Showing posts with label volvo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label volvo. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 14, 2021

Volvo C40 Recharge

Volvo brought back the C lettering, reserved for now-extinct coupe models, for one last time but not in a way you've expected as the first-ever Volvo C40 Recharge is basically a fully-electric coupe crossover that is made to take on the Tesla Model Y. Let's find out.



The first-ever Volvo C40 Recharge, which starts at 689,900 Kr or about 7,790 Kr per month courtesy of the Care by Volvo subscription service, is a fully-electric coupe crossover that truly fits the challenges of the new normal with its electric powertrain that Volvo's now championing as well as the most advanced safety tech that is in tune with the times.

Being the last Volvo to bear the alphanumerical namings, the C40 features a coupe-like styling that is somewhat controversial for a compact crossover. Although controversial, it still incorporates the signature Volvo elements around it, which is nice.


Don't expect something special inside because the C40 features a typical Volvo interior with the dashboard carried over from the entire Volvo family tree, including the tall touch screen powered by Android with frequent software updates over the air. The coupe-like styling and the sloping roofline means less spacious than its XC40 equivalent but it's still comfortable to live with and roomy enough for the essentIals.


As a proper electric vehicle built from the ground up, the C40 uses the same electric powertrain as the XC40 Recharge Pure Electric, meaning it comes with two electric motors connected in each axle, making it an all-wheel-drive crossover fit for all walks of life. Together, it produces a total of 408PS of power and 660Nm of torque, sprinting from 0-100kph in 4.7 seconds. As for the range, it's 444km in one full charge based on WLTP standards and it will take less than 40 minutes while charging at a 150kW charging station. That's more than watching an entire episode of your favorite show.

While it weighs over two and a half tons, the C40 is slightly lighter than the XC40, meaning it's slightly better to handle as well. Although not an exciting one, the C40 feels good to drive even on the open road. It's civilized, relaxing, well-poised, and thanks to the most advanced safety feature Volvo has championed, it's surprisingly safer as well.

With such a concept, the C40 Recharge from Volvo is the electric coupe crossover is truly capable to tackle the challenges of the new normal. Since the majority of Volvo customers prefer to have it for a temporary basis rather than permanent, which is also part of the new normal, it's a shame not to keep it but the main point of being a Volvo customer is, enjoy until you are fully enjoyed. Have fun driving it until you are very happy to let it go. That's all.

Photo: Volvo Cars

Saturday, June 29, 2019

Volvo S60 (Z)

Most people knew about Volvos wandering what would the next S60 looked like following the arrival of the new generation Volvo V60 estate and after moments of conspiracy theories, Volvo showed the world the new S60 and this is going to be a turning point for Volvo, especially the fact that the only Swedish carmaker we know is now under the hands of its Chinese owners from Geely. Let's evaluate.

2019 Volvo S90

One major fact about the new S60 is a fully imported model straight from the United States of America. Why made in the USA? It's all thanks to Mr. Tariff Man of course because he's not a fan of EU-made cars so that's why Volvo responded to this grim fandango to produce the new S60 on American grounds, whatever it takes. Geopolitics isn't the least of its problems because the way the new S60 is just one of them and it just suffered from the case of the Russian doll approach like every other luxury carmakers do, meaning when you park this car next to its big brother, the S90, you really can't explain what that means.

2019 Volvo S90 interior

Same issue goes to the interior because Volvo thinks that the signature dashboard first applied on the XC90 looks so good, they want to apply it on today's Volvo models, especially this one because they want their interiors to value functionality before form and that's how it got here but anyway, dashboard issues aside, it still snuggles and works like every other luxury midsize saloon should be. Be it a family car, a chauffeur-driven car to escort the VIPs, or for TNVS purposes, the S60 almost ticks the boxes of what a saloon should be and the boot space is relatively decent as well.

