylko at dkurylko@crain.com.

Source and text: autonews

Volvo Concept Universe - How it was built

Vola ReVOLVO480ution (HU)

Hűvös vonalakba rejtett merész célzások, könnyedén viselt hanyag elegancia együttes harmóniája adja az időtlen formába bujtatott coupé sziluettét, amelyet Robert Koch styling felelős John de Vries vázlatai alapján megálmodott. Egy klasszikus a jövőből, melynek futurisztikus vonalvezetése elragad a szélmalmos design fjordos világába. Egy alkotás, amely előtt a Coggiola meghajolt, az anyacég háttérbeszorult, a Bertone kalapot kellett emeljen. Ilyen nem volt még soha.

A 80as évek elején a Volvo Sweden világosan kijelentette, hogy egy könnyű sportkocsit akar, amely innovatív de ugyanakkor magán hordozza a gyár stílusjegyeit. Követelményeit egy piros könyvbe rögzítette, és négy designstúdiót kért fel a munkára. Nekiláttak hát. A győztes terv kiindulási pontja a P1800ES volt. A nyertes, Volvo Hollandia tervezőgárdájában olyan nevek voltak, mint Rob Koch, Harm Lagaay, aki később a Porsche styling főnöke, Peter Horbury, akit nem kell bemutatnunk, hisz a C70es az ő kézjegyét viseli, valamint Corien Pompe aki a belsőteret tervezte. A tesztmodelek az USAban és Ausztráliában rótták a kilométereket, a gépeket nem kímélték. 6 év telt el a Project Galaxy vázlatától a szériagyártásig. 6 évi kemény munka után született meg az a 2+2es kombi-kupé, amely alaposan átgondolt ötletes részleteivel kategóriát teremtett. 1985 szeptemberében az autós szaklapok már közöltek kémfotókat, és október 15én a nemzetközi sajtó először végre megpillanthatta a Volvót.  1986 márciusában a Genfi szalonon lerántották a leplet. 6 év kellet ahhoz, hogy a Volvo mellett, a következő felirat csillogjon: 480. A sajtó ódákat zengett az új kocsiról és külön kitért a felsőrendű megjelenésre és az úttartásra. Egyedüli negatív visszhang a motor erejére vonatkozott, nem tartották elég erősnek egy sportkocsihoz. A Volvo két szóban reagált: Turbo 1988. Hogy mi ihlette meg a tervezőket? Bevallásuk szerint a vadászgépek, de kezdjük mindjárt az elején. 

Markáns megjelenésével, feszes éleivel a 480 atmoszférát teremt maga körül. Határozott vonalai erőtől duzzadnak. Mint ismeretes az autó tele van zsúfolva formai, technikai és egyéb ötletes megoldásokkal. Megismerkedve a formával közelebb kerülünk a 480 filozófiájához. A hegyes orrészt egy nyitóvonal ék alakban kettéosztja, amely hangsúlyt kölcsönöz a motort elrejtő karosszériaelemnek. A Ferrari 365 Daytonára emlékeztető körülölelő első lámpák mintha le akarnának csapni egy ragadozó dinamikájával, közrefogják az előrehajló részt, amely baloldalán a Volvo felirat olvasható. Letérdelve az autó előtt, a lökhárító alatt megpillantjuk a hűtőrácsot, melyen büszkén feszít a férfias Mars-jelet mintázó jól ismert Volvo embléma. Az átlós rács két oldalán ködlámpák kaptak helyet. Eredetileg a svédek hallani sem akartak erről a megoldásról, de a tervezőcsapat azzal érvelt, hogy egy sportkocsinak mindenképpen alacsonyan kell legyen az orra már csak aerodinamikai szempontok miatt is. Mellesleg, mint designelem karakteresebbé teszi az egész 480as megjelenését és esztétikai látványnak sem utolsó.

A bukólámpák tovább fokozzák a hatást hangsúlyosabbá téve az áramvonalas formát, az amerikai biztonsági előírások miatt döntöttek fekvő lámpák mellett, amelyek szerint a lámpákat egy bizonyos magasságba szabad csak elhelyezni így sokkal laposabb orrkiképzést kaphatott az autó. A Honda hasonló okok miatt kellett megváltoztatnia az SSM tanulmány lámpáit az S2000-en. Az ütköző ellentétben a Porsche ütközőkkel, egészen a kerekekig nyúlik, kisebb baleset esetén nem gyűri maga alá a karosszériaelemeket, így könnyebben cserélhető. 9 km/h sebességnél maradandó sérülés nélkül elvisel bármilyen ütközést.

