“The R-Design model boosts the XC60′s already sporty aura and gives the car an even more refined character in terms of both driving experience and design. These are properties that we know appeal to the discerning buyers of this type of cars,” says Lennart Stegland, president of Volvo Special Vehicles.

Confident exterior

On the outside it is easy to recognize those typical R-Design attributes: door mirror housings, trim mouldings and décor trim in matte silk metal finish, skid-plates and twin chrome tailpipes. The five-spoke Cratus aluminium wheels are also unique for the R-Design models. In standard form they measure 18 inches but there is also the option of a stunning 20-inch. This dimension is new to the Volvo XC60 and is only available with the R-Design pack.

Another new feature is that the lower section of the car is now colour-matched to the rest of the body on the XC60 R-Design, instead of the matte black execution of the standard model. This creates the impression that the car sits closer to the ground and gives it a more dynamic look – even though ground clearance remains unchanged.

Thrilling driving experience with excellent comfort

The R-Design chassis is stiffer, features stronger damping and has more distinct driving properties – without impacting too much on ride comfort. All passengers can still enjoy a long and pleasant ride on any type of road surface. Further, the fact that the chassis has not been lowered ensures that the XC60 R-Design maintains its ground clearance for off-road capability.

The new, more direct steering gear also significantly contributes to the driving experience. Owing to faster steering response, the driver benefits from a more alert car behaviour and more precise communication with the road surface. This in turn gives the driver the confidence to push the car to its limits and fully enjoy the sporty capabilities of the XC60 R-Design.

Modern and exclusive interior

Inside the car, exclusive metal finish is the dominant theme, with aluminium inserts in the steering wheel, door mouldings and the iconic centre stack. The sports pedals are made of brushed aluminium, with rubber inserts for precise grip, feel and control.

The elegant dark centre stack features a décor with a circular pattern that expands outwards in a dynamic way. This pattern also reoccurs in the oblique striping of the sculpted, duo-tone seats. Further, the seats are available with the choice of two colour combinations, with light beige or dark black as the main theme.

The front seats feature an advanced seat design with two firmness levels in both the backrest and seat cushions, thus providing a body hugging yet comfortable seating position during inspired driving. The sports steering wheel trimmed with perforated leather and featuring the engraved R-Design emblem is a constant reminder to the driver of the car’s special character and excellent driving properties.

Volvo XC60 R-Design – An overview

Exterior:

* Grille in silk metal finish with R-Design badge
* Front fog lamp décor in silk metal finish
* Door mirror housings in silk metal finish
* Five-spoke 18-inch aluminium wheels – Cratus (20 inch optional)
* Sill mouldings in aluminium look
* Twin chromed tailpipes
* Colour-matched lower body mouldings.
* Chrome-plated rear skid-plate with black mesh
* Sport chassis
* 7 body colours to choose between including the R-Design unique colour Passion red

Interior:

* Sport seats for great cornering support and comfort
* Unique upholstery in smooth leather with a choice of two colour combinations: off-black with soft beige inserts or vice versa
* Embossed R-Design emblem in the front backrests.
* Watch Dial instrument with blue gauges, unique to the R-Design model
* R-Design sports steering wheel trimmed in perforated leather
* Sports pedals in aluminium
* R-Design centre stack trim with a unique décor pattern
* Gear selector trimmed with perforated leather
* Off-black sports mats

R-Design a success for Volvo Cars

R-Design was launched in 2007 to satisfy the immense interest among younger car buyers, in particular, who want to equip their cars with sporty, personalized options. With R-Design, they got access to tastefully composed options packages featuring exclusive design details and thrilling sport chassis.

Today R-Design is found across almost the entire Volvo product range in the C30, S40, V50, S80, V70, XC60 and XC90 models.

“R-Design has been a great success for Volvo Cars. This sporty, exclusive sales version has helped us attract new customer groups who would perhaps not otherwise have chosen Volvo. The introduction of the XC60 R-Design shows clearly how strongly we believe in this concept and we have noted considerable pre-launch interest in this product from our markets,” says Lennart Stegland, president of Volvo Special Vehicles.