2019 Volvo S90
While this is made in a greatest country on earth that dropped out from the Paris accord because Mr. Tariff Man says so, the new S60 leads the charge for Volvo's diesel-free future because beginning on this model, Volvo will not have diesels on it due to today's climate and instead, they have a choice of a 2.0L T5 petrol engine, a Twin Charged 2.0L T6 hybrid petrol engine with 340PS of power, 2.0L T8 Twin Engine with 390PS of power, and then there's the range-topping Polestar Engineered T8 Twin Engine with 405PS of power. The T8 variants are the fastest of the range with a 0-100kph time of 4.6 seconds while the efficiency goes to the Twin Engine T6 variant with 1.5 - 2.3l/100km of WLTP-calculated fuel economy. All of these engines are mated to a Geartronic automatic gearbox.

Compared to the old S60, the new S60 now behaves like a new car because of the Scalable Product Architecture as well as revised dynamics that leaves drivers surprised on how decent the handling is although it's not BMW-ish but more like Audi-ish because of the four-wheel drive drivetrain essential to its hybrid powertrain. Yes, there will be some arm-breaking understeer but behaving as a normal car, it feels business as usual. Whether you take it to work or for a trip to the mall or whatever, the new S60 does its luxury car charms rather well even if it's not quite as exciting as a BMW 3-Series.

When the previous, second-generation, Volvo S60 revolutionized car safety with the first ever City Safety which involves putting emergency brakes that can stop the car itself when it detects approaching pedestrians. The new, third-generation, S60 continues its predecessor's lineage and Volvo's vision of a safer motoring future by carrying over its City Safety with Autobrake technology which now also engages auto braking to mitigate oncoming collisions, a world first for a midsize saloon. Along with the upgraded Pilot Assist system, the Run-off Road Mitigation, Oncoming Lane Mitigation, Cross Traffic Alert, and other safety tech, the new S60 is hands down one of the safest cars in the world, whatever that means.

2019 Volvo S60
The new S60 starts at 398,900 SEK (around 2,202,000 Philippine Pesos), which sounds fairly expensive for a midsize luxury car but if you can't afford the high price, you can take advantage of the Care by Volvo subscription service where you can keep the car for 36 months. Simple as that.

Despite its American blood, the S60 is still Swedish at heart, which isn't so bad for being a Euro-American citizen that crossed across the Atlantic to get through Scandinavia and showcase its legendary Volvo safety to the mass motorists. While the design of the new S60 is too much to tell because of the Russian doll effect, the strong suit of the new S60 is its twin charged engines and the safety tech that made us believe in Volvos. It may not be one of the most exciting luxury saloons in the world but it's one of the safest and it's all about getting the job done with no questions asked.

Photo: Volvo Car Corporation

Monday, December 31, 2018

Volvo V60 (Z) and V60 Cross Country (Z)

Since 2010, Volvo introduced the first-ever V60, which served as the station wagon equivalent of the Volvo S60, one of the safest Volvos introduced in this decade, and by some odd turn, the station wagon equivalent of the S60 received a full model change, leaving its sedan equivalent what might have been. Anyway, while this is basically a full model change, there's something about the all-new V60 range.

2019 Volvo V60
2019 Volvo V60 Cross Country
One look on the all-new Volvo V60 and you'll know that it has the case of "Honey, I shrunk the V90" because the styling of the new V60 looks very similar to its flagship equivalent, the V90, meaning that the Swedish carmaker went through the Russian doll effect like most luxury cars adorned so when you parked this car next alongside the V90, drivers can get easily confused between the two cars after a quick trip to the grocery store. Confusing looks aside, the Volvo V60 comes with two different versions such as the normal V60 and the tough-looking but not-so-tough Cross Country variant with a slightly raised height similar to what jacked-up versions of everyday cars looked like such as the Subaru Outback for example.

2019 Volvo V60 interior

The new V60 sports a typical Volvo interior that has been on every lineup since the XC90 SUV, meaning that you will still be greeted with the big touchscreen on the dashboard that terrifies speedo boys everywhere, the steering wheel, the knob, the high-tech instrumental panel, and so on. Although nothing special about the driver's side because of the uniform Volvo dashboard, it's surprisingly as comfortable as a family car, which isn't so bad for a five-seater station wagon for a change and the boot space wasn't half bad, meaning that you can store as many as you want unless if you're the sort of person who spends the rest of the week buying stuff from the thrift store or jacking up space with loads of gym equipment for no reason at all.