A lámpák fölött elinduló övvonal mentén, amely fölött a motorháztető teljes egészében nyitható, eljutunk az ajtókig. Az övvonal és az ajtó metszése fölött a fűthető tükör egy háromszögre vágott ablak alsó részében foglal helyet. A szélvédő merészen döntött, a nagy üvegfelületek a tágasság érzetét kölcsönzik. A B-oszlop enyhén előredől, nem várt érdekességet tartogatva.

Az alsó sarkában az övvonal fölött egy kis háromszög található, amely a kulcslyuk mögött magában foglalja a zárt.Sötétben a kilincset megfogva a kulcslyuk zöldesen világít. Nem kell összekarcolni a festést, a kulcslyukat keresgélve. Külön megemlítendő, hogy a háromszög szemmel láthatóan párhuzamos az ablakot két részre osztó egyenessel. Tulajdonképpen ez is azt bizonyítja, mennyire átgondolt az egész terv. Továbbpásztázva az övvonalat eljutunk a C-oszlophoz, ami a B-oszlopnál is jobban ráfekszik az autóra a sportosságot hangsúlyozva. Annyira dinamikus, hogy álló helyzetben is a száguldás illúzióját kelti. Itt jön be a tervezők által említett vadászgép stílus, hiszen profilból az F-16os gépek függőleges farokszárnyára utal ez a formai megoldás.

A hátsó felnyíló üvegfelület lejjebb csúszik az oldalablakoknál és ráhajol a lámpatesteket körülölelő füstszínű búrára. Védjegynek számit ez a hátsó kialakítás, a mosolyt idéző lámpák az üvegajtó alatt. A belülről is nyitható fűthető üvegajtó magában fogalja a formatervezett ablaktörlőt, aminek külön érdekessége, hogy magától elindul hátramenetbe kapcsolva a váltót. A jobboldali C-oszlop szélén található az ablaktörlőmosó.

Az üvegfedél tetején egy légterelő biztosít arról, hogy a légáram minél hamarabb váljon le a kocsiról, jobb légellenállást biztosítva, ezáltal is javítva a menettulajdonságokon. A formában megtalálhatók elemek, melyek előrevetítették a mai Volvo formanyelveket, mint pl. a hátul kiszélesedő hangsúlyos ék-övvonal, amely funkcionalitását tükrözi, hogy elrejtették benne a szuperantennát. Kiemelendő, hogy az egész forma szinte mentes a spoilerektől vagy egyéb aerodinamikai kiegészitőktől, Rob Koch szerint az aerodinamika a fő designban rejlik, nem a tendenciákban. Ez a gondolatfonal a CW értékekhez vezet bennünket. A Volvo szerényen 0, 34 alatti együtthatót ad meg, de a mérések kedvezőbb értékeket igazolnak.

Ha azt hittük, hogy a külső designban ki is merülnek az érdekességek a 480ról, akkor alaposan tévedtünk. Még csak most kezd igazán érdekessé válni a 480as. Az F1 világbajnok, a Renault szállította az 1. 7es alapmotort, és mivel így is elégedetlenek voltak, megbízták a turbószakértőt, a Porschét, aki akkoriban az F1es világbajnokság megnyerése után éppen Dakarban tarolt, hogy vegye kezelésbe. És a Porsche kezelésbe vette. A beavatkozás eredményeként a hengereket áttervezték, a hengerfejeket kicserélték, a motorelektronikát átprogramozták, mindez számokban kifejezve 125 katalizátoros lambda-szondás turbólóerő. Igen ám, de a svédeknek ez még mindig kevés volt. Hihetetlenül jól sikerült jóval (!) 0, 34 alatti CW értékű testnél nem volt mindegy a kanyarsebesség. Szintén F1es hírű műhelyhez fordultak. Colin Chapman hírhedt Lotus cége tervezte a futóművet. Így az úttartás olyan jóra sikerült, hogy az oldalerők legnagyobb értéke 0, 95g, ami a szériagyártású autók között unikumnak számít és messze több mint amennyit társai nyújtanak. A gyakorlatban lefordítva ez ijesztően magas kanyarsebességeket jelent.  Összehasonlításképp a nem széria 2003as Focus WRC - 0, 94g. Hát igen.  És ez még csak a kezdet.

A világon először ebbe a típusba építettek három mikroprocesszort, amely 29 elektromos funkciót látott el. Forradalminak számított a műszerfalonkapcsolóval állítható fedélzeti számítógép, az indításnál akár figyelmeztető digitális infocenter is, amely a pillanatnyi fogyasztás, az átlagfogyasztás, átlagsebesség, hatótávolság, olajhőmérséklet, motorhőmérséklet, külsőhőmérséklet tájékoztatásával segítette a vezetőt. Az 1988tól gyártott turbó-verziókon az infocenter mellett, turbónyomás kijelző is helyet kapott a repülőgépre emlékeztető vezető-központú cockpiton. 

