Hejsan!
Hi, or as a Swede would say: Hejsan, which is kind of like “Hi you.” I’m Dan Johnston, I get to work at Volvo and I’m not even Swedish ☺
How about we start with a Swedish language lesson:
God morgon = Good morning (sounds like ‘good moron’)
Tack = Thanks (tock)
God afton = Good afternoon (good often)
Volvo Bil = Yes, our Volvo car (beel)
Now is an exciting time for all of us at Volvo—we’re launching a new car, our XC60. It’s been a long journey from the concept phase to seeing a real live XC60 rolling down our highways. On an aside—did you know that in Latin, “Volvo” means “I roll?” Good story for another time. What’s awesome, is witnessing the delight on peoples’ faces when they experience the new XC60. I’m telling you, those smiles do wonders for our Volvo souls.
My plan is to use this new blog to update you on what we’re doing over at Volvo, from details on how the launch plans are rolling along to how people are feeling about the XC60. You maybe never thought about how a new car is brought to life, but we’re experts on that sort of thing. There are years of work before the first sheet of metal is formed into a fender. Hundreds of Volvo people, worldwide, contribute their expertise to creating how the XC60 will look, drive, feel, help protect you, impact our environment and even how it smells (great story there about our ‘nose team’).
We’ve just begun traveling around the U.S. showing the XC60 to people like you on our From Sweden with Löv Tour.
The tour gives folks a first look at the XC60 so they can see how we translate design language through metal, glass, fabrics and interiors into something uniquely Scandinavian. The best part though, is where you get to hop in and ride in this beauty. People will get to experience City Safety, which is a miraculous auto-braking feature that comes standard with the XC60. It is a world first—a standard feature that works to help prevent low speed frontal impacts.
We have a car that stops itself…fantastic!
More later. I have to get back to real work. But if you have any questions about the XC60, drop us a line. We always Löv to hear from you. Ha (short for ‘see you later’).
9 Comments
Where was Don when XC70 designers included the one ugly (I’m saying Pontias Aztek ugly) element that mrs the front view of that great-looking vehicle: those awful white foglight surrounds? I think I am speaking for all folks who think the clean sculpted XC60 look will grow on us, but we applaud the fact that designers were unsucccessful i lobbying to include those silly ugly white surrounds that border the front and read turn signal/parkinglights in the lower corner. Can anyone think of a recent (5 years) Volvo design flaw worse than this one? I agree: there are none in this league. Don: How soon will Volvo sell some dark pre-cut tape that XC70 owners can buy to cover up those jarring white inserts? Was approval of this ugly bit made on a Monday after too many weekend trips to Systembolaget?
Hi whevans,
Ok, understand, it’s what our design guy, Steve Mattin, wanted to enhance/change. If we think about design and how it works, there is a direct proportional rule that more people involved, more it becomes ‘car by committee’. Your point is well taken and certainly brings controversy into how something should/shouldn’t look. We’ll probably have to wait a while before ordering black tape.
Dan
While you’re giving Swedish lessons… please point out that “Löv” means leaves. The whole new ad campaign is making me crazy!
Hi Safetyfriend,
Yes, we know. Our intention is to have fun with both languages, we call this Swinglish. Our intention is never to drive people craze, just to give people something to drive.
Dan
CitySafety is a nice feature. However, I’m still confused by a little detail: it works when the Volvo is somewhere between 5-15km/hr. Is that ΔS valid only when the other vehicle is immobilized? Or asked another way, if the vehicle in front of me is travelling at 10 km/hr and I’m approaching at 14 km/hr, will my Volvo apply the brakes to slow down and maintain a constant distance?
Hi Orchkid,
If XC60 is in the range of 5-15 km/hr (2-9 mph) it may help the driver avoid an accident. However, if traction is impaired, like driving on ice/snow maybe even standing water or heavy rain, there is the possibility the vehicle will not stop completely. That said, even at low speeds tires should provide good grip since there is a reduced risk of hydroplaning (also depends on tire wear/conditions). As you mentioned, if both are traveling in that speed window CS will try to keep you from getting closer. If the lead vehicle speeds up, the system disarms, if lead vehicle stops, CS will function as designed. Above 10 to 18 mph (16-30 km/hr) the system will reduce your closing speed and help lessing the impact. Above that speed, Collision Warning with Automatic Braking takes over, if the vehicle has that optional feature. Point here is two fold: the idea that if we can reduce your speed we hope to lessing vehicle and human body damage to both cars.