2019 Volvo V60
2019 Volvo V60 Cross Country

On the normal V60, it's been offered with a choice of T5 or T6 petrol engines, D3 or D4 diesel engines (which doesn't make sense in Europe anymore due to anti-diesel issues), and then this; a T8 Twin Engine which combines a 2.0L turbocharged engine with a plug-in hybrid powertrain and an 8-speed automatic gearbox. It's capable of producing 390PS of total power output and can go from 0-100kph in less than five seconds and it is electronically limited to 250kph. Simple as that.

The V60 Cross Country, meanwhile, is only offered with a 190ps 2.0L D4 diesel engine, so if you're European and if you're in tune with the times, better ignore this until Volvo offered cleaner variants of the V60 Cross Country so better cross that out. It's a shame really because I was going to mention about its increased ground clearance, its specially developed Cross Country chassis and suspension, its standard all-wheel drive and its special Off-Road driving mode but because it's offered in diesel only at launch, no way, Jose.

Anyway, because both models running on the Scalable Product Architecture that has been adorned to today's Volvo models since the XC90, the new V60 range always enjoy its new lease in life with its more rigid body, lighter weight, better dimensions, and safety features such as the City Safety with Autobrake technology and the Pilot Assist system. Coupled that with its clever suspension and chassis setups and the result is a station wagon that feels better to drive than the original, although it can be considered to be OK for most drivers. Nothing more, nothing less. It's just an okay sport wagon that it feels so decent to drive from the comfort of your Camellia Homes to Isdaan when you and your mates are having a bit of a food trip.

The V60 range starts at 317,000 Swedish Krona (around $35,450) which is basically reasonable enough for people to own one or if you have a Care by Volvo subscription, you can drive one right away while letting the monthly fees do the talking. So, while the V60 suffers the Russian doll syndrome, the way it performs wasn't so bad for a station wagon of this size and it's a good wagon full-stop.

Photo: Volvo Cars

Saturday, March 10, 2018

Volvo XC40

Volvo has launched their first ever subscription service called "Care by Volvo" which promises to make private ownership of a car a thing in the past and the Volvo that spearheaded this questionable new kind of subscription service is their first ever compact crossover called the XC40. So, what's it all about this Volvo XC40?

2018 Volvo XC40
2018 Volvo XC40

Good question, ladies and gentlemen, especially you speedo boys out there, I was about to say that but before that, what is "Care by Volvo" by the way? "Care by Volvo" is a monthly subscription service that makes having a car hassle-free than shopping one from haggling dealerships. It gives subscribers a wide range of digital concierge services meaning all the maintenance needs will be taken care of. You can even have them deliver to your doorstep to you. What's interesting is that after a year, you can even opt for another Volvo but it you're going to sign a new contract for this.

Yes, the Care by Volvo is about as wonderful as driving a rental car on a business trip and it all starts at 5,799 Kr (over $700/35,000 Php) per month. If you're a speedo boy, you wouldn't want to go for that trend because speedo boys love to work on their vehicle and making it theirs and if they're not a fan of this subscription service, they'd better keep it at a full price; 293,900 Kr (around $36,000 or 1,800,000 Php), which in luxury car terms, it's one of the most affordable luxury cars to buy right now.

The XC40 is a luxury car without the luxury price tag but what do you get in return? Take this design, for instance, and at first glance, they've drawn inspiration from the 40.1 Concept and because this is the compact Volvo to spearhead the new 40-series range, who knows, the XC40 might spawn other derivatives such as the successor to the S40, which draws its looks form the 40.2 Concept and a replacement to the V40 hatchback. Anyway, while the concept-turned-reality design is a clear example of why a few cars are doing things right rather than Subaru's, it's a bit boxy by the looks of it and it has a shape of a Tetris puzzle when you squint at it.

