About Volvo

Glady Reign asked:



From 1974 to 1993, there is a range of mid-size cars that kept Volvo in the competitive automotive market. This is the Volvo 200 series, and during its time, it became so famous among consumers that it was not replaced until 1993. This vehicle actually outlived its supposed to be successor, the 700 series.

The car’s longevity allowed it to be sold alongside the 700 series car until they were both replaced. The range was sold alongside the then available Volvo 260 series and the combined sales figures of the two car series amounted up to 2.8 million units sold during their lengthy 19-year run. The amazing popularity of the Volvo 240 series is in past due to its reputation as the safest car in its time. After all, Volvo has made safety for their consumers their top priority in the design and construction of their cars.

What made the cars from the Volvo 240 series very safe is in the construction of the body and the frame. The sturdiness of the car gave the company a reputation for producing boxy cars which at the present they are moving away from. The hard as rock construction of the cars and its safety systems employed make it the world’s safest car for many years. Features, like crumple zones at the back and the front protects the car’s occupants in cases of collisions, and three-point seat belts gave the car the lowest driver death rate between 1990 and 1993. The figures from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) show that there are 0.1 driver deaths per 10,000 registered vehicles between 1990 and 1993.

The cars from the series are a direct descendant from the Volvo 140 series produced also by Volvo, they also use the same components but the Volvo 240 series has undergone some improvements most notably in its suspension system. The Volvo 240 series used McPherson struts in their front suspension, thus increasing the stability of the cars and increased the room around the engine bay. Steering is also improved by using the rack-and-pinion steering system which is also fitted with power steering on some of the trim packages of the 240 series. Crumple zones are also improved during the design and construction of the cars. Safety systems are also implemented which are straight out of their Volvo Experimental Safety Car - a prototype made by the Sweden-based car manufacturer in 1972.

Aside from the safety systems employed by the Volvo 240 series cars, the overall design of the cars does not differ much from its predecessor. The engine employed by the 1974 Volvo 240 series is also the same B20A four-cylinder engine which the original Volvo 140 series was equipped with. The same Volvo 240 parts or the majority of them was used in the Volvo 140 series which gives them a legitimate testing ground.

During the series’ long run in the market, they have been marketed in different trim levels with different trim level designations. The L or the Luxe trim package is the least expensive of them all. Next is the DL or the De Luxe trim, followed by the GL or the Grand Luxe, the GLE or Grand Luxe Executive and the usually most premium offering, the GLT or Grand Luxe Touring and the GT or Grand Touring packages.

The cars’ high performance made the Volvo 240 a serious competitor not only on the market but also on the race track. An example of that is the car’s win in the 1986 Australian Touring Car Championship and the Wellington 500 kilometer street race in New Zealand. Another race it dominated is the Guia Race in Macau which the car won in 1985 and 1986.

Clinton

Wrestler asked:


I have a Volvo S70 and am looking for a way to make it look/perform better.

Elizabeth

Mark T asked:


it is a L reg 1994 volvo 940 wentworth and have only just got it yesterday and having driven 65 miles and left on drive overnight………tried to start up and then had to jump it to start and came back later today and it is flat…the light on alarm/mobilser is red flashing…hope this helps

John

trunchiator asked:


I am from Romania and I want to buy one c30 directly from factory, making a small trip in the same time (like volvo overseas delivery from america) and saving money. Thanks

Randy

Glady Reign asked:



For the longest time, Volvo has been known to produce safe but boxy cars. In the past decades though, the company has produced cars which are not only safe but also appeals to the demand and the likes of the younger generation car buyers. Developments in design architecture have allowed Volvo to create a new generation of Volvos.

In the United States auto market, the newest offering of Volvo Cars is its first compact car - the C30. The said compact vehicle is designed by Canadian-born Simon Lamarre. It was unveiled by the Swedish car company owned by the Ford Motor Company at the 2006 Paris Motor Show.