Source: Volvo

Volvo’s C70 Coupe-Convertible features stunning coloring, leather interior, 18-inch alloy wheels, and a hard-top/drop-top for those warm, windy days. Engine power in the C70 Ice White is a 2.0-liter turbo diesel 100kW. The car returns about 44.8 Miles Per Gallon, making this sporty coupe a great buy for those fuel conscious individuals. UK starting price is said to be around £24,495 – hopefully we will see this C70 in North America sometime soon. Read more in the Press Release below.

Volvo Introduces Ice White C70 Convertible Coupe

* Volvo C70 Ice White powered by 2.0D engine and priced at £24,495
* Volvo C70 Ice White features £2,350 worth of extra equipment over the standard 2.0D S model
* Leather Calcite upholstery with aluminum inlays and off black trim and 18” Midir alloy wheels

Volvo’s striking four-seater C70 Coupé-Convertible packs some extra appeal this spring with the introduction of the ‘Ice White’. Priced at an attractive £24,495 OTR and available to order now, the C70 Ice White features £2,350 worth of extra equipment over the standard 2.0D S model on which it is based which retails at £24,995 OTR.

Externally, the Volvo C70 Ice White sports the head-turning Ice White finish. The interior boasts sumptuous Calcite leather upholstery with black interior trim and aluminium inlays. The exterior appeal is also boosted with 18” Midir diamond cut alloy wheels.

The Volvo C70 is an extraordinary sports coupé that can transform itself into a full convertible at the touch of a button. The unique three-piece metal roof goes up or down in less than 30 seconds and makes the Volvo C70 two cars in one: a sports coupé that offers excellent performance and agile handling, and a beautiful convertible just right for open-sky motoring.

Peter Rask, Managing Director at Volvo Car UK Ltd, said: “The Volvo C70 is Volvo’s most aspirational car and with the addition of the Ice White benefits, this car will stand out even further from the crowd. We have seen a huge increase in the popularity of our ‘Ice White’ colour from customers, especially on C30, hence the launch of this model in time for summer.

“And whether it’s a sun-blessed season or a traditional British washout, C70 owners can enjoy as much or as little of the weather as they like, thanks to the car’s versatile hard-top convertible.”

Comprehensive equipment levels include Electronic Climate Control with Air Quality System (AQS), front fog lights, steering wheel mounted audio controls, electric windows and mirrors, alarm and a vehicle information centre. The C70 also comes with cruise control and DSTC (Dynamic Stability and Traction Control).

Other safety features include WHIPS (Whiplash Protection System), SIPS (Side Impact Protection System), ROPS (Roll-Over Protection System) and IC (Inflatable Curtain) and all Volvo C70 models come with a three-year/60,000 mile peace of mind warranty package.

The Ice White is powered by a four-cylinder 2.0D diesel engine (136PS), which emits 161g/km CO2 and returns up to 46.3mpg fuel economy on the combined cycle. Options include Volvo’s Powershift gearbox for £1,400 – a six-speed twin-clutch transmission which provides the comfort of a full automatic mode with the performance of a manual. Powershift versions return up to 44.8mpg and 167g/km CO2.

Each ride averages 48 miles per gallon (US) yet can still over 100 horse power. Check out more in the Volvo Press Release below.

“Our aim is to offer cars that have the lowest CO2 emissions in each size class. DRIVe is the symbol for this process and the cars bearing this badge are those with which we have made most progress. However, the fuel-efficiency focus encompasses all our products and powertrains. By offering a broad-based product portfolio with highly economical and more powerful alternatives, the customer is able to choose his or her own level of environmental imprint,” says Magnus Jonsson.

In the United States we hardly sync up Volvo with trucking, but overseas they corner the market on big rigging. The Volvo FH16 pumps out 700 Horse Power and 2323 lb-feet of torque, with 62,000 miles between oil changes. Unfortunately this will lead to less stops at truck depots to cruise for Lot Lizards. With a 16 liter, 6-cylinder turbocharged inter-cooled diesel engine hauling a load you won’t have to worry about smokey burning up your tailpipe. More Photos and a sexy press release below!

