#2019 Volvo Cross Country Wagon

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“The get away car”.

2019 Volvo V90 Cross Country 🇸🇪

The Scandinavian luxury wagon, designed for exploration.

Available since July 2’nd for “No Limits” and “All Inclusive” tiers exclusively.

Model with HQ interior, open/close doors, tail gate and functional light.

Go and join my Patreon!

[componentplanet]

2020 Subaru Legacy Tech Dive: EyeSight, DriverFocus, Starlink Shine

Subaru Legacy Touring XT 2020 (April)

The 2020 Subaru Legacy is a near-perfect car if you’re looking for solid transportation and extensive safety technology across all trim lines. Every Legacy has all-wheel-drive, and enough driver-assist technology to be virtually self-driving on highways while protecting pedestrians in town (called Subaru EyeSight), track and alert inattentive drivers (DriverFocus), and call for help in an accident (Subaru Starlink).

The new, 2020 seventh-generation Legacy also has front cupholders deep enough to not spill a 32-ounce Big Gulp, were the car capable of a 4-second 0-60 run (it’s more like 7 to 9 seconds, depending on the engine). The engine’s “boxer” technology, similar to what Porsche uses, lowers the car’s center of gravity. The front and back rows are spacious and the trunk is enormous. Highway mileage is in the upper thirties.

So what’s not to like? Not much. This Subie won’t move the excitement needle quite like Mazda or Honda does among midsize sedans. It’s not as dazzling as the 2020 Hyundai Sonata. There’s less ground clearance than the similar Subaru Outback crossover. The new infotainment system and navigation had a few quirks, the kind a firmware upgrade typically cures, and stop-start twisted the steering wheel and my thumb a couple of times (more below).

The Nappa leather cockpit of the 2020 Subaru legacy.

The Car for Inattentive Drivers?

You say you’re a good driver; I say I’m a good driver. Yet surveys find the majority of Americans self-describe themselves as above-average drivers, which is statistically impossible. And yet, we also know people close to us whose driving skills or cognition worry us: teenagers and others in their first few years of driving, aging parents, a spouse or partner who’s had a couple of fender-benders that were the fault of “the other guy,” and people who text or create on-the-fly playlists even when they know it’s unsafe.

Subaru is a leader among automakers in making virtually all its safety technology standard across every one of the six trim lines, or model variants, of this new 2020 car. Buy any Legacy Base, Premium, Sport, Limited, Limited XT, or Touring XT and you get:

A dual front-facing camera system, Subaru EyeSight, to keep you in your driving lane, warn of / brake for possible forward collisions, detect and brake for pedestrians at speeds up to 20 mph.

Full-range adaptive cruise control as part of EyeSight.

An active driving assistance system that controls speed and lane centering, pacing any car in front of you, also part of EyeSight.

LED low and high-beam headlamps with automatic high-beam control.

All-wheel-drive for extra grip in snow or rain, or on gravel roads.

Any Legacy other than the base model has safety telematics (called Subaru Starlink) standard. Blind-spot warning is available, optional on two trim lines and standard on three; it also includes rear cross-traffic alert and automatic braking while backing up. An excellent eye-tracking driver distraction system, DriverFocus, is standard on the top two trim lines and optional on a third.

One feature not offered is a surround-view camera array that primarily improves tight-spaces parking, but it also protects you (if you watch the screen) from running into kids’ tricycles or kids on tricycles. Rear auto-braking provides that protection.

With the 260-hp turbo engine (top two trim lines only), you’ll hit 60 in 6-7 seconds. Add 2 seconds for the 182 hp engine on other Legacies.

Legacy on the Road: Mostly Smooth Sailing

I drove the top-of-the-line 2020 Subaru Legacy Touring XT, about $37,000 including shipping, with warm brown Nappa leather, moonroof, an 11-inch portrait-orientation center stack LCD, vented front seats, heated fronts and rears, onboard navigation, and immense amounts of back-seat legroom and trunk room.

Subaru lie-flat boxer engine: two cylinders go left, two cylinders go right.

With the new, 2.4-liter turbo engine of 260 hp and continuously variable transmission on the Limited and Touring XTs, it was quick, hitting 60 mph in 6-7 seconds. Highway miles went by quickly. Under foot-down acceleration, there wasn’t much noise from the CVT transmission; some testers have noted it on the non-turbo Legacy that has to be pushed harder to get up to highway speeds.