Fredrik Arp, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Volvo Cars, has this to say about the development of their first compact car: “We know there are large numbers of fairly young, successful people who are attracted by our brand, but who still cannot find a model in our range that exactly matches their taste and lifestyle. The Volvo C30 Design Concept was developed precisely for this group. From its inception, the Volvo C30 Project was focused on one primary demographic group: Young urbanites with accelerating careers and intensive, active lifestyles. Customer clinics allowed these people to voice their opinions and give their views on the car’s design and technical content.”

Meanwhile, Håkan Abrahamsson, the C30 Project Director, has this to add to what Arp stated: “These customers move in a fast paced world between their homes, work, meetings, the gym and their favorite restaurants and nightclubs in town. Many of them describe their ideal mode of transport as nimble car designed to get them where they want to go. They focus on attractive design and entertaining driving properties and rarely have more than two people in the car.”

The Volvo C30 combines striking styling cues, high-end entertainment system, high-performance engine, and a safe structure. Some of the design cues employed by the C30 are taken straight out of the Safety Concept Car. According to Abrahamsson, “The Safety Concept Car (SCC) heralded a bold design language for Volvo. Its roots could be found in the classic proportions of the P1800 ES, but there was no denying that it was also a Volvo of the future. As it turned out, the SCC is an excellent reflection of our ambition for the C30 project.”

The Volvo C30 employs the Scandinavian luxury theme employed by other Volvo models especially the award-wining Volvo XC90. On the outside, the use of two colors makes the C30 identifiable easily as a Volvo. Outside, the stylish headlamps and grille add to the aesthetic value of the C30. The taillight is unique to the C30 and is one of the more striking exterior design cues employed by the C30. The tailgate of the compact vehicle is a tribute to the past of the carmaker. “’This exclusive and nimble glass tailgate is inspired both by the classic Volvo P1800 ES and the SCC concept car,” explains Steve Martin, Volvo Cars’ Design Director. “The light pattern is so unusual that you’ll never be in any doubt of which car you have in front of you,” he added.

The car looks smaller than it really is. While on the outside it looks like a very small car, it is surprisingly roomy inside. The front seats of course offer adequate space for the driver and the passenger, the surprise comes with the rear seats which offer ample legroom and headspace even for grownups. The occupants of the slightly centered rear seats can have a good view through the front without having to adjust their position. Accenting the dashboard of the C30 is Volvo’s famous floating center stack. “The space between the seats also showcases Volvo’s super-thin, visually floating centre stack, bringing it into full view from behind through the glass tailgate,” says Steve Martin.

In terms of entertainment, the C30 packs the Volvo Premium Sound System which is composed of: a 5×130 W digital ICE Power amplifier from Alpine®, Dolby® Pro Logic II Surround and 10 loudspeakers from Dynaudio® of Denmark. This entertainment system complements the efficient parts used in the construction of the vehicle. Its mechanical components were designed to produce less noise while providing efficient operation. Components such as the Volvo power steering pump, suspension assembly, and power window motors to name a few operates without producing much noise or vibration.

Power of the small vehicle comes from 2.4-liter inline five cylinder turbocharged engine. With the added boost of the turbocharger, the engine can produce as much as 260 horsepower at 5500 revs per minute and 350 Nm of torque before it reaches 5000 revs per minute. Transferring the power of the engine to the drive wheels is a precision engineered six-speed manual transmission. With the smooth gear changes and that much power, Volvo claims that the C30 can reach speeds of 100 kilometers per hour from a standstill in just six seconds.

According to Abrahamsson, “Sporty driving characteristics are a must to attract this customer category. A car that radiates muscular agility has to live up to its appearance once you slip behind the steering wheel.” Its features include 19-inch aluminum wheels fitted with 19-inch aluminum wheels. Stopping power is provided by four-pot brakes equipped with aluminum calipers and 330 millimeters ventilated brake discs from Brembo. This brake assembly combined with a long list of safety feature that one can expect from a Volvo vehicle makes the C30 one of the safest compact cars in the market.

