Ahh today tis a brave new world where One’s and Zero’s rule just about everything we touch – even stuffing more horse power into our cars.

“Polestar, Volvo’s Swedish-based performance partner, has developed tuning software for C30, C70 and S40 carlines fitted with a T5 engine, model year 2008 and newer.  With an MSRP of $1,295 installed, the tuning package goes on sale Nov. 14 and adds a powerful 23 hp and 29 lb.-ft. of torque to the respective models.  The power boost is realized by increasing airflow into the combustion chambers and advancing spark timing.”

Look at this another way. More HP, more Torque (we all love Torque). Heck, it’s kind of like going to the dentist and getting only a cleaning and you’re all smiles. For about the same amount of time, you’ll drive away from one of our retailers…all smiles.

Check here for more details: http://www.volvocars.com/us/sales-services/sales/default/pages/polestar.aspx and

https://www.media.volvocars.com/us/enhanced/en-us/Media/Preview.aspx?mediaid=40997

dan

12/20/2011 Update:

Just wanted to post couple of charts about this system. Click on them to enlarge.

Polestar_Tipsheet

We were one of 11 vehicles the group of journalists got to test over the course of the event, and there really was a great mix of vehicles to fit a variety of needs. We all met up in L.A., paired up, and started the two hour drive to Palm Springs. Note to self: next time this girl from Jersey needs to remember to pack sunscreen when heading to the desert… in a convertible.

Once we got to P.S., the nitty gritty testing began. It wasn’t all just highways, though. There was also some real world testing like simplicity of Bluetooth cell phone pairing, stuffing shopping bags in the trunk, car seat installation ease and let’s not forget buckling in Fido. All things you probably do in your daily life, but maybe what you wouldn’t expect from a typical automotive event.

Thanks to Christine Overstreet for arranging the event. The C70 and I had a great time cruising the streets of Palm Springs, hearing first-hand what women are really looking for when buying a car. After all, 62 percent of new car purchases are made by women — and women influence about 80 percent of purchases.

-Laura DiStefano

Here’s a story we just received. The accident was with our first generation C70 Convertible. This was the first time we used ultra high strength steel (boron treated steel) in our cars. Inside the ‘A’ pillar is a tube structure designed to keep the A pillar in place and when coupled with rear pop-up ROPS (like roll bars), they give the driver a good zone area that helps protect in a roll over. Also around the belt line is more of that steel to help create a caged structure. Yellow is ultra high strength steel:

My name is Kasey, and I am lucky to be writing this email. If it was not for my Volvo C70, I have no doubt that this would not be possible at this time. On Friday, January 21st, 2011 I was driving my usual route to work during rush hour traffic. I live out West, so of course it was 75 degrees and sunny, which for me means I am driving with my top down. Since I was traveling on a major highway, I was traveling at speeds around 70 MPH… when out of nowhere another driver moved into my lane. I swerved to avoid being hit by the other driver, and in upon doing so, my car went into a fishtail. I was not able to regain control, and my car veered off the side of the road, where it proceeded to flip 4 times, slide down the gravel embankment on the driver’s door, and then flip once more to land be back on what was left of my tires. Imagine my surprise when I opened my eyes and I was alive. Not only was I alive, but coherent. I was rushed to the hospital, were upon running all necessary test, the conclusion was that there was nothing wrong with me. Other than some bruising and muscle soreness, I just walked away from a high speed roll over with my convertible top down. To say the least, the doctors, police and ambulance teams were shocked to see that I was fine. There was one common theme that I heard over the next 2 weeks, and that was “Thank God you were driving a Volvo.” Everyone from my co-workers, to Facebook friends, to strangers I meet that hear my story, all believe that I owe my life to Volvo. I KNOW I owe my life to Volvo, and my children, my husband, and my family all thank you. How do you thank a car manufacturer for saving your life? I have no idea how to go about this process, other than to spread the word to every person I come into contact with that Volvo is the reason I was given a second chance. If not for your ROPS, this story would not be possible. I do not know if I will be able to afford another Volvo, but If I am, you just made me a Volvo customer for life.. I have attached photos of my car after the accident, once you have viewed these, I am sure you will agree that you have done nothing short of a miracle in saving my life. I want my story shared will every single employee at Volvo, so they will know I want to personally thank every engineer, every line worker and every office member that makes Volvo possible. I want all Volvo employees to know that the work they are doing today is saving lives. Please promise me that you will thank every single employee at Volvo and send them my heartfelt thank you.

dan

Around nine months ago, Doug Speck, our CEO, told us it’s time to do one again. Working with Volvo Sports America (VSA) and Volvo Club of America (VCOA), we had one heck of a successful event. In all, about 370 club members showed up, putting 774 miles on our demo cars, testing City Safety with our XC60, trying Pedestrian Detection with Full Auto Brake (still haven’t gotten used to all those words) with our S60, drooling over our classic car collection, and having lunch served by VCNA employees.