Premiere for the most powerful truck in the world

January 7 is a historic day for all truck enthusiasts. Today is the day Volvo Trucks is launching the world’s most powerful series-manufactured truck. The Volvo FH16 with 700 hp and 3150 Nm of torque.

Volvo Trucks is the first manufacturer in the world to be able to put a 700 hp badge on its vehicles. The truck model in question is the company’s flagship, the Volvo FH16, which to date has had a maximum power output of 660 hp.

Prestigious powerplant
“The Volvo FH16 is intended for the very heaviest and most demanding of transport operations. It is also a highly prestigious truck for the customer who is looking for something truly out of the ordinary. And with 700 hp, the Volvo FH16 sets itself apart from everything else in the industry,” says Staffan Jufors, President and CEO of Volvo Trucks.

Competitive fuel consumption
With higher power, one might well expect that fuel consumption would head in the same direction, but that is not the case.
“Our aim is to have both the best performance and the best fuel economy in the segment. We have succeeded in keeping fuel consumption the same as before despite the power increase. In a comparison with the competition, we are doing very well indeed,” reveals Staffan Jufors.

Lower environmental impact
The Volvo FH16 is certified for the new Euro 5 European emission requirements that come into force in autumn 2009, which means that emissions of nitrogen oxide have been cut by more than 40 percent. In other words, the Volvo FH16 has become even more powerful but without compromising on the environment. In addition to the 700 hp version the Volvo FH16 is also available in variants producing 540 and 600 hp respectively.

It was already powerful, now it is the most powerful in the world. Enter the Volvo D16G – the beating heart of the Volvo FH16.

With 700 horsepower and 3150 Nm of torque, Volvo’s most recent 16-litre engine sets a new benchmark for the truck industry. This is the first time ever that a commercially produced truck is being launched with such a powerful engine, designed for the very heaviest and most demanding of haulage assignments. The Volvo D16G is also available with 600 and 540 hp.

40 extra horsepower, 40 percent lower emissions
The new engine is a further development of Volvo’s previous D16 engine that produced 660 hp. In addition to an extra 40 horsepower and somewhat higher torque, the new engine produces cleaner exhaust gases. Emissions of nitrogen oxide are 40 percent lower than in the previous engine. The new 16-litre engine is certified for the new Euro 5 European emission requirements that come into force on October 1, 2009.

Optimised combustion promotes higher efficiency rating
Despite the higher power, fuel consumption remains the same as in the previous engine generation. Through a number of measures including redesigned pistons, Volvo’s engineers have optimised the combustion process and met demands for high performance combined with efficient fuel utilisation, low emissions and long lifetime. Both maximum power and maximum torque span a wider rev range than before, contributing to excellent driveability. The engine now also features a new oil thermostat that has a favourable effect on fuel consumption.

Quieter idling

The noise level during idling has been lowered by 2dB(A). With the help of pre-injection, where a small amount of fuel is sprayed into the cylinder, the result is a gentler combustion sequence and a far lower noise level.

Effective exhaust cleaning
Another important change in the two most powerful engine variants is a new and larger system for exhaust after-treatment. Since the system can handle a larger flow of exhaust gases, counter-pressure is reduced and power losses are minimised. A larger-capacity system also results in better cleaning capacity. Just as before, the SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) system is used, taking effective care of harmful emissions.

EPG or VEB+
The Volvo D16G is equipped as standard with a new, electronically controlled exhaust brake (EPG) with an output of 230 kW. Electronic control makes it possible to reduce the number of moving parts, promoting simpler operation, higher reliability and lower weight. There is also the option of the Volvo Engine Brake, VEB+, with 425 kW braking effect.

Facts, Volvo D16G Euro 5

16-litre 6-cylinder diesel engine with turbocharger and intercooler.
Power output: 700 hp, 600 hp or 540 hp.
Torque: 3150 Nm, 2800 Nm or 2650 Nm.
Auxiliary brake: EPG with 230 kW at 2200 r/min or VEB+ with 425 kW at 2200 r/min.
Exhaust treatment: SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction).
Oil-change interval: 100,000 km or once a year
Power take-off (option): 1000 Nm at a standstill, 650 Nm on the move.
Available with open or closed crankcase ventilation.