Karen

Matthew M asked:


I am 18 and just about to get my first car. I narrowed it down to two cars: a 1993 Volvo 240 and a 1980 Mercedes 300 TD. Both cars are in pretty much mint condition. The Volvo has 97,592 miles on it and the Merc only has 29,145 miles, which is pretty unusual because these car usually go up to 200k miles or more. Anyway, I want to know which car would be a better choice to get.

Kimberly

Glady Reign asked:



“Every year is a road safety year at Volvo.” – that is the tagline of the automaker that conveys inexhaustible commitment to safety. Volvo spearheaded significant milestones in connection with auto safety features. Its record says it all. Since 1927, the automaker has introduced a great number of significant innovations.

As what Assar Gabrielsson and Gustaf Larson, founders of Volvo, have put it, “Cars are driven by people – the guiding principle behind everything we make at Volvo, therefore, is and must remain – safety.” Earlier, a study was conducted by the Ecology Center. The study entitled Toxic at Any Speed: Chemicals in Cars & the Need for Safe Alternatives delved into measuring toxic chemicals in building car interiors. The study includes flame retardant PBDE and phthalates, used to soften plastics and textiles at high temperatures. These substances are dangerous to the respiratory system. They could even result to genetic mutations.

In said study, the Ecology Center compared 11 different makes of car built between 2000 and 2005. And it has found out that the interiors of Volvo cars have the lowest emissions of phthalates. The incidence of flame retardant PBDE is also lower that other makes. This is the very reason why Volvo is deemed the world leader in interior air quality.

“In an age when many people suffer from asthma and allergies, it is only natural for Volvo Cars to offer its customers a good environment even inside the car,” said Anders Kärrberg, the Environmental Director at Volvo Cars. In order to maintain excellent interior air quality, the automaker uses state-of-the-art and safe auto materials. “The textiles and leather used in our cars meet stringent Oeko-Tex standard 100, which ensures that fabrics and hides have been thoroughly tested to check for certain allergy-inducing substances. We also work with contact allergies and are phasing out toxic substances such as certain phthalates. Volvo’s IAQS air quality system has also been developed to clean the air and reduce the risk of allergic reactions inside the car,” added Kärrberg.

Volvo safety milestones include the safety cage, laminated windscreen, three-point safety belts in the front, padded dashboard, energy-absorbent bumpers, wide-angle door mirrors, the ABS (Anti-lock Braking System), high-level brake light, airbags, inflatable curtains, SIPS (Side-Impact Protection System), ROPS (Rollover Protection System), WHIPS (Whiplash Protection System), RSC (Roll Stability Control), and the IDIS (Intelligent Driver Information System). Volvo is still working on improving its safety milestones to introduce better features in the future.

Aside from safety, Volvo is also concentrating on the production of green cars. Lately, it has expanded its range to include FlexiFuel cars. These cars are powered by renewable bioethanol fuel. “Interest in ethanol as a vehicle fuel is growing in Europe,” said Gerry Keaney, Senior Vice President Market, Sales and Customer Service at Volvo Cars. “We are therefore expanding our range with additional models on a total of 9 markets. First to get Volvo’s FlexiFuel cars outside Sweden will be Britain, Ireland, France, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland and Norway.” He added, “It’s very encouraging that the market is expanding and that political initiatives are being taken.”

In view of this, the automaker is upgrading its auto parts and accessories including Volvo radiator fan to complement the big change. The radiator fan is geometrically designed to promote optimal circulation and accurate balancing. They offer faster cooling and improved fuel efficiency to produce more horsepower.

The Volvo C30, S40 and V50 are now available in an environmentally optimized FlexiFuel alternative. They are all powered by a four-cylinder naturally aspirated engine producing 125 horsepower. Petrol and bioethanol are both filled in the same 55 liter tank. Our commitment to safe mobility needs to be enlarged from the protection of occupants and other road users in collisions to include personal health for all road users and to offer them sustainable mobility solutions”, concluded Hans-Olov Olsson, Volvo Cars President and CEO.