Beside these loyal owners, what makes me proud are the 70 employees who gave up a Saturday to staff and support what needed to get done.

Owners who love their Volvos, employees who love their work. Nice combination.

Have a great weekend,
Dan
Update: 10/30/2010.
Seems Dave is onto something. He wrote that unless his eyes are playing tricks, he has a dash plaque with “REVOLVOLUTION”, “Open House 10th Anniversary”, “October 28th 2000″, “Rockleigh, NJ” and “Volvo for life”. Revolvolution was about launching our S60 back in 2000. Seems absolutely no one here remembered that event. And to think we launched our new S60 with this Open House. Someone is looking over our shoulders. Thanks Dave!

Parking crew at 6:45 a.m.

Brett and wife Carrie Ann from Colorado and Gretchen Adam (VCOA).

Staffers between Volvo C70 and P1900 (number 34).

R-Sport jackets.

Doug Speck addresses early morning group.

Briefings on product planning, overseas delivery and VDIS service tool.

Lunch prep by VCNA staffers.

Lunch time!

Raffle winner takes home a C70 (of course!).

Volvo.

Dan

——————————————————————————

I’ve just received the Volvo C70 to drive and play with for a few days. What fun!

I’ve owned several Volvos over the years – a S60 and a V70 – and have a soft spot for them. The cars are so solidly built, handle very well, and give me both great confidence in driving and a wonderful sense of safety; all very important things to me, as I’m raising a family, yet not wanting to give up the pleasure of driving. I’ve always loved to drive. At probably 10 years old, I started driving. I would sit on my grandfather’s lap at first on his farm tractor, and then the farm truck – an old Ford that you would see in pictures of the Old West, rusting away in some field. As soon as I could work – mowing lawns at about 12 years old – I started to buy toys: mini-bikes, go-karts, two old Simcas which I assembled into one running car, motorcycles and then my first street car at 16 – a 1965 Ford Mustang. Since, I’ve owned at least 15 cars.

My Volvos continued the pleasures of being on the road for me. They were cars that I could afford at the time, and I still believe were the best cars for the money. Getting my hands on the very stylish and well designed C70 was a treat. The first day, I put the top down and drove to dinner through the canyons, because to me, convertibles are best for off-the-highway driving. It was chilly, so the heat was on and the windows up, but the sky was right there. On Sunday, I took my family to Geoffrey’s for brunch, again top down – even with June Gloom and warm clothing. My entire family enjoyed the ride along the coast.

The car is simple and well laid out. Nicely designed for the driver. The seats, as always, are Volvo comfortable and easily adjusted to find the right fit. It’s quiet in spite of being a convertible and pretty stiff, which I prefer. It handles very nicely and offers a great sense of being totally in control, while providing the driver the comfort of knowing that it will do what is asked of it.  Putting the top up and down is great fun, and it’s also fun to watch people watching it. Even though hardtop convertibles are common today, the wonder of the engineering never passes.

It’s a terrific car – I was sorry to return it!

George

An S60 hello to you all.

Last year we took XC60 on tour. Our goal was to show something completely different in two ways: design and safety. No other Volvo ever looked as good, (okay, I think the first C70 Coupe was stunning, especially in Saffron color), but the XC60 was really the first showing of our new design evolution. We also needed to demonstrate how City Safety – a world first in safety – worked.

Think about it: We go through life driving a couple of million miles and never test safety … hopefully not. Then along comes a car that begs to be tested, but doing it with your own XC60, well, that’s not going to work. So we went on the road to let folks try City Safety. In the end, about 3,941 out of 6,311 (knowing Bill Buchka, Mgr. Brand and Launch Communications, asking for an approximate number will get me exact numbers – Swedes don’t do ‘approximate’) tested City Safety.

The car is stunning; it has performance and handling akin to our last generation S60 R car, and features Pedestrian Detection with Full Auto Braking. So rather than hunting real pedestrians, we’re doing real, live, come on down and try it, demonstrations – again with Bill Buchka at the helm.

Here are some details:

We just announced the start of our upcoming Naughty Volvo Tour to launch the All-New 2011 Volvo S60.  The Naughty Volvo Tour, which will stop at around 150 Volvo retailers across the U.S. and in Canada, kicked off on July 6 in Cranston, R.I., Tulsa, Okla. and Tucson, Ariz., and will conclude in the fall.

“The 2011 Volvo S60 is really going to make an impression in the midsize sedan segment,” said Doug Speck, VCNA president and CEO.  “Not only is it the most dynamic Volvo we’ve ever produced, but it also introduces the world-first Pedestrian Detection with Full Auto Brake technology, which will automatically stop the car if it senses an impending collision with a pedestrian.  We’re excited to show the S60 to consumers so they can judge for themselves.”