2018 Volvo XC40

Because the XC40 falls victim to the "Russian doll" trend that luxury cars do, the interior is typical Volvo since the XC90 and you will be still greeted by the familiar but high-tech dashboard but for the first time, it comes with the available wireless mobile phone charging which is great but complicating if you got an older smartphone. Also, it comes with smartphone connectivity, and a Harman Kardon sound system. Although it's small enough to park, the spacing and comfort is very sedan-ish and the boot space is good enough to accomodate this week's grocery shopping or heaps of dirty laundry if you're going for the wash as long as it doesn't got piled up by stuff you bought from the thrift store last week.

2018 Volvo XC40
Because the XC40 is utilized on a brand new modular vehicle architecture which will underpin upcoming cars within the 40 series, especially electric ones, it's very compact and very nimble enough to drive through city centers with confidence and despite being co-developed by the Chinese, even though now Volvo is owned by Geely, it feels right of being a city car for day-to-day use.

Question is, does it work as a car that can be used for TNVS purposes? Well, first, all of the engines are 2.0L four-cylinder units, mated with either a 6-speed MT or an 8-speed AT, with the most powerful being the T5 AWD variant with 247ps of power output, which is not bad for a crossover that weighs over two tons, but it's hard to distinguish whether if its a hatchback or an SUV because if the XC40 is nothing more of a jacked-up hatchback, then you're not allowed to use for TNVS duty such as Uber or Lyft or any ride-hailing service you know about because it is a jacked-up hatchback rather than an SUV so, no deal on using it for TNVS.

In the spirit of Volvo safety, the XC40 features Volvo's signature Pilot Assist system, City Safety, Run-off Road protection and mitigation, Cross Traffic alert with brake support and the 360° Camera, which works in the modern traffic but for speedo boys, it's worth nightmarish to drive knowing that these tech can scare the little buzzers of their trousers but since we live in a future, the XC40 is all about being the future created by the modern men of today that can handle almost everything with confidence. That's the Swedish way, folks.

So, how to sum this car up? Well, technically, the XC40 excels at its affordable pricing not bad for a luxury compact crossover, its concept-turned-reality styling, and its performance, although what's not to like about is that you can't use it for TNVS because they know that this is a jacked-up hatchback rather than being a compact SUV, the new chassis feels good to drive but not as sporty as it seems, and in the case of speedo boys everywhere, the Care by Volvo. Trust me, speedo boys are not fans with this subscription service as they would rather own it for their own pleasure than this. Although late for the party, the XC40 is ready to take on luxury compact crossovers anytime.

Available colors: Black Stone Solid, Bright Silver Metallic, Osmium Grey Metallic, Fusion Red Metallic, Crystal White Premium Metallic, Bursting Blue Premium Metallic.

Photo: Volvo Cars 

Thursday, March 8, 2018

Forza Motorsport 7: Thor's Hammer

As Forza Motorsport 7's gone crossover crazy, this crossover featured at the March Car Pack is somewhat of a different ballgame. In fact, the crossover in question that I've encountered in this pack is basically a Volvo...



Yes. It's a Volvo but what Volvo is it? I bet you can't guess...



It's the second-generation Volvo XC90 and it's odd why a people mover like this made it through the ranks, in fact, this game is becoming in tune with the times now that crossovers are becoming mainstream than any other body style in the globe. So, what's it all about this Volvo XC90?



The launch of the second-generation Volvo XC90 marks a new beginning in Volvo's history, incorporating signature Volvo safety tech and utilising their brand new Scalable Product Architecture platform. It is the first Volvo to don the updated iron emblem as well as Volvo's new signature "Thor's Hammer" DRL lights, promising a new, distinctive, and confident face for Volvo's forthcoming models.The interior now boasts a tablet-like touch screen control console, which forms the heart of an all-new in-car control system.