Most four-cylinder-engine cars have an inline design. Most Subarus including the Legacy have horizontally opposed, flat or boxer engines. They are effectively V engines where the angle is 180 degrees, not the 60 or 90 degrees of V6 or V8 engines. The engine is more compact, has less inherent vibration, gives the car a lower center of gravity, and allows for a lower hood and better driver sightlines. Against that, the engine requires two cylinder heads. Porsche also uses flat-six engines in the 911, Cayman, Spyder, and Boxster. The term boxer alludes not to the small crate it fits in, but rather the in-out motion of the two adjacent pistons that looks like a boxer’s fists.

Where most automakers use a combination of radar and a camera for driver assists, Subaru’s Eyesight system uses stereoscopic cameras. It’s standard on the 2020 Legacy, Forester, Outback, and Ascent; and available on the Impreza, Crosstrek, and WRX.

Pedestrian Detection Saves Another Jaywalker

Highway driving was enjoyable with the driver assists, a nicely sound-insulated cabin, very good Harman Kardon premium audio, Wi-Fi on Starlink telematics cars, and USB jacks for four people. In town, the driver assists work well; a jaywalker who popped out mid-block was picked up and the car came to a quick (sudden) stop. But spirited back-roads driving was not as much fun as some other cars in its class, notably the Mazda6 and Honda Accord. The 2020 Subaru Legacy is based on the same new platform as the 2020 Subaru Outback crossover-almost-wagon. But the Legacy’s ground clearance is 5.9 inches to 8.7 inches for the Outback. So the Legacy is fine in the rain, snow, and on gravel roads, but not the first choice in Subarus if the road to your country cabin is deeply rutted.

Subaru has rudimentary self-driving capabilities utilizing EyeSight, although Subaru doesn’t consider it to be formal self-drive tech and has no Eye-something shorthand name such as, say, EyeDrive. (BMW might not be amused.) Once activated, it centers you on a highway and proceeds at a pre-set speed, slowing for cars in front of you. It combines Subaru’s Advanced Adaptive Cruise Control feature with Lane Centering. As with other vehicles, activation is a multi-step process.

DriverFocus, on upper trim lines, combines a camera and infrared illuminator. It watches to see if the driver’s eyes are on the road ahead.

DriverFocus: Big Brother Is on Your Side

Take your eyes off the road, and the DriverFocus eye-tracker tells you to pay attention.

Subaru DriverFocus, an eyebrow module at the top of the center stack, contains a camera and IR illuminator to track where the driver is looking, and rats you out after 10-15 seconds of not looking ahead. GM’s highly regarded Super Cruise self-driving technology uses eye-tracking also.

Some driver-attention monitors count the micro-movements a driver continually makes as he or she drives.

I had two concerns with my test car: I was startled a couple of times by the gas-saving stop-start system. Occasionally as the engine came to a stop at a traffic light, the steering wheel on my test car abruptly turned a couple of inches and twice caught my thumb that was loosely holding the wheel next to the spoke. After the second time, I decided to keep my thumbs off the thumb grips once this car stopped at a light.

The infotainment system had trouble parsing some spoken commands, wanted to drive me to the intersecting street with the same name plus “Extension” at the end, and occasionally would not connect an iPhone using two different Apple cables or with Bluetooth. On sunny days, the LCD was sometimes hard to read and the brushed chrome-look trim strip around the center display reflected the sun’s glare.

The Subaru Legacy instrument panel. The center multi-information looks busy. (It is.) But it also gives the driver lots of information at a glance. If this feels like TMI, you can flip to simpler views.

EyeSight Is Improved, Still Unique

Subaru says EyeSight has been improved and I sensed that both in the ability to pick up a car ahead from a greater distance and to be less affected in the rain. In some ways, EyeSight in snowy conditions may be better than radar in that windshield wipers clear the paths in front of the two cameras. If snow blocks the radar sensor, you have to get out and scrape it off with a brush or your gloved hand, assuming the driver knows where the sensor is located in the grille. Also, snow and rain reduce the effectiveness of radar to some degree.

Subaru Legacy Touring XT, the top trim line.