Aside from striking exterior concepts, 2010′s S60 will include Volvo’s state of the art Collision Warning/Full Auto Braking system. Sensors mounted along the outside of the car will send warning signals through the dash to it’s operator. It’s designed to avoid hitting pedestrians or any object traveling under 12 miles her hour. Let’s hope this never gets put to the test.

Under the hood Volvo’s futuristic 2010 S60 will have a standard 1.6-liter, high-efficiency GTDi (Gasoline Turbocharged Direct Injection) engine. This eco-friendly monster will be able to produce 180 horsepower while aided by a Powershift twin-clutch transmission. This will help achieve the combined EPA rating of 47 miles per gallon. More facts below in the official Volvo press release.

A few days before Christmas, Volvo Cars treats the automotive world to an early unwrapping of a car that will shine bright in the streets for years to come. The Volvo S60 Concept gives the car world a glimpse of what the all-new Volvo S60 is going to look like when it arrives in 2010.

“The all-new S60 will be one of the strongest players in a segment where the competition is razor-sharp,” says Volvo Cars President and CEO Stephen Odell.

The coupe-inspired lines that gave the original S60 its characteristic stance are even more pronounced in the next generation.

“The sporty design gives visual promise of an enthusiastic drive and I can assure you here and now that the all-new S60 will live up to that promise. The driving properties are better than in any previous Volvo. The car’s technology will also help you to be a better and safer driver,” says Stephen Odell.

The concept car reveals that the Volvo Cars design team is stepping up to the next level in the development of the products’ DNA.’ “The concept car’s exterior gives a clear indication of what customers can expect of the all-new S60. On the inside we’ve been even more daring – there the focus has been on creating a vision of the future in the slightly longer perspective,” says Volvo Cars Design Director Steve Mattin.

Scandinavian inspiration and drama

The front of the S60 Concept naturally sports the enlarged iron mark in the trapezoidal grille. The grille itself has a somewhat new appearance with structured horizontal vanes adding refinement to its form. Two DNA lamps that flank the grill emphasise the vertical stance of the front and promote the bonnet’s V-shape. The angled headlamps flow up into the strongly sculptural bonnet. Combined with the lower air intake’s reverse trapezoidal shape, this gives the concept car a very expressive “face”.

“Dynamic and with considerable character, but without appearing aggressive. It is packed with inspiration from Scandinavian design and from the Swedish coastline’s cliffs and seas. A thrilling blend of drama and sensuality,” says Steve Mattin.

Viking longboats in the headlamps

The concept car’s headlamps unite classic Scandinavian influences with modern high-tech. In each of the headlamps, the lights create a sculpture creating the image of two miniature Viking longboats sailing side by side, one for main beam and one for dipped beam. When driving in the dark, the light is reflected from the concealed, upward-facing High Performance LED bulbs, projected ahead by the ships’ filled sails.

Double wave and sensational doors

Viewed from the side, the concept car’s slim coupe roofline and window graphics are accompanied by an entirely new lateral shoulder line, forming a gentle double wave. Stretching from the headlamps all the way to the tail, it adds emotional excitement and plays with the surface and its highlights.

Both the seven-spoke 20-inch wheels and the tread of the low-profile tyres have been specially designed. The bronze-painted brake callipers match the “Warm Liquid Copper” livery.

The unique rear parallelogram doors offer a spectacular show when they are opened and shut. Door opening is initiated by pressing on a button and the movement starts off in the traditional way. In the next phase, the forward section also swings out away from the car’s body and the door glides parallel with the side of the car until it reaches its end position by the rear wheel.

Inspiration from the racing track

“In forthcoming models, you will see more and more of our “racetrack” design cues. The car’s lines do not end abruptly but instead forge a continuous flow pattern inspired by the fast sweeps of the racing track. In the concept car, this is particularly visible at the rear,” says Steve Mattin.

The tail lamps, which follow the curve of the rear shoulders, are as advanced as the headlamps. When switched off, the lamp panels show no trace of the traditional red or yellow. But when activated, the position marker lights, brake lights and turn indicators come on in their correct colours. The solid glass panel is sectioned into horizontal “slices”.

