This announcement follows the discontinuation of Volvo’s V70 wagon from American markets.

According to Volvo, S40 sales were down 29% in 2010, V50 sales dropped more than 50% during that same period. Wagon variants tend to not sell well in the US, as opposed to Europe where hatchbacks and wagons have a “sportier tradition.”

Volvo V50

Volvo spokesperson Dan Johnston added, “It seemed American buyers weren’t looking for that kind of product and for us as a car company, it’s not profitable to sell something that has a declining market share.”

The Swedish automaker will focus on vehicles more in tune with US consumer tastes: S60, S80, XC60, XC70 and the XC90.

Source: WCF

Designed to be “one of the most fuel-efficient vehicles ever created,” V60 features a 2.4-liter five-cylinder diesel engine and an ERAD (Electric Rear Axle Drive) motor, powered by a 12 kWh lithium-ion battery. The engine produces 212 hp and 324 lb-ft of torque, while the electric motor churns out 69 hp and 149 lb-ft of torque:

Source – WCF

The auto maker is calling it a “virtually production-ready car” – it seems that instead of any kind of redesign, engineers will simply rework the 2012 V60 to fit a hybrid / electric drivetrain on board.

The hybrid system, developed in partnership with Swedish energy supplier Vattenfall, features Volvo’s D5 2.4 liter, five-cylinder diesel engine driving the front wheels. On the rear axle is an ERAD (Electric Rear Axle Drive) electric motor – gearbox is a six-speed automatic.

“This second-generation hybrid is the perfect choice for the uncompromising buyer who wants a superbly carbon dioxide-lean car packed with driving pleasure,” said Volvo Cars CEO Stefan Jacoby.

The Source: WCF

The S60 really shines with its character, offering “nimble handling and plenty of power.” Volvo equips the S60 with a turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine. This powerplant creates an impressive 300 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque.

Volvo keeps the exhaust noise down, however the car charges forward hitting its 60 mph mark in 5.8 seconds. Volvo’s S60 EPA ratings come in at 18 mpg city and 26 mpg highway. Volvo hopes to brings these counts up higher as time progresses, as the addition of new fuel sources and hybrid technology becomes standard.

Source: CNET

The Air Motion Concept is powered by compressed air only. It is held within a tank, and accessed when the vehicle needs power.

Since the whole vehicle is powered by air, the frame is constructed from carbon fiber, and it’s no surprise the vehicle would weigh somewhere in the area of 1000 pounds. There’s no internal combustion engine under the hood. Designers implemented a pneumatic motor.

When asked at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show how one refuels a vehicle that runs on air, Volvo said that they believe there will be wind-powered stations, ready to fill up your Air Motion when the time comes.

Via – Slash Gear

“Rather than relying on the promised hydrogen highway to be built, Volvo is exploring the use of an on-board reformer to process gasoline into hydrogen gas. The fuel cell will use the hydrogen gas to power the electric motor when the C30′s 24kwh battery has been depleted, more than doubling the vehicle’s range without increasing battery size,” according to CNET.

The process of creating hydrogen from gasoline is about 85% efficient when compared to using straight-up gas, according to Green Car Reports. Powering electric motors with hydrogen is twice as efficient as using gasoline when powering internal combustion engines, which lose energy in the heating process. It also solves hydrogen’s biggest problem: the infrastructure lagging behind such technology.

Because hydrogen is created as-needed, it minimizes the storage issue presented by hydrogen vehicles, which slowly leak gas and can’t be stored in garages or other enclosed spaces for fear of explosions.

Volvo is in its first phase of a “Range Extender” project, which it’s conducting with Powercell Sweden AB. The car maker expects testing of these fuel cell hybrid electric cars to start in 2012.

Thanks to CNET for this one!

According to Reuters, Swedish carmaker Volvo, owned by Chinese group Geely Automobile, made an operating profit in the third quarter, the company said on Friday. Volvo, bought by Geely from Ford in August, did not disclose details, but said it has been profitable since the start of the year. Geely paid Ford $1.3 billion in cash for Volvo and issued a $200 million note to the US group with further payment due later this year.

Geely’s purchase of Volvo was China’s biggest acquisition of a foreign car maker and reflects the nation’s rapid rise in the auto world.

Volvo claimed it sold 272,555 cars in 2010 to September, that’s up 12.5% on the previous year, and quite a number in this global economy.

One of the top selling cars globally was Volvo’s S60. The 2011 Turbocharged model, T6, is already greatly anticipated. The T6 contains a Turbocharged 3.0 liter V6 with a production of 281 horses at 325 lb-ft of torque.

Volvo has implemented their new intuitive braking system on S60, which will bring the car to a halt automatically at low speeds (under 25 – 30 mph, as tested).

Based on the S60, V60 features sporty styling and luxurious interior, with a five-inch “infotainment display,” wood trim, and a rear compartment, which can hold 15.2 cubic feet of luggage.

Under the hood, a variety of engines come with V60, both in America and overseas. The 3.0-liter T6 gas pwoerplant produces upwards of 300 horsepower and 324 lb-ft of torque. This allows the AWD car to accelerate from 0-60 mph in around 6.6 seconds – and hit an electrically limited top speed of 155 mph.

If that’s too powerful for a commuter, Volvo also offers several GTDi (Gasoline Turbocharged Direct Injection) engines. The 2.0T produces 200 hp and 237 hp, while the 1.6 pumps out 148 hp and 178 hp.

Diesel lovers in the UK can choose between the 202 hp 2.4-liter D5 and the 161 hp 2.0-liter D3. Later on, a DRIVe model will be introduced, with a 1.6-liter engine producing 113 hp and 199 lb-ft of torque.

Source: World Car Fans

It’s a simple concept: use a composite of polymers and carbon fibers that store energy and mold them right onto the vehicle frame, shaped to fit the car’s design.

According to Volvo, the use of such materials for the battery can reduce a car’s weight by up to 15 percent, as it’s replacing some of the steel. The study should take about three years to complete, during which time Volvo hopes to make the application of this concept a reality.

“Almost daily I read new ideas about how this technology could be used or further developed. The potential is enormous,” says Volvo engineer Per-Ivar Sellergren, who works at the Volvo Cars Materials Centre.

The technology could also one day be used to reduce mobile phones to the size of a credit card and allow laptop computers to run on battery power for much longer than they can today.

Source: WCF

Ivr currently has 2.8 million miles on his ride. He recently turned 70 years old. He hopes to make it to 3 million miles by his 73rd birthday. Do the math: he will have to drive a minimum of 180 miles each day, every day. Seems insane, but he’s already made it further than Volvo and anyone else would ever thought he would.

Back in 1966, Irv purchased the car brand new. He managed 1500 miles in just the first two days. In 1998, when reaching 1.69 million miles, Irv entered the Guinness Book of World Records and has been beating himself ever since.

We wish Irv and the classic Volvo P1800 the best of luck, we hope to be writing about his 3 millionth mile in 3 years, if not sooner.