Safety Features Abound

Even if you are a statistically good driver, a car such as the Legacy improves your odds of staying safe. It also improves pedestrians’ odds: A 2019 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety study found Eyesight-equipped Subarus reduce pedestrian-injury claims by 35 percent. IIHS also found Subarus with second-generation Eyesight did better than first-generation systems dating to 2010. IIHS said it found no significant self-selection bias, meaning the idea that safety-conscious good drivers might seek out safe-seeming Subarus and Volvos. Separately, IIHS found Subarus with EyeSight had up fewer rear-end collisions and passenger injuries.

How solid is Subaru on driver assists and safety technology? Here’s a rundown:

2020 Subaru Legacy Key Safety Technology, Driver Assists

Trim lines: Entry Middle Top Lane departure warning Std Std Std Lane-keeping assist Std Std Std Lane centering assist Std Std Std Blind-spot warning — $ / Std Std Adaptive cruise control Std Std Std Forward collision warning Std Std Std Auto emergency braking Std Std Std Pedestrian detection/braking Std Std Std Safety telematics (Starlink) — Std Std Driver-assist package (EyeSight) Std Std Std Driver monitoring (DriverFocus) — — / $ / Std Std Active driving assistance Std Std Std The table shows features as standard (Std), optional ($) or not available (–) on entry (Legacy base), middle (Premium, Sport, Limited, Limited XT) and top (Touring XT) trim lines.

Should You Buy?

The 2020 Subaru Legacy is a solid midsize car for people who don’t need a status symbol. The Legacy wins a lot of awards but not all of them. Consumer Reports has it as the best midsize sedan and one of only 10 CR Top Picks among 300 models for 2020. In contrast, Car and Driver put the Legacy eighth behind the Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, and the Mazda Mazda6, among others. Guess which publication favors safety features and comfortable ride versus spirited handling? The Legacy is also a 2020 IIHS Top Safety Pick+, which means good ratings in crash tests, advanced or superior ratings in available front crash prevention, and (the plus part) acceptable or good headlamps standard.

We like the Legacy a lot, even if within Subaru this is an outlier, a sedan in a company known for outdoorsy crossovers and SUVs: Crosstrek, Forester, Outback, Ascent. The Ascent had arguably been the best midsize SUV until the Kia Telluride / Hyundai Palisade came along last year. The Legacy had been unique in offering all-wheel-drive, but the Nissan Altima and Toyota Camry added it for 2020.

The steering wheel has big buttons and rockers, all legibly labeled. If only all cars were this clear with switchgear.

Subaru is a relatively reliable brand. The car is eminently practical. From the side, though, it’s hard to distinguish from a half-dozen other brands. Fuel economy is good, an EPA combined rating of 23 mpg for the turbo models, 29 mpg for the non-turbo. Real-world mileage should be several mpg higher, and with judicious driving, the non-turbo could approach 40 on the highway.

If you’re shopping Subaru for max safety, we’d suggest: Move past the Legacy base ($23,645 with freight) because you can’t get blind-spot warning / rear-cross-traffic alert or safety telematics, and past the Legacy Premium ($25,895) because you can get BSW / RCTA, but not reverse automatic braking (RAB). Blind-spot warning matters: Not all young drivers know to check side mirrors and look over their shoulders; older drivers may know, but may not have the dexterity to turn their heads sideways.

Every Legacy has dual front USB jacks (above) and, except for the base model (below), two more jacks in the back. Note how every jack and switch is nicely and legibly lettered.

The Legacy Sport ($27,845) lets you get BSW-RCTA-RAB in a $2,245 options package, along with a power moonroof and onboard navigation, for $30,090 total. Or for $30,645, you can get the Legacy Limited that includes BSW-RCTA-RAB, and the one options package, $2,045, gives you the moonroof again, a heated steering wheel, and DriverFocus. The top two trim lines, the Limited XT ($35,095) and Touring XT ($36,795), give you nice and nicer leather, DriverFocus, and the moonroof. So the sweet spot may be the Legacy Sport plus the options package, or the Legacy Limited, at about $30K each. Cross-brand shoppers comparing front-drive-only midsize competitors should attribute about $1,500 of Subaru’s price to AWD.

The Subaru Legacy should be at the top of your consideration set along with the Hyundai Sonata, the ExtremeTech 2020 Car of the Year. If you want a sporty car, look to the Mazda6, the Honda Accord, or – this is not a joke – the segment best-seller Toyota Camry with the TRD Sport, as in Toyota Racing Division.