At the rear there is also a retractable diffuser that adjusts with vehicle speed to give better aerodynamic properties.

Interior indicates future design direction

With the interior of the Volvo S60 Concept, Volvo Cars’ design director Steve Mattin and his team are displaying a variety of spectacular next-generation ideas.

“You could say that we are showing the road we would like to take in the future. This interior is without doubt the most exclusive we have ever created,” says Steve Mattin.

The interior is packed with exciting details, all of which together create a Scandinavian fresh light feeling, full of visual harmony.

In the middle of the four-seater car glitters the jewel in the crown: a floating centre stack made out of handmade, solid Orrefors crystal. It floats like a gentle, calm wave from the instrument panel all the way to the rear seat backrest.

Driver-oriented environment

The entire driver’s environment has been designed to provide total overview and convenient control. The combined instrument too has the centre stack’s floating, almost weightless feel about it. The instrument is built up in several layers.

“The speedometer is designed as a three-dimensional glass spiral. The low numbers appear closest to the eye and the figures appear to be increasingly distant as you accelerate. The idea is that the speedometer should provide a visual reminder of the forward motion,” explains Steve Mattin.

Slim, floating leather seats

The floating theme continues in the concept car’s slim, lightweight contoured seats, made of soft Light Blond leather with contrasting stitching. The seats are attached to the centre console’s lower section and inner sill, which means that they don’t actually touch the floor. Both the seat belt and the armrest are integrated into the seat itself. The backrest’s pony-tail slot, first featured in previous concept cars, has a new, slightly asymmetrical design.

“The aim is to create a pleasant living-room atmosphere with gentle, invisible transfers between the various surfaces. For instance, the dark, ecologically tanned saddle leather on the floor continues up on the lower part of the door,” relates Steve Mattin.

The upper part of the doors is faced with genuine blond birch wood of the same colour as the Scandinavian coastline’s salt- and sun-bleached wooden piers and driftwood. Two parallel slits create a wave-shaped protrusion whose upper section forms a comfortable leather armrest.

New technology detects pedestrians in the danger zone

The S60 Concept also presents a ground-breaking safety innovation that, among other things, can detect a pedestrian who steps out into the path of the car – and the car’s full braking power is automatically activated if the driver does not respond to the danger.

The technology, Collision Warning with Full Auto Brake and pedestrian detection, will be introduced in the all-new Volvo S60.

“Up until now, we have focused on helping the driver avoid collisions with other vehicles. Now we are taking a giant step forward with a system that also boosts safety for unprotected road-users. New sensor technology also makes it possible to advance from fifty percent to full automatic braking power. To our knowledge, none of our competitors have made such progress in this area,” explains Thomas Broberg, safety expert at Volvo Cars.

Avoids collisions at speeds below 20 km/h

The car’s speed is of considerable significance to the outcome of a collision with a pedestrian. If speed drops from 50 km/h to 30 km/h, the chance of a pedestrian’s survival dramatically increases. “Our aim is that this new technology should help the driver avoid collisions with pedestrians at speeds below 20 km/h. If the car is being driven faster, the aim is to reduce the impact speed as much as possible. In most cases, we can reduce the collision force by about 75 percent,” says Thomas Broberg.

This technology is also highly beneficial in the event of rear-end impacts with other vehicles. Studies indicate that half of all drivers who drive into another vehicle from behind do not brake prior to the collision. In such cases, Collision Warning with Full Auto Brake can help entirely avoid a collision if the relative speed difference between the two vehicles is less than 25 km/h.

Visual warning on head-up display

In an emergency situation, the driver first gets an audible warning together with a flashing light in the windscreen’s head-up display. In order to prompt an immediate, intuitive reaction, the visual warning is designed to look like a brake light coming on in front. If the driver does not respond to the warning and the system assesses that a collision is imminent, the car’s full braking power is activated automatically.

The main aim is still for the initial warning to be sufficient for the driver to brake or manoeuvre away from the hazard. Full automatic braking is an emergency measure that is only activated when the collision is imminent.