A színeket könnyedség jellemzi, ezáltal elkerülhető lett a szélvédőn a tükröződés. A belsőtér egy visszafogott benyomást kelt, a színekre jellemző, hogy valamilyen szinten az autó külső színe megtalálható belül is, ez a formai és kromatikai összhang egységet teremt a külső és a belső között. Minden utasnak saját ülése van, vagyis a belsőtere négy különálló ülést rejt (a hátsók támlái három fokozatban állíthatóak) és több tárlórekeszt. A megvilágított kesztyűtartó és a hátsó kartámasz kulccsal zárható, a felnyitható első könyöktámaszon kaptak helyet az elektromos tükör és ablakkapcsolók. A kormánykerékre pillantva ismerős lehet a háromszög szélein levő vágás, ami feltűnik a felniken is, ezzel utalva a kormány és a felnik közti összefüggésre.

A kormányzás precíz és közvetlen, a rack and pinion szervo a sebesség növekedésével keményedik. A borni kétajtós valósággal ráhasal az útra, a keményebb rugózásnak köszönhetően a tapadása példaértékű. Vezetése élvezet, szinte teret tör magának, ahogy hasítja a levegőt. A kanyarokat nagysebességgel is lehet venni, a futómű hihetetlenül stabillá teszi a kis Volvót. Hirtelen kormánymozdulatra se tör ki a háta. Itt érződik igazán a Lotus hatás. A motorhang erőt sugallva mély, enyhén hangos, igazán 160 körül kezd sportossá válni. A gyorsulást (9s) a számok nem tudják visszaadni. Nem brutális, de villámgyors előzéseket lehetővé tesz akár 160as tempónál is. A kulcs a turbóban rejlik. 0,5 bar nyomással adagolja a levegőt, és ilyenkor jó, ha az ember két kézzel fogja a jófogású kormányt. Érdemes megjegyezni, hogy alacsonyabb sebességeknél kezes bárányként viselkedik, messzemenően jóindulatú, de nagyobb sebességeknél tudni kell uralni, ellenkező esetben az autó kezd uralkodni a vezető felett. Ami nem kifejezetten rossz érzés. A fékek nagyon hatásosak, aránylag alacsony tömege (1043kg) is hozzájárul a kiváló lassuláshoz. Végsebességére se lehet panasz, az ES-nek 190-et, a Turbónak 210et ad meg a gyár nagyvonalúan. Amúgy a Turbónál hosszú nekifutás után 230nál fogy ki a szusz. Fogyasztása 8 és 9 körüli 95ös ólommentes, meg nem erősített hírek szerint akár fél literrel is többet fogyaszt nyitott lámpákkal 200as tempó körül.

Két személy számára ideális, amolyan GTsen ketten messzire gyorsan stílusú coupé, de ez ne tévesszen meg senkit, hiszen 2+2es Volvóról lévén szó, négy teljes értékű különösen kényelmes ülés várja az utasait és az apróságoknak is bőven marad hely. Az első üléseken magasságszabályzó és háttámla keményítő funkció is van, amely főleg hosszabb utakon fejti ki áldásos hatását. Városi forgalom, szűk utcák, színház, megjelenés, kanyargós országutak, előzés, kirándulás – laptop, sporttáska, öltöny és még 470 más egyéb - ez a 480.  120x1.7x0,95 = 480. A tömör végeredmény mindig ugyanaz marad: Vola ReVolvo480ution. Vagy ha úgy tetszik akár for(m)aVolvo480dalom. Forradalom és forma individualizmusba csomagolva. Mert ez a lényeg a 480ban. Erről szól a négyszáznyolcvan. Egyébként Vola latinul repülést jelent. A többit bízzuk a képzeletre.

Andonis

03. 06. 22.

BREAKING NEWS: Volvo interested in SAAB

From Reuters:

 ‘Volvo is interested in Saab ‘

LONDON (Reuters) – The Swedish carmaker Volvo expects soon a “request” of the Swedish government to take over Saab.

This is reported bij De Financiele Telegraaf (DFT), which relies on anonymous sources within Volvo. Swedish government officials would already have held discussions with the management of Volvo, which would not be unsympathetic to acquiring Saab.

For Sweden, acquiring Saab by Volvo, which since last year is in the hands of Chinese car maker Geely, gives more certainty about the repayment of the loan of 400 million euros that the European Investment Bank has provided to Saab. The Swedish government guarantees the loan.