Now read:

2020 Hyundai Sonata Review: Car of the Year? (It’s That Good)

Honda Accord Review: Way Better, and Honda Even Fixed Display Audio

2020 Subaru Forester Review: The Safety-First, Can’t-Go-Wrong-Buying-One Compact SUV

from ExtremeTechExtremeTech https://www.extremetech.com/extreme/309080-2020-subaru-legacy-review from Blogger http://componentplanet.blogspot.com/2020/04/2020-subaru-legacy-tech-dive-eyesight.html

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2019 Volvo Wagon Price, Review, Cross Country

2019 Volvo Wagon Price, Review, Cross Country

2019 Volvo Wagon Price, Review, Cross Country– Volvo Wagon will be the new hybrid automobile coming from Volvo. It was actually revealed to become hybrid and electric powered To strength automobile. Regarding 2019, this particular latest version will probably be furnished with not one but two greater specifications. They have got anything linked with all of the engines; it is possible to decide…

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The 2021 Mercedes-Benz E450 Is A Wagon In SUV Clothing | HotCars

New Post has been published on https://coolcarsnews.com/the-2021-mercedes-benz-e450-is-a-wagon-in-suv-clothing-hotcars/

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz E450 Is A Wagon In SUV Clothing | HotCars

There’s a brand new beast in town and it is modern – the Mercedes-Benz E450 may look like an VEHICLE, but at heart, it’s the wagon, and honestly, that is a good thing. The Mercedes-Benz E-Class has been in circulation since 1953, and while the particular S-Class is considered the flagship from the brand , it’s the particular E-class that has to stay cautious about a redesign.

The strongest reason is the fact that the E-class of Mercedes-Benz is often valued by the traditionalists and the loyalists of the The german language luxury automaker and it are unable to disappoint its long-standing customers by bringing in a poor model.

The particular E450 has been a well-selling design, and Mercedes-Benz had rejuvenated it for 2021, however the changes are mostly cosmetic. It is now called the Mercedes-Benz E450 4MATIC All-Terrain and bears SUV-like cues. But as the primary goal, it remains a truck even if the looks have been modified to be less wagon-y.

ASSOCIATED: Here's Everything We all know About The 2022 Mercedes C-Class

In the 1880s, Mercedes invented the production passenger vehicle. A century later, for the Take a look at least, it made the luxurious station wagon in the form of the particular 300T Estate, which was the seven-passenger, diesel-powered land burst. The wagon has carried on since then for Mercedes-Benz, improving and better over the years, even though it has maintained the same traditional elegance it has been known for. For a long time, it did not change the method the wagon rode, great, there has been a bit of a crossover presented, and it's cool to experience.

So why the modify? Mercedes-Benz believes in smart driving, so along with beefing up the suspension and including some riding height, there is one more significant change towards the E450 4MATIC All Surfaces, and that is the bigger tires. Together with optional 20-inch rims, this now has 28. 1-inch diameter tires. This not just makes you sit higher yet because of more tires, that it is simply a better drive, upon terrain, or off this.

RELATED: This Is What The actual Mercedes-Benz SSK One Of The Best Artwork Deco Cars

Indeed, it is very much a truck. Look at it closely enough as well as the lower ride height ( as compared to Mercedes-Benz G-Wagons ) proclaim the very fact loud and clear. Yet even then, the new surroundings suspension on it adds the 1 . 2-inch ride elevation to the same. There is durable black cladding on the lower-half and despite the long-roof, the particular looks are very SUV-like.

It’s also quick, way faster than exactly what you’d expect a truck to be. It can hit 60mph in about 4. four seconds if not lesser, plus that’s an improvement over the 2019 E450 Wagon, even though the All-Terrain is 123 pounds weightier.

Along with becoming fast, the E450 All-Terrain is a lot more fun to drive too, helped by its beefier suspension and the bigger plus broader tires that make it far more capable on bad streets and terrain than the previous counterpart. The trip is also better than the competition such as the Audi A6 All-Road as well as the Volvo V90 Cross Country.

The cabin will be plush, the drive is really as sporty as the E-class four door and the E450 also has a decent cargo space, similar to an SUV, although the trip height is lower. Drive this on sport mode as well as the suspension rides lower to get a buttery ride.

RELATED: Here’s What We Expect Through the 2021 Audi A4 Allroad

There is sufficient power in the E450 4MATIC All-Terrain to make it a thrilling trip. The turbocharged three or more. 0-liter inline-six jets 362 horses and 368 ft-lb of torque, and a starter-generator can also add 21 more horses towards the fray. It runs on the nine-speed automatic for smooth and linear power as well as the fuel economy is better as well, at 24 mpg.