Upgraded Adaptive Cruise Control

Volvo Cars’ Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) has now been upgraded with a queue assist function. The radar-based Adaptive Cruise Control maintains the set time gap to the vehicle in front all the way down to standstill, making this comfort-enhancing system usable in slow-moving queues with repeated starting and stopping.

CO2-emissions at 119g/km

The engine that Volvo Cars has chosen for the Volvo S60 Concept is a four-cylinder 1.6-litre petrol unit using high-efficiency GTDi (Gasoline Turbocharged Direct Injection) technology and producing 180 horsepower.

In a conventional petrol engine, fuel is injected into the inlet manifold ahead of the inlet valves. With direct injection, however, the fuel is injected directly into the combustion chamber under high pressure. The engine in combination with a range of other technical measures makes it possible to cut carbon dioxide emissions to 119 g/km (5.0 l/100 km).

Volvo Cars’ first production car with GTDi technology will be introduced during the second half of 2009.

Electric power steering, stratified combustion and other measures

In addition to GTDi technology, the Volvo S60 Concept integrates the following technical features to bring CO2 emissions down to 119 g/km:

Stratified combustion. The combustion chamber is designed such that a mist consisting of the optimal blend of air and fuel is formed around the spark plug, surrounded in turn by pure air. This allows the engine to operate with a surplus of air, thus cutting fuel consumption.

Start/stop, a functionality that switches off the engine when the car is at a standstill.
Powershift. Two manual gearboxes work in parallel, each regulated by its own clutch.
EPAS (Electric Power Assisted Steering). In principle an “electric servo” where the conventional hydraulic pump has been replaced by an electric motor.
“DRIVe-Mode”. Gives the driver the possibility of reducing fuel consumption via an “economy mode” that limits the function of a number of selected electrical or mechanical systems.
Grille shutter. A wind-deflecting panel that can be closed to reduce air drag when there is less need for cooling air.
Flat underbody panels.
The use of lightweight materials in the car body.

Volvo S60 Concept – featuring GTDi technology for lower CO2 emissions

The engine that Volvo Cars has chosen for the Volvo S60 Concept is a four-cylinder 1.6-litre petrol unit using high-efficiency GTDi (Gasoline Turbocharged Direct Injection) technology and producing 180 horsepower.
This engine in combination with a range of other technical measures makes it possible to cut carbon dioxide emissions to 119 g/km (5.0 l/100 km).

In a conventional petrol engine, fuel is injected into the inlet manifold ahead of the inlet valves. With direct injection, however, the fuel is injected directly into the combustion chamber under high pressure.
This technology promotes better gas flow with optimised air/fuel mixture and greater resistance to uncontrolled combustion. The result is higher power and lower fuel consumption.

GTDi technology combined with turbocharging makes it possible to reduce engine displacement with maintained performance, but with about 20 percent lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. “GTDi technology is an important CO2-cutting technology for petrol engines. In the S60 Concept we have also added a number of other developments that further reduce fuel consumption. Several of these features will make their way into our production models in the coming years,” says Derek Crabb, Vice President Powertrain at Volvo Cars.

Volvo Cars’ first production car with GTDi technology will be introduced during the second half of 2009.

The driver chooses

“Several of these solutions can deliver significant CO2 reductions in the future since they can be used throughout large sections of the model range. When it comes to “DRIVe-Mode”, for instance, the driver can actively cut fuel consumption by reducing the function of certain comfort systems. The idea is that every owner can individually choose which systems he or she wants to limit,” says Magnus Jonsson, Senior Vice President, Research & Development at Volvo Cars.

Groundbreaking Volvo technology helps drivers avoid accidents with pedestrians

Volvo Cars is now introducing the next generation of preventive safety technology.

Collision Warning with Full Auto Brake and pedestrian detection reacts when a pedestrian walks out in front of a car – and will activate the car’s full braking power if the driver does not respond to the danger. This groundbreaking innovation is being presented in the Volvo S60 Concept, which is being unveiled for the first time at the Detroit Motor Show in early January 2009.