While boasting a wide array of Advanced Driver Assists, the new XC90 boasts a full range of other engine options,all mated with an 8-speed AT, with the range-topping T8 Twin Engine PHEV that combines supercharging, turbocharging, and an electric motor, resulting to 407HP of power output, 0-100kph time of 5.6 seconds, and 134.5mpg of fuel economy. In pure electric mode, it has a range of 26 miles, which is impressive for a seven-seater PHEV.

With its advanced driving technology, wide range of engine choices, and distinctive design, the all-new XC90 is a fresh new start to Sweden's only surviving mainstream luxury car company, even though it's now owned by China's Geely.



Trying to mock this crossover as a "school bus" is downright absurd but there's something about the Twin Engine XC90 variant that is worth noticeable. Volvo states that this PHEV variant of the XC90 is all about the best of both worlds. With the twin-charged petrol engine and a rechargeable electric motor, it promises to deliver the power equivalent of a V8 engine but at what costs? To find out, I went to the venue of the F1 Abu Dhabi GP that is Yas Marina.



I know, bearing a car with an automatic gearbox that has no paddle shifters whatsoever can be somewhat dull for a speedo boy driving it but when I tried driving it with all the electronic nannies on, it feels not so bad to drive and by demonstrating how Volvo's Scalable Product Architecture works, not only it feels lively to drive but also worth coming back for more. Of course, there are some drawbacks and one of them is when I engaged the ESC Sport Mode, which shuts the electronic nannies off, including the traction control, it's worth taking a trip to the drugstore for some painkillers when it triggers some sort of catastrophic understeer and for an SUV that weighs over 5,000lbs, that is worth a challenge.



Anyway, back to the Twin Engine's capability, and since I'm at Yas Marina to explain what I was on about, I'm trying to find a V8-powered SUV that can match against the XC90's Twin Engine capability as an all-rounder PHEV and I got one...





As you can see, I am rejoined by my old friend, the Dodge Durango SRT. The high-performance crossover I've lauded for being almost as quick as a Ford Focus RS when I thrashed this one round Laguna Seca and what am I going to do is see if the XC90's Twin Engine power can be a decent alternative against a V8 SUV like this. Let's roll the tape.



And now, the results...

Durango - 2:54.772
XC90 - 2:59.180



Well, that was just rubbish, isn't it? Volvo said their Twin Engine capability provided the V8-ish power but what was that all about? Almost five seconds slower than a V8-powered Durango SRT? How sad but let's just say, they've tried and I am impressed that the second-generation XC90 is the way forward for Volvo because of its pioneering breakthrough that writes a new chapter for Volvo's history. It may not have the guts to outflank a V8-powered super-suv but as an all-rounder, this Twin Engine PHEV is all about decency in action. Well, now that I've explained everything about the new Volvo XC90, I made a little reward for doing a good job...



A Scandinavian aria worth beholding... Wait a minute, looks like my whole set is complete!























What you're looking at, ladies and gentlemen, are my collection of cars made with the theme of Aikatsu Stars on it and since this show's ending in a few weeks this month, time to take a moment to try out some of the designs I made. I call them "Aikatsu Stars In Reasonably Fast Cars" and it made it sound like Top Gear's Star In A Reasonably Fast Car but I hope you appreciate for all the hard-ish work I've done in the making of those.

Until then, Bon Bon Voyage!

Wednesday, August 30, 2017

Second-generation Volvo XC60

For about nine decades, Volvo has been the only Swedish car company in the world to create different kinds of cars that appeal to most people. They made good cars, they made bad cars, it's all about following the circle of life, whatever that is. With Volvo making some of the best cars that appeal to today's millennials in terms of performance, economy, and safety, which is their focal point for Volvo since the XC60. With the XC60, the forefront of Volvo's commitment to create safe cars, now enters its second-generation, the Swedish car company behind this car don't just predict the future, they build it.