To emphasize the new motor, the hood has been bulged out a bit although the remaining car follows the same long-roof design pattern as just before. There have been designing tweaks completed to the headlamps, taillamps, billet grille, and bumper as well yet it's all seamless and make the E450 look like a various beast. It just appears like a friend that has gone the makeover, for the better.

Open that huge liftgate, and you get the really feel of a wagon almost instantly since nestled within it is some thing Mercedes-Benz long-roofs have transported for long – a couple of stowable rear-facing jump chairs that cannot fit in large-sized adults, but are formally rated for riders lower than five feet tall. Force floor is low too, making cargo ingress plus egress a breeze.

The interiors look stupendous as well with open-pore wooden trim, and there’s the cigar bar in there as well. Leatherette seats are regular but you can get leather which is both heated and aired, for a price.

And you can always speak to your brand new E450 4MATIC All-Terrain by saying “Hey Mercedes”, in a very Siri-esque manner . We are sold. You?

Sources: Road& Monitor, CarandDriver

NEXT: A quick look into The History Of Mercedes-AMG

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Electric Volvos: What to Expect From Now to 2025

Volvo has a guilty conscience. Perturbed by the impact its vehicles have had on greenhouse gas emissions and climate change, the brand is committed to reinventing itself as a leader in sustainable transportation. To that end, it will unveil one new all-electric vehicle each year through 2025.

With the debut of the XC40 Recharge, that mission is officially underway. The car itself is noteworthy as Volvo's first battery-powered offering, but the launch of the Recharge sub-brand is more so. That label will be applied to plug-in Volvo cars, including the all-electric models to underpin the brand's emissions-free future. What, exactly, will they be? Only those in Gothenburg know for sure, but that won't stop us from speculating. Here's what we expect from Volvo Recharge in the coming years.

2019: XC40 Recharge Dual Motor

This model has been confirmed. Essentially an electrified version of the stylish compact crossover, the XC40 Recharge is juiced by a 78 kW-hr battery pack that feeds electric motors on the front and rear axle. Those turn out a healthy 408 hp and 487 lb-ft of torque combined, for a 0-60 mph time of 4.9 seconds and about 200 miles of range. The CMA (Compact Modular Architecture) platform it's based on was engineered to be electrified; the XC40 Recharge has batteries mounted flat and low in the chassis, with a T-shaped cluster positioned where the gas tank and driveshaft would normally go.

2020: XC40 Recharge Single Motor

Dropping one of the XC40 Recharge's motors would be a straightforward way for Volvo to expand its electric lineup with a more affordable offering—the question is, which motor? According to Henrik Green, Volvo's chief technical officer, "That's something we're working on." The CMA platform is built for front-wheel-drive applications, so a front motor would package naturally. However, a rear motor could improve driving dynamics and increase frunk cargo capacity. Either way, should Volvo decide to build it, a single-motor XC40 Recharge would ring up below the dual motor version's $50,000-ish price tag.

2021: XC90 Recharge

The third generation of Volvo's large SUV will roll on a new platform that accommodates all-electric power. We've only seen hybrid versions of the XC90 built on today's SPA (Scalable Product Architecture) platform, but the SPA-II platform set to underpin the new XC90 will be designed for full electrification. Volvo confirmed to us that an XC90 EV is happening. Look for an all-electric XC90 Recharge to be available from launch. It will also lead the way for a new design direction for Volvo, one of luxurious elegance that better differentiates the brand from Polestar, which will take a more aggressive, dynamic approach. The new XC90 will be built at Volvo's factory in Charleston, South Carolina.

2022: XC100 Recharge

Swoopy fastback SUVs including the Jaguar I-Pace, Porsche Cayenne Coupe E-Hybrid, and Audi E-Tron Sportback are all the rage, and we expect Volvo to enter the fray with an offering of its own. Speculatively dubbed the XC100, this vehicle would emphasize Volvo's re-envisioned design language and sit above the XC90 as the brand's range-topping flagship SUV. While also built on the SPA-II platform, the XC100 could be electric-only to show the brand's commitment to an emissions-free future.

