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25 April 2004

World Premier For New Volvo S60, V70 And XC70 At Motor Show

As well as a host of detail interior enhancements and exterior design refreshments, the new Volvo S60, V70 and XC70 making their debut at The Sunday Times Motor Show Live, also offer significant safety, convenience, performance and dynamic improvements, including:

• T5 engine performance upgrade
• 2nd Generation Four-C Active Chassis – with Comfort and Sport settings
• BLIS (Blind Spot Information System)
• WRG – Water Repellent Glass
• Passenger airbag cut-off switch
• Service intervals extended to 18,000 miles for 5-cylinder petrol engines

Brief highlights of the detail updates to the exterior styling include:

• New bumpers, alloy wheels, 'soft nose' and front grille designs
• Increased model differentiation, eg. S60 and V70 SE models now have full body coloured bumpers, side and door mouldings, plus chrome bumper inserts
• New-look front and rear lights with clear lenses

While interior quality enhancements include:

• New design for centre dashboard, audio units and integrated phone, surrounded by more extensive improved aluminium or walnut wood trim
• New, superior centre tunnel console and multi-function arm rest design
• New generation Volvo front seats, with new Sovereign Hide upholstery available
• Improved trim for doors, A-pillars and dashboard materials for less reflection

Power and Torque Increased for T5
The T5 engine available in the S60 and V70 is significantly upgraded with dual variable valve timing on both inlet and exhaust sides as well as a larger capacity turbocharger. The engine also increases in size from 2.3 to 2.4-litres and tuned to give sportier throttle characteristics and engine response with better low-end torque and improved emissions without increasing fuel consumption figures.

Headline power has increased from 250bhp to 260bhp with torque of 350Nm instead of 330Nm, but more significantly, revised tuning now delivers this power at lower engine speeds. For example, from just 1,800rpm torque has increased by 65Nm to 280Nm, with peak torque of 350Nm from 2,100rpm (instead of 2,400rpm previously).

Performance for the S60 T5 improves with 0-62mph times reducing from 6.8 to 6.5 seconds, while emissions reduce slightly to 220g/km. Front disc brakes and callipers have increased in size to also improve braking performance, with a new, six-speed manual gearbox with a revised aluminium ‘Space Ball’ gear lever now available in the V70 as well as the S60, or Volvo's Geartronic transmission.

2nd Generation Four-C Active Chassis
>Volvo’s active Four-C chassis (Computer Controlled Chassis Concept) has been refined and now introduced as an option for the new 2005 S60, V70 and XC70 ranges.

The active Four-C chassis system provides fully active damping with two distinct operating ranges – Comfort and Sport – to give a pronounced difference in ride, handling and steering characteristics with different settings for S60 (more sporting), V70 (more touring comfort) and XC70 (tuned for off-road and on-road).
 
The Comfort setting gives higher levels of comfort but with low body movement, while in Sport the ride becomes firmer with a higher level of road feel and feedback. The system will automatically adjust to stabilise the car during any extreme manoeuvres, no matter which setting is selected, and compensates for heavy loads for improved stability at all speeds and when towing.

Driving characteristics for the S60 R and V70 R models have also been improved with Comfort and Sport settings better tuned for UK road surfaces using higher damping speeds to handle bigger road disturbances, while the Comfort setting is improved with maintained road feel and body control. Full details of the R models will be released in summer 2004.

Blind Spot Information System (BLIS)
>Previewed in the Volvo Safety Concept Car in 2001 with a refined version revealed as one of Volvo's safety technology innovations at the Detroit Auto Show in January 2004, Volvo is now introducing BLIS for the first time on production cars – a world first in passenger cars.

BLIS operates when the car's travelling above 6mph (10km/h), and uses digital camera technology mounted in the door mirrors to monitor surrounding traffic, taking 25 pictures a second to register when another vehicle is moving within the car's blind-spot zone – within 3m of each side of and up to 9.5m behind the car.

An amber light on the A-pillar by the door mirror inside the car warns the driver if BLIS detects other traffic. The warning lamp is triangular, to represent a warning symbol, and positioned so it can be seen easily as the driver checks mirrors before any manoeuvre.

It is programmed to work day or night, but not to react to static objects such as parked cars, and a warning message alerts the driver if the system cannot function in poor visibility like heavy fog or snow. A button on the dashboard enables the system to be turned off, if desired.

Water Repellent Glass (WRG)
>New water repellent glass is now available for S60, V70 and XC70 side windows and door mirrors. To improve visibility when driving in rain, a hydrophobic surface treatment on the front side windows turns water into small beads which the airflow will blow away, leaving the window clear. A small symbol on the glass illustrates the car is fitted with WRG.

Passenger Airbag Cut-Off Switch
For added customer convenience, a Passenger Airbag Cut-Off Switch is introduced for the first time in a Volvo. This is controlled by using the ignition key in a switch on the side of the dashboard, and illustrated by a warning symbol above the rear view mirror.

Extended Service Intervals
Service intervals for all S60, V70 and XC70 5-cylinder petrol engines have been increased from 12,000 to 18,000 miles (or one year whichever comes first).

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