2018 Volvo XC60
2018 Volvo XC60

Yes, the XC60 is the brains behind Volvo's safe promises and because it's now on its second-generation, the team that designed it promises to be their most safest XC60 yet, incorporating all their safety know-how from their current lineup to this crossover as well as performance and economy at the same time, making it a well-balanced package for the modern world. Beginning with the exterior design, the new XC60 looks more like a mini-me XC90 of some sorts. There's the signature Volvo grille, the signature Thor's Hammer headlights, the contemporary styling that blends perfectly through the city centers, the rear view auspiciously similar to the XC90, and the wheels, everything you look on this crossover is just almost flawless and that's only the half of the story.

2018 Volvo XC60 interior

On the inside, the new XC60 is suffering the same problem as the other new Volvos because it now bears a monotonous interior design as you would expect from BMW, Audi, or even Renault. This "same-interior-different-exterior" approach is getting too nosy for car lovers but while you mutter about this kind of trend everywhere else, the XC60 boasts a plethora of tech features and concessions of comfort and space that will keep you accommodated for more but as a word of warning, this interior is a war zone in here because this five-seater will be as exhausting as an after-school Citizen Army Training regimen and when the second-row seats got occupied by those child seats, this means war. As long as this interior hasn't turned into a war zone, you are greeted by those luxury car features that will keep you longing for more. From the touch screen, the instrumental panel, the climate control, the Bowers & Wilkins premium stereo, the XC60 is a luxury crossover done right from start to finish.

2018 Volvo XC60

Of course, being a Volvo, you can expect a wide variety of petrol and diesel engine choices available but for those who are begging for power should go for this; the T8 Twin Engine with 407ps of power output courtesy of its twin-charged 2.0L petrol engine and an electric motor. With the 8-speed gearbox and SPA platform, a first for a 60-series Volvo model which is lighter and more rigid than the old XC60, it does 0-100kph in 5.3 seconds and onwards to 230kph. That sounds juicy and quick for a hybrid variant like this but now's not the good time to talk about how fun this car is, even though by Volvo standards, it's not half bad to drive, although in the case of the T8 Twin Engine variant, its all-wheel drive system is tad crazy and bizarre because the petrol engine powers the front wheels only, whereas its electric motor drives the rears, and if you're not careful with it, understeering is very likely and expect to bring some painkillers when your arms got hurt from steering with it.

Apart from the improved chassis that makes the XC60 a well-rounded performer at all corners of the earth, safety is the paramount of this crossover because it comes with class-leading safety tech such as Steer Assist, Oncoming Lane Mitigation, and Blind Spot Information System. Combining these with Volvo's award-winning safety features, the new XC60 lives up to Volvo's commitment that no one will be killed or badly wounded in a new Volvo by 2020.

The all-new Volvo XC60 starts at 402,900 Swedish Krona and while this is twice as expensive as the previous model, which is still on sale as the XC60 Classic, it's less expensive than the XC90, making it a fair value. It maybe expensive for an SUV like this but the new XC60's technological breakthrough should not be underestimated because with such like this, you can expect more from Volvo's promise to create more safe and enjoyable cars for the road ahead.

Available colors: Black Stone SOlid, Ice White Solid, Bright Silver Metallic, Osmium Grey Metallic, Onyx Black Metallic, Luminous Sand Metallic, Mussel Blue Metallic, Maple Brown Metallic, Denim Blue Metallic, Pine Grey Metallic, Fusion Red Metallic, Electric Silver Premium Metallic, and Crystal White Premium Metallic.

Photo: Volvo Cars

Friday, January 27, 2017

Volvo V90 Cross Country

When Volvo brought back the V90 estate, which is based on the revived S90 flagship saloon, the Swedish car company want to do more with their recently revived flagship estate by giving it some crossover essentials that is deemed unnecessary for a wagon like this but because the future is becoming more crossover-prone than any other type of car, it succumbs itself into a crossover utility wagon that is the closest thing as you can get from the XC90 SUV.