2023: S90 Recharge

Despite the demise of traditional sedans in the United States, this body style remains popular in global markets—particularly China, the home of Volvo's parent company, Geely. As such, Volvo will develop a next-generation version of the S90 sedan to ride on the electric SPA-II platform. For those who prefer to relax in the back while their driver does the hard work, the S90 will likely maintain its long-wheelbase proportions. That length may allow a larger battery to be installed in a S90 Recharge, should Volvo decide to introduce this vehicle, providing unprecedented range for long-distance electric cruising.

2024: V90 Recharge

Wagons are an indelible part of Volvo's heritage, and we're confident the brand will continue to celebrate five-door longroofs for years to come. Should Volvo decide to make it, a V90 Recharge would provide ample cargo space with exciting all-electric dynamics. Hopefully, a slightly lifted V90 Cross Country will continue to be part of the mix, with Recharge battery power providing motivation.

2025: New XC40 Recharge

By this point, the original XC40 Recharge will have reached the end of its lifecycle, and be fully redesigned and built on a new version of the CMA architecture. Just like the original XC40 Recharge, this next-generation version will embody the best of Volvo's electric capabilities. New battery chemistries and fast-charging capabilities should be part of the package. It'll herald the brand's continued commitment to carbon neutrality for decades to come.

Font: MotorTrend

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6 Automakers From China and Elsewhere That Surprised in Frankfurt

Auto shows are all struggling to reinvent themselves as more and more brands are choosing to sit them out. There were many no-show brands at this year’s Frankfurt show. Some shows are mounting concurrent “mobility” conferences, but Frankfurt seems to have added a supplier/engineering event such as North America’s SAE World Congress. Of course, prime show floor space vacated by Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Jeep, Nissan, Infiniti, Peugeot, and DS managed to get snapped up by “young Asian brands” with unfamiliar names such as WEY, Thunder Power, Aspark, and a few more-established names. We’ve got highlights. Borgward Isabella Concept This storied and supposedly still well-known and respected German brand has been revived by a team of Chinese investors. A plant is already up and running in China producing SUVs. The plan is to bring them to Europe next year and to eventually open a plant near Bremen, Germany, to build vehicles for European consumption. This fetching concept named for the fetching coupe produced in the brand’s heyday was penned by a new design team based in Stuttgart with designers plucked from Mini (Anders Warming) and Kia (David Genot). The Isabella borrows very few design cues directly from the vintage car, but it attempts to deliver what that car represented in its day—a beautiful accessible dream car. The four-door coupe profile features an exceptionally aerodynamic profile (air flows behind the C-pillars), and its interior is highly imaginative. Features include a “coffee table” lower shelf under a “surfboard” covered in silver mesh, bisected by a black “scarf,” which contains most of the controls for the large curved screen just below the windshield and also for a hologram display. These folks are dreaming big! Borgward BX5, BX7, and BXi7 Borgward is not part of a joint venture with any Chinese brands (there is a relationship with truck manufacturer Foton Motor Group), but boy, their styling department seems to be borrowing pretty heavily from Shanghai GM/SAIC’s work with Buick. The smaller BX5 and larger BX7 both seem to echo the waterfall grille and rear-quarter-panel details of the Buick. The BXi7 is an all-electric version of the BX7. The mainstream utes are on sale in China now, and sales in Europe are expected to start next year.   Aspark Owl Japanese EV upstart Aspark unveiled this low-slung and fairly fetching supercar that’s about the size of a Ford GT, claiming some pretty amazing numbers for it: 0-62 mph in 2.0 seconds. Yikes. Naturally it’s routing its power to all four wheels, but even with only 1,900 or so pounds to tug around, that’s asking a lot of the tires’ grip. It’s also impressive given the modest output claims of 429 hp and 563 lb-ft of torque. The range is claimed to be about 90 miles, and the top speed is 174 mph. We’d caution against holding your breath for this one, but if it can put down numbers like those, there will be a lot less laughing at the dorky name. Thunder Power Speaking of names that might not have been thoroughly focus grouped in English-speaking countries, Hong Kong-based Thunder Power is also planning to get into the EV business. Unlike Aspark and a few American EV startups we can think of, Thunder Power has a factory under construction in Guangzhou, China, that will reportedly be capable of producing 100,000 EVs per year. An R&D center will be located near Barcelona, Spain, and the company is planning to build an assembly plant there, too, for satisfying European demand. This is Thunder Power’s second appearance at the Frankfurt show. Last time it showed a concept of the sedan that appears this year in development-prototype camo. The focal point of this year’s display is a new SUV concept that was presented along with a naked aluminum chassis buck. The SUV points in the general design direction of a production variant that is sure to lose the pillarless coach door arrangement and probably the cross-car infotainment screen. The sedan is expected to go on sale next year, with the SUV following a year later. Pricing for the sedan has been reported starting in the mid-50s stretching to 100,000 euros—so, Tesla territory. The Milanese design work might not strike all eyes as more beautiful than a Tesla. WEY China’s Great Wall introduced the premium SUV sub-brand WEY this past April and has opened a technical office in Germany. For its Frankfurt debut, it designed an off-road coupe concept called the XEV, which, as the name suggests, is electrically powered. The concept manages to look pretty good without looking like anybody else’s SUV—a rare combination in the still fairly nascent Chinese auto industry. WEY aims to begin selling its SUVs in Europe in 2019, most likely opening with the Hi4-hybrid powered VV5, which definitely has a vaguely familiar look to it. The crossover will be available in sporty S and Hi4 powertrain variants. The latter consists of a 2.0-liter gasoline four-cylinder Great Wall engine fitted with a belt-alternator-starter good for 13 hp, spinning the front wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Out back there’s a 174-hp electric motor. The hybrid battery stores just 1.166 kW-hr of electricity.   Chery The Chinese invasion of Europe really gets rolling in 2019 when Chery expects to bring its globally homologated Exeed TX SUV model here (the Tiggo 5X and Tiggo 7 sharing the floor space do not meet European standards). Hatchbacks and wagons will follow in the years to come, with all new vehicles being designed (for now in Shanghai under the direction of Canadian James Hope, who was recently hired away of GM Europe) to meet European safety and regulatory standards. To rev up Frankfurt showgoers, Chery brought along its low-slung, muscular Tiggo Coupe crossover concept. Planned for autonomous drive, like nearly every new show car, this one aims to lure in millenials with a steering wheel that folds and becomes a game controller during autopilot mode. A vibrating seat aims to provide a vivid 4-D gaming experience. Chery plans to heavily target young people who are less brand conscious. Geely Chinese megabrand Geely, owner of Volvo, purchased the London Taxi Company from receivers in 2013, and the resulting sub-brand LEVC is now rolling out its next-gen “London Cab” and hoping to extend sales throughout Europe (hence the presentation of the TX eCity cab in German taxi beige). They are being built near Coventry in the first new assembly plant to be built in England in 10 years. The range-extended electric vehicle can travel 80 miles on an electric charge, after which a Volvo 1.5-liter I-3 engine kicks in and extends the range to 400 miles. The rear compartment is taller and roomier than the current black cab, with seating for six (three in rear-facing jump seats). Wi-Fi connectivity and both USB and 12-volt charging sources are provided for passengers, and there’s a panoramic sunroof. Deliveries begin in October at a price of 55,000 British pounds ($72,600). The vehicle is not homologated for U.S. sale. The post 6 Automakers From China and Elsewhere That Surprised in Frankfurt appeared first on Motor Trend.