This safety innovation is the next step in Volvo Cars’ continuous development of technologies that detect dangerous situations and that actively help the driver avoid an accident.

“The previous stages were developed to help the driver avoid collisions with other vehicles. Now we are taking a giant step forward with a feature that also boosts safety for unprotected road-users. What is more, we are now advancing from fifty percent to full automatic braking power. To our knowledge, none of our competitors have made such progress in this area,” explains Thomas Broberg, safety expert at Volvo Cars. He adds:
“This technology helps us take an important step towards our long-term vision of designing cars that should not crash. Our aim for 2020 is that no one should be killed or injured in a Volvo car.”

Accidents involving pedestrians common in urban traffic

Within the EU, the proportion of pedestrians figuring in overall traffic fatalities varies in between 10 and 25 percent depending on country.
In the EU countries’ capital cities, 1,560 people died in road accidents in 2007. Of these, 43 percent were pedestrians.
The speed of the car involved in a collision with a pedestrian is of considerable significance to the outcome of the accident. Lowering the speed will help dramatically to reduce the risk of serious injury to the pedestrian. If speed drops from 50 km/h to 30 km/h, the chance of a pedestrian’s survival dramatically increases.

Avoids collisions at speeds below 20 km/h

“Our aim is that this new technology should help the driver avoid collisions with pedestrians at speeds below 20 km/h. If the car is being driven faster, the aim is to reduce the impact speed as much as possible. In most cases, we can reduce the collision force by about 75 percent,” says Thomas Broberg.
This technology is also highly beneficial in the event of rear-end impacts with other vehicles. Studies indicate that half of all drivers who drive into another vehicle from behind do not brake prior to the collision.
The main aim is still for the initial warning to be sufficient for the driver to brake or manoeuvre away from the hazard. Automatic braking is an emergency measure that is only activated when the collision is imminent.
In such cases, Collision Warning with Full Auto Brake can help entirely avoid a collision if the relative speed difference between the two vehicles is less than 25 km/h.

Safer detection with state-of-the-art technology

Collision Warning with Full Auto Brake and pedestrian detection consists of a new, state-of-the-art dual-mode radar unit integrated into the car’s grille, a camera behind the inside rear-view mirror and a central control unit.
The radar and camera continuously monitor the road in front of the car. The radar’s task is to detect objects and measure the distance to them. The camera’s function is to determine what type of objects they are. The function is programmed to respond to cars in front that are at a standstill or moving in the same direction.
Thanks to the state-of-the-art radar, which has a widened field of vision, the unit can also detect the moving pattern of a pedestrian.

“We’ve been working on this technology for ten years now. We have had test cars out on the roads for several years and we’ve driven in many different countries Factors like traffic scenarious, road conditions and climate should be considered in the design of the final system. We can also use the information from these tests to make advance computer simulations, to test and verify the system in different scenarios” says Thomas Broberg.

New technology permits full braking power

In an emergency situation, the driver first gets an audible warning together with a flashing light in the windscreen’s head-up display. In order to prompt an immediate, intuitive reaction, the visual warning is designed to look like a brake light coming on in front. If the driver does not respond to the warning and the system assesses that a collision is imminent, the car’s brakes are applied with full braking power.

“Active brake activation requires that the object is confirmed by both the radar and the camera. Thanks to the state-of-the-art sensors, it is now possible to engage full braking power. We are among the very first in the industry to achieve this,” explains Thomas Broberg.
The system is built along the same principles as the human eye and, just like our own eyes, vision is impaired in the dark and in poor weather.

Upgraded Adaptive Cruise Control

Volvo Cars’ Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) has now been upgraded with a queue assist function. The radar-based Adaptive Cruise Control maintains the set time gap to the vehicle in front all the way down to standstill. Since the previous version was not active at speeds below 30 km/h, this means that this comfort-enhancing system becomes usable even in slow-moving queues with repeated starting and stopping.
It should be emphasised that the upgraded ACC has been developed to enable comfortable driving with an automatic gearbox in normal circumstances.

Collision Warning with Full Auto Brake and pedestrian detection and the upgraded Adaptive Cruise Control will be introduced in the all-new Volvo S60 in 2010.