Wanda

drugondo asked:


I have a wheel loader L150c Volvo and Engine sometimes overheates and i hope the problem is on thermostat ..So since am in Africa and our temperatures are between 20″C and 30″C. I see these temperatures to be not affecting anything…Please advise me on what to do……..

Albert

MRJS asked:


My Volvo 850 coolant indicator light comes on occasionally.

The heat gauge is up a little more than usual.

The reservoir has some coolant in it.

I noticed that there is no radiator cap.

I also noticed the sticker says to only use Volvo coolant. Is that true?

With fluid in the reservior why would the indicator light be coming on?

Nicholas

Glady Reign asked:



Volvo’s pride vehicles are previously unwrapped in different major auto shows around the globe. These vehicles open the door to the forthcoming Volvo models. One of the cars that offer a taste of the future is the Volvo C30, which was unveiled at the Detroit auto show.

“We know there are large numbers of fairly young, successful people who are attracted by our brand, but who still cannot find a model in our range that exactly matches their taste and lifestyle. The Volvo C30 Design Concept was developed precisely for this group,” said Fredrik Arp, President and CEO of Volvo Cars.

The Swedish brand of Ford Motor Co. concentrated on singles and on couples without children as their target market for this vehicle. They are also aiming at those customers who treat cars as tools to stand the complexities of modern and hectic lifestyles. “From its inception, the Volvo C30 Project was focused on one primary demographic group: Young urbanites with accelerating careers and intensive, active lifestyles. Customer clinics allowed these people to voice their opinions and give their views on the car’s design and technical content,” says a spokesperson of the company.

“These customers move in a fast paced world between their homes, work, meetings, the gym and their favorite restaurants and nightclubs in town. Many of them describe their ideal mode of transport as nimble car designed to get them where they want to go. They focus on attractive design and entertaining driving properties and rarely have more than two people in the car,” explains Håkan Abrahamsson, the Volvo C30 Project Director.

The Volvo C30, a small family car, is a three-door, four-seat hatchback powered by I4 and I5 engines. The Volvo C30 shares the same C1 platform with its Ford siblings. It offers a wide selection of engines that include 1.6 liter I4, 2.4 liter inline-5 and 2.5 liter inline-5 petrol engines. For its diesel engine options, Volvo offers 1.6 liter inline-4 and 2.4 liter inline-5.

“The Safety Concept Car (SCC) heralded a bold design language for Volvo. Its roots could be found in the classic proportions of the P1800 ES, but there was no denying that it was also a Volvo of the future. As it turned out, the SCC is an excellent reflection of our ambition for the C30 project,” said Abrahamsson.

The new car also comes with a bunch of safety features to ensure protection of the occupants. They include a four-wheel anti-lock braking system, electronic stability program, traction control and airbags all around for side impact and rollover protection, seat belts with unique pretensioners, and Volvo’s Intelligent Driver Information System (IDIS).

The entertainment package of the Volvo C30 includes an upgraded sound system with a digital 5×130 watt ICE Power amplifier from Alpine featuring Dolby Pro Logic II Surround, as well as 10 loudspeakers from Danish Dynaudio. These features are added to boost upbeat driving experience.

Aside from the Volvo C30, Volvo also boasts its revolutionary design in all-new Volvo S80. “The all new S80 is about evolutionary design,” said Steve Mattin, Volvo Cars design director. “All the shapes and materials it uses represent a continuous development of the Volvo design language. We have given the all new S80 a more youthful and dynamic stance, and created an even more inviting atmosphere by using refined materials and colours that blend smoothly with smart, user-friendly technology.”

These luxury cars are easy to maintain and protect. As a fact, to keep them from scrapes, foreign elements and other damage, aficionados seek the protection of a Volvo car cover. Car covers, made from durable materials with designer colors, are designed for snug fit.

Brian