http://www.motortrend.com/news/6-automakers-from-china-and-elsewhere-that-surprised-in-frankfurt/

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Volvo S60 Cross Country et Eurokracy

Le 19 juin 2019

Les lecteurs les plus assidus de ce blogue doivent se souvenir qu’en février dernier, le constructeur suédois Volvo m’avait invité dans la région nordique de Luleå pour une présentation (et un premier essai) des versions Cross Country et T8 hybride de sa plus récente familiale V60. Il y faisait alors autour de moins 25 Celsius. Cette fois, Volvo Canada m’a permis de conduire la nouvelle Cross Country durant toute une semaine sous des températures nettement plus clémentes.

Si vous vous souvenez, il y avait dans le passé, une version Cross Country de la V70 de Volvo. Cette fois, c’est sur la base de la nouvelle V60 que le modèle nous revient. Basée sur la même plateforme Scalable Product Architecture que le VUS XC60, cette Volvo adopte alors la caisse d’une familiale (station-wagon), une configuration qui n’est pas des plus populaires aux États-Unis mais qui connaît toujours une certaine reconnaissance au Canada, surtout au Québec. Malheureusement, il n’y a plus beaucoup de familiales disponibles sur le marché et l’arrivée de la V60 sera certes bien appréciée, surtout dans son format Cross Country.