2017 Volvo V90 Cross Country

The Volvo V90 Cross Country is a V90 estate for those who are all work and all play; those who spend their office work on weekdays, then going out on the great outdoors on weekends, day offs, and holidays, rain or shine, day or night. It maybe a crossover with some heightened ground clearance to make it look rough but underneath, this is still the same V90 as we know it, the same flagship estate Volvo the upperclassmen have gone for due to its advanced technology that does not copy but becomes one.

2017 Volvo V90 Cross Country
2017 Volvo V90 Cross Country interior

Of course, being a V90 with some rough look on the outside, you still expect the same interior you'd expect from a normal V90. You still have a lot of toys to fiddle with on the dashboard, the same five-seater layout with the rear legroom well accommodated for a wagon with 5-Series standards in terms of luxury, the same spacious boot space that accommodates from 560 to 1,526L of luggage, and overall, it's a well-balanced tourer fit for any lifestyle from suburban to outdoors, from city streets to countrysides.

2017 Volvo V90 Cross Country
A wide selection of 2.0L petrol and diesel engines are offered on the Cross Country variant, mated with either a 6-speed manual or an 8-speed automatic. The most powerful in the range is the T6 version with 320PS of power and 400Nm of torque. It does 0-100kph in 6.3 seconds and onwards to 230kph. Try that on your Outback, mate.

Because all models are fitted standard with all-wheel drive, the V90 Cross Country is fit for any kinds of road conditions that are shifted from climate change time after time and no matter which road condition you're going on, for better and for worse, rest assured that this Volvo is a fitting take on nature's madness and above all, it's armed to the teeth with Volvo's cutting edge safety tech courtesy of Pilot Assist, the most advanced standard safety package on the market today and it makes good use of its sensors, camera, front radar, and autonomous emergency braking for collision prevention. Nothing says as prepared as boy scouts camping on the haunted woods in extreme conditions.

The Volvo V90 Cross Country starts at 378,000 Kr (around Php 2,130,000), which sounds more costly to own than a normal V90 estate but more affordable to own than the XC90 SUV, which makes it as close as you can get from that Swedish behemoth. Although some remain unappreciated that the V90 ended up on the growing list of cars getting crossovered but in times of nature's madness, some find no other choice than be alongside the Volvo that gets through the extra mile than any other estates elsewhere. The more they know, the better they'll be accommodated with this Volvo that fits well on any weather forecast now and almost forever.

Photo: Volvo Cars

Tuesday, January 10, 2017

Forza Horizon 3: Saint's Row


Cue the Legendary Tribe Music because it's time for another barn find rumor! And this month's barn find rumor is located somewhere beyond Yarra Valley. Some say that the barn find in question was famous for being a car of choice of a certain smart aleck detective and played by a certain someone who landed in this role before he became the agent we all know and love.

Without further ado, let's get this treasure-hunting started!



And now, the moment of truth...

1800

Let's see...Hmmm...A car famed for being the choice of a certain detective from a classic TV show. No way! It's a Volvo 1800! This is the car of choice for Simon Templar, the smart alecky detective and the star of The Saint. It's the TV show Roger Moore starred in before he became 007 number three. Just imagine, living like The Saint is like you're on the move, stopping criminals with his brand of honesty and wise-cracking ideas, something you'd expect from binge-watching some detective shows.

Seen here is the 1800E and this Volvo comes with a B20E engine with fuel injection producing 130HP of power, resulting to a 0-100kph time of 9.5 seconds and a top speed of 190kph. Not as quick by modern standards but it is still a good car to drive. Picturing myself as The Saint driving this Volvo while gunning down against members of a drug cartel in their Jeeps, Broncos, and Scouts in a middle of a wilderness is something they should have done in the first place. In fact, I did trying to live the fantasy of The Saint giving chase to the notorious drug syndicate operating in Australia, just to give you a hint on its star power that Roger Moore propelled it in the TV show. Let's cue The Saint theme song and let's get cracking.



And they said The Saint got them red-handed. Case closed but not for me because there are still more barn finds waiting to be discovered within a couple of months so the case is still on for The Saint.