Saab was acquired early last year by Dutch luxury sports car manufacturer Spyker Cars, but is in serious financial trouble. Production came to a standstill in recent weeks because suppliers refused to supply spare parts due to late payment.

Updated

Volvo Cars denies report of possible Saab bid

(Adds Spyker declining to comment)

(Reuters) - Chinese-owned Swedish car maker Volvo has had no talks on possibly buying rival Saab and none are planned, the company said on Friday, denying a Dutch newspaper report.

De Telegraaf had cited unnamed sources close to Volvo as saying the Swedish government was talking to Volvo Cars, owned by China's Geely, about the latter's possible interest in bidding for Saab.

"No such talks have been going on and no such talks are scheduled," said Volvo Cars spokesman Per-Ake Froberg.

The newspaper said the Swedish government was interested in Volvo taking over Saab as it could mean a greater assurance that a loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB) granted to Saab and guaranteed by Sweden would be repaid.

Saab has run into a cash crunch in its first year of ownership by Dutch niche carmaker Spyker (SPYKR.AS) after its 2010 sales fell short of forecasts. It has halted production after suppliers went unpaid but Sweden has approved a financing deal which still needs approval from the EIB. [ID:nLDE73K0PM]

Victor Muller, chief executive of Spyker, declined to comment, Dutch news agency ANP reported.

Geely, parent of Geely Automotive Holdings (0175.HK), took over Ford Motor's (F.N) Volvo car unit in August 2010, in China's largest acquisition of a foreign car maker.

Earlier this week Saab Chief Executive Victor Muller said the Swedish car maker is negotiating with a wide range of Chinese car makers about a tie-up. Both Saab and Volvo Cars had spent a long time owned by U.S. carmakers -- Saab by General Motors (GM.N) and Volvo by Ford (F.N), but the U.S. owners sold out amid the global financial crisis. 

(Reporting by Patrick Lannin in Stockholm and Roberta B. Cowan in Amsterdam; Editing by Jon Loades-Carter and David Holmes)
reuters

Volvo Concept Universe PromoVid

Volvo Unveils New Concept Universe - video

Volvo Concept Universe

Volvo Car Corporation presents Concept Universe:

A luxury Volvo for China and the world

At the Shanghai Auto Show in April 2011, Volvo Car Corporation visualises a masterpiece of Scandinavian Design for car buyers with exquisite tastes.

The Concept Universe is a large, luxurious sedan with a new human-centric design language that honours the beautiful lines of classic Volvo models.

"The Concept Universe offers the world a sneak preview of what people can expect from our next top-of-the-line sedan," says Stefan Jacoby, President and CEO of Volvo Car Corporation.

Volvo Car Corporation's long-term strategy is to be a successful, truly global company with products designed around our customers' needs and lifestyle.

Scandinavian Design is about understanding and caring about people. Volvo Car Corporation aims to be the brand that best interprets what buyers of modern luxury cars want.

The Concept Universe has been designed to spark a subconscious desire and a feeling of eternal beauty.

It moves towards the future with its coupe-like roofline and contemporary, solid rear, but it also echoes Volvo's proud heritage by borrowing design cues from classic models of the past.

"Just like fine luxury goods, this design feels handcrafted and durable enough to stand the test of time," says Peter Horbury, Vice President Design at Volvo Car Corporation. "We will compete with the best with our special kind of Scandinavian Design. It is unmatched in performance and technology, but without superficiality or complication."

User-focused and pure

The interior of the Concept Universe is a comfortable, cultivated environment that is also user-focused and refreshingly uncomplicated. It is driver-orientated in the front and comfortably relaxed in the rear.

The in-command driver environment has intuitive controls and a touch-screen that approaches the hand when the driver reaches towards it - with everything operated from a seat that is inspired by ultra-comfortable chairs.

Passengers in the rear seat are embraced by pure comfort. The interior moulds into the rear seat and becomes part of the seating environment.

The dynamic feel and the dark colour scheme of the front seats fades seamlessly towards the rear until it fully transforms into a light rear seat haven of calmness. Concept Universe is full of classic forms, materials and textures, used with a twist to create a special contemporary luxury experience.

"The Concept Universe is exceptionally refined, yet with all the simplistic assets that make Volvo champions of the uncomplicated. There is a growing appreciation for this ingenious blend of design and technology among modern luxury car buyers. This trend paves the way for our success. We are convinced that our special brand of luxury has a great future," Peter Horbury concludes.

"Our aim is to be the brand that best understands what buyers of modern luxury cars want. We are eager to hear what the most demanding Chinese customers think of this luxurious concept. Later, we will show the design in Europe and the United States in order to bring it into the global context that we are aiming for with all our car models," says Stefan Jacoby, President and CEO of Volvo Car Corporation.