Dan
The system starts detecting cars that are in front of your vehicle and acts if speed differences are smaller then 30km/h.
If the speed difference is lower then 15km/h, you will have in most conditions a braking action that avoids contact between the two vehicles. At higher speed difference (between 15 and 30) the car will brake and by that decrease the impact speed to a level that reduces the damages to the car. Several parameters will have an effect on braking distance, so this also effects the impact speed.
The citysafety braking action is a heavy braking action (emergency stop) so it can’t be used to control a constant distance to the car in front of you. It will also act very close to the vehicle in front of you.
To keep a constant ditance, the XC60 can be equipped with another great system: adaptive cruise control with auto brake function. This is not standard, but is defenitely worth the investement. With this system you can set the speed and distance to a car in front of you.
Hope this helps
Whatever the translation of Löv or the XC70 design, this blog regards the XC60. And I drive one since ten days now…. I’m from Belgium. I ordered it just after the Geneva Motor Show, on catalog. And I am really happy with my choice.
I tested the CitySafety feature (as a passenger) a few weeks ago during a Volvo demo road show. I was impressed and … not impressed. Not impressed because it was not in real circumstances and because (strange maybe), but, after the test ride, it seems so natural that the car could compensate some driver’s mystake. Of course, I will not try the CitySafety again in the daily circumstances of traffic, at least I hope I will not have to.
A few words on the reasons of my choice. I drove for four years an XC90. A great car, very fun for my kids and their friends. I also drive an S60-R, during the week-ends ;—) The choice of the XC60 was based on the following criteria: (i) my security paranoia to deal with 45.000 Km/a year, including four wheel drive, best in class active & passive security features and no Volvo in the top 20 of most frequent cars stolen in Belgium, (ii) a great design, (iii) an expected reduced consumption (compared to the wheight of the XC90 (same engines) and (iv) a great dealer service keeping me in the Volvo family.
Compared to the XC90 (vint. 2004), the XC60 behaves more like an S60. My first experience is that it is also a lot more silent. I’m just a bit sad that budget reasons did not allow me to put more options on it…
I wish a much safer road to all present and future XC60 drivers.
Why does the U.S. get limited models?
So far I like the XC60 although I really like the XC70 Europe edition.
My next car will be powered by a diesel. Living in the U.S. means I cannot get the Volvo diesels so I will have to go with VW.
musicrider, I’m with you.
I’d buy a diesel C30 tomorrow if I could. Here’s an outline of my daily commute. 1 mile, two stop signs to the highway, 29 miles on the highway then another 1/2 mile with a single light. The planned stop/start technology gets next to nothing there, a hybrid gets very little gain there, however the diesel gains something like 40% in mileage.
I would think that a car that is already being made would be seized upon for the instant CAFE improvements.
In my last visit to the dealer, the salesman was trying to hype the XC-60 and I’m afraid I was a bit rude. I will have absolutely nothing to do with the stupid upside-down vehicles.
This is one amazing vehicle! The centre console is stunning in it’s simplistic [Scandanavian] design in wood. I couldn’t be happier with everything Volvo has offered and brought together in the xc60. Innovations, style, quality and a history in safety advancements are all things we have associated with Volvo despite some others’ depictions of boring, conservative boxes.
We have been fortunate to have driven Volvo motorcars since our first purchased in 1974 and haven’t had a single regret with any of the 9 models we were and still are all so fond of. My only deflation in the experience has been the sense of feeling somewhat “vulnerable” when being chauffeured places in friend’s cars because of the cocoon-like sense of safety and quality within my Volvo.
Kudos to Volvo, all those who truly stand by Volvo’s “for life” mission and to our dealership and service department who make our experiences as Volvo owners the pleasure it is.
I can hardly wait to see my own xc60 parked in our garage.
MB
Bethlehem, PA
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