Sunday, July 31, 2016

Volvo S90 and V90

Continuing on Volvo's path to revitalization and modernization that started it all with the new XC90, with safety is its top-priority, the Scandinavian carmaker continues to revive itself from its dreariness and blandness from its current lineup in a more technological manner with the brand new flagship saloon, the S90.

2017 Volvo S90

The S90 name sounds hardly familiar to any Volvo historians many because that was once used back in 1996 as a minor change version of the 960 saloon. It was known to be the last Volvo in history to be rear-wheel drive, just like its wagon derivative, the V90. Of course, with the S90 and V90 names brought back as the company's flagship, don't expect they'll behave as the ones from the last century, though, because they are basically offered with front-wheel drive or four-wheel drive configurations.

2017 Volvo S90
2017 Volvo V90

What matters about the new S90 and V90 is the technology that serves as the driving force of these new flagship models and sticking true to its "zero casualty" promise that Volvo delivers within the next decade, the new S90 and V90 are packed with autonomous driving technology.

Sure, Tesla has that Autopilot shindig going on with their Model S but for Volvo, Tesla's Autopilot is nothing but a serious wannabe in the autonomous driving stakes so Volvo's kind of autonomous tech is something beyond reach from Tesla's hands. Called Pilot Assist, it is the most advanced standard safety package on the market today, and apart from doing most kinds of stuff that Tesla's Autopilot do most of the time such as making good use of its sensors, camera, front radar, and autonomous emergency braking for collision prevention, this tech comes with large animal detection and run-off road mitigation, something that Tesla should put in the first place, huh?

Autonomous driving can be good news and bad news for us but as a word of warning, drivers who are solely relying on autonomous driving tech should need to be aware on the road at all times because autonomous driving isn't all fun and games or rest and relaxation because having learned from Tesla's mistakes, it's imperative that drivers need to be active on the road, even when they engage the car's autonomous driving features for the benefit of themselves. One more thing though, while these cars are born to be autonomous, they're just semi-autonomous ones and you need to be extra clever to study its merits and demerits while on the road.

2017 Volvo S90 interior

What about design? Having learned from its large crossover derivative, the XC90, the new S90 and V90 features Volvo's new design language packed with "Thor's hammer" headlamps that looks strikingly impressive even after hours. Although squarish to look at from back and front, the sidelines are all dynamically proportioned to deliver that luxury mandarin that you expect from the German saloons. As for the interior, it's surprisingly very nice to be accommodated and very high tech. You could spend hundreds of minutes trying to toy around the inside of the car but once you have it, it means a very serious business proposal for you to get behind the wheel of one of Volvo's most technologically advanced vehicles ever made.

2017 Volvo S90
2017 Volvo V90

If the S90 and V90's main paradigm shift is safety, has they completely forgotten about performance? Not quite because even it its front-wheel drive powertrain, driving one of these can be broadly similar to the Audi A6 but in a very Scandinavian kind of way thanks to its new platform that was used on the XC90 but if you try to opt in for an optional AWD powertrain, it can be a proper multirole that can take on any weather it sees at the cost of being too much grip and prone to understeering when you corner it hard on the bends. Most models do come with different two-litre engine configurations, be it petrol or diesel, but the most powerful is the T8 Twin Engine, which combines this with an electric motor, resulting to 407PS of power and 640Nm of torque. Believe it or not, diesel models now come with a brand new PowerPulse technology that eliminates the turbo lag, which makes it wonderful on the go, and the new i-Art injection system which keeps these engines smooth while running. Depending on the variant, these models can be mated with either a 6-speed manual or an 8-speed automatic.

Should you buy it? The new Volvo S90 starts at 364,900 krona while the V90 starts at 374,900 krona so on paper, they're somewhat more costly to own than the Audi A6, in sedan and Avant derivatives, but if you didn't mind about the price differences, the S90 and V90 deserved a lot more respect than the Germans because of its unparalleled tech it offers for the drivers on today. It maybe here today, but these cars are ready for tomorrow thanks to the science that Volvo promises within the next decade.

Photo: Volvo Cars