Touted “the sportiest Volvo ever,” the All-New Volvo S60 is equipped with a turbocharged T6 engine, which puts out 300 horsepower and 325 lb.-ft. of torque, and comes standard with all-wheel-drive.  Its breathtaking new design captures the imagination and sets the heart racing like no other Volvo sedan, with the C-pillar stretching sensually all the way to the taillights – giving the impression of a 4-door coupe.

The All-New Volvo S60 is also available with Pedestrian Detection with Full Auto Brake, a groundbreaking technological solution that actively helps the driver avoid accidents.  Volvo’s radar- and camera-based system can detect pedestrians in front of the car, warn the driver if someone walks out into its path, and then automatically activate the S60′s full braking power if the driver fails to respond in time.

The Naughty Volvo Tour is a series of retailer-hosted experiential events, which allow attendees to preview the All-New Volvo S60 before it goes on sale.  Utilizing multimedia interactive displays to emphasize the car’s design, performance and safety attributes will heighten the sensory experience.  Demonstrations of the Pedestrian Detection system in action will also be available.

For a full tour schedule and to register to attend a retailer tour event, please visit http://naughty.volvocars.us/.  Here, saved you some mouse work http://www.volvocars.com/us/all-cars/volvo-s60/Pages/default.aspx?s60tourhub

Come on down, try and hit a dummy, you just might save a real life someday.

dan

p.s. – Yes this is a convertible.

Armen Keteyian, a CBS news reporter, has received numerous accolades during his career including eight Emmys, four were for CBS Sports – three for coverage of the Tour de France, (2000-04) and one for a Super Bowl pre-game piece about NFL quarterbacks and their sons (2005). He also has two Sports Journalism Emmys for “Real Sports” – a report on the financing of the Bank One Ballpark in Arizona (1998) and a story on high school basketball star Amare Stoudemire (2001). He’s not, or actually was not, an automotive writer. We are very pleased to have been chosen as his first car review. Hey Armen, we have nine more sweet rides for you to play with.

dan

By Armen Keteyian, Motor City Motoring – Special to the Volvo Blog

Let’s get this straight right up front: I’m not an automotive journalist and I don’t play one on television. But I am a television journalist – actually, a network TV correspondent – and having grown up in the Motor City have a lifelong love of cars dating back to high school and the dark green Buick Skylark I affectionately called “Frog.”

All of which, in a rather circuitous route, brings me to the first automotive review of my career: the two-door C70 T5 Volvo convertible I recently had the pleasure to drive.

I’ve owned plenty of top-downers in the past 20 years – a full line of BMWs beginning with the 325 series right up to the 645IC, as well as the first incarnation of the Boxster a few years back (a pale yellow my wife still kids me about). I have to say the re-designed C70 belongs in the same garage with any of them; perhaps the best combination yet of sexy European styling and Volvo’s unquestioned commitment to safety.

From a purely aesthetic standpoint the car just looks better – slimmer, sleeker, and nowhere near as boxy as the original version. Just ask the sweetheart of a bus driver who picked me up at my eventual drop-off point for the car. As I was getting on the bus she could barely contain herself, cooing, “Baby that is one good looking car you were driving. What is that?”

And it’s not just looks. The turbocharged 227-horsepower engine and five-speed automatic transmission answered every time I called, in all kinds of cornering and conditions, from Southern California freeway driving (a sport in itself), to back roads to downtown stop-and-go traffic.

Without question, the standout feature of the car is the electric retractable roof. Over the course of a week I put the process to the test no less than 25 times and it never so much as squeaked. I simply pressed a button and the C70’s mechanics took over – the roof and rear windshield automatically breaking into three sections, slipping quietly into the vehicle’s trunk. And, yes, when all folded down the trunk space is limited (a reported 12.8 cubic feet), but thanks to a deep well I still had enough room to stash a very large suitcase. (One caveat: a plastic “curtain” pulls over the well and must snap into place. Otherwise you’re going nowhere.)

Overall, with the top down, the car’s a breeze. Good sightlines. Smooth, easy power-adjusted front seats. A well-appointed dash. All operations – and any potential problems – spelled out in a clear, concise computer-ese. The upgraded Dolby AM/FM/6CD/Sirius not only delivered premium sound it made technical knud-nicks like me feel smart.

The interior, at least upfront, seemed roomier than many of my 325i’s, offering plenty of leg and hip room. That said, I wouldn’t recommend the C70 for one of those Chevy Chase family vacations. This Volvo is really built for a two-person romp given the limited trunk size and a tight backseat better suited to small children than full-sized adults. Naturally, when the top comes up the equation shifts — tilting a bit toward uncomfortable if you happen to be stuck in back.

Price wise, my test Volvo appeared to be in the same ballpark as the BMW 328 series – around 45K with options like the Dynamic/Climate package and multimedia sound. But my sense is given the new look and brash power under the hood when you get behind the wheel of this jazzy little model and flip that top down you’ll be singing a whole new tune.