La Volvo V60 Cross Country est enfin arrivée chez nous. (Photo Éric Descarries)

La Cross Country est une véritable familiale (station wagon) ! (Photo Éric Descarries)

La Cross Country est presque unique au groupe Volvo. En effet, malgré l’identification T5, les Cross Country sont à traction intégrale (normalement identifiée par l’identification T6). Techniquement, la Cross Country est une familiale mue par le (maintenant traditionnel) quatre cylindres de 2,0 litres turbocompressé de 250 chevaux et 258 li-pi de couple du constructeur combiné à une boîte automatique à huit rapports et à la traction intégrale géré par système Torsen (les autres produits Volvo à traction intégrale utilisent le même moteur mais aussi à compresseur mécanique ce qui lui donne plus de 300 chevaux). Même si cette familiale possède la même suspension que celle des V60 normales mais celle-ci fait appel à des éléments plus robustes qui la relèvent d’environ 2,5 pouces (quelque 65 mm). Dans le cas de ma voiture d’essai, celle-ci était chaussée de pneus Pirelli P Zero (bizarre de choix pour une familiale qui se veut un véhicule hors-route) optionnels avec jantes de 20 pouces. On reconnaîtra alors la Cross Country à ses carénages autour des passages de roue et à ses boucliers avant et arrière spécifiques au modèle.

Le moteur de la Cross Country est le quatre cylindres de 2,0 litres du constructeur suédois mais que dans sa version turbocompressée ! (Photo Éric Descarries)

Choix un peu bizarre que les Pirelli P Zero pour un véhicule qui doit attaquer des sentiers… (Photo Éric Descarries)

Évidemment, l’intérieur de la Cross Country possède un tableau de bord presque identique à celui des autres produits de Volvo. Quoique bien dessiné avec un style quand même modéré, on y voit un bloc d’instrumentation bien placé devant le conducteur affichant des images numériques. Le volant est aussi typique à Volvo avec des commandes identiques aux autres modèles. Le centre du tableau de bord est occupé par un grand écran de neuf pouces qui sert à la radio, la caméra de marche arrière et le système de navigation sous l’identification Sensus. C’est ce même système que j’ai souvent décrié car il demande une attention spéciale pour s’y retrouver. Même si, avec le temps, on finit par s’y retrouver, ne serait-ce que par habitude, j’ai bien peur qu’il soit une source de distraction pour le conducteur. La massive console centrale retient le levier de changement de rapports de la boîte automatique (avec la fonction qui permet des changements manuels soit avec le levier, soit avec les palettes au volant) et l’unique clé de mise en marche que le conducteur doit tourner pour lancer le moteur ou l’arrêter (avec la télécommande ou clé dans la poche). Tout près, on voit un rouleau qui permet de choisir le mode de conduite que ce soit économique, régulier sport ou hors-route, ce dernier rendant la suspension plus ferme pour des excursions hors-route.

Le tableau de bord de la Cross Country ressemble beaucoup à celui des autres produits Volvo. (Photo Éric Descarries)

Les sièges de ma voiture d’essai (avec sellerie de cuir) se sont avérés fermes mais confortables. Notons qu’ils sont aussi chauffants (avec la commande à l’écran). Évidemment, les passagers d’avant y ont beaucoup d’espace pour les jambes tout comme ceux d’arrière. En ce qui concerne ces sièges de la deuxième rangée, leur dossier est rabattable afin de donner plus de place pour le chargement du coffre. Évidemment, ce coffre est déjà bien grand vu qu’il s’agit d’une familiale et il le devient encore plus avec ces dossiers rabattus avec un total de 1664 litres. Toutefois, le toit étant plus bas que celui d’un VUS, l’utilisateur jouit d’un peu moins de débattement en hauteur ce qui ne devrait pas nécessairement causer de problème à plusieurs gens qui n’y voient pas d’inconvénient! Un avantage, toutefois, le seuil de chargement est plus bas!

Les places arrière sont invitantes (Photo Éric Descarries)

Voilà ce que l’on s’attend d’une familiale, de l’espace de chargement! (Photo Éric Descarries)

Sur la route…et hors-route!

Cette fois, j’ai conduit la Cross Country sur route sèche. Mon temps derrière le volant en Suède fut restreint et l’excursion hors-route s’est résumée par quelques essais sur le bord d’une rivière gelée. J’ai donc expérimenté la conduite de cette Volvo pendant une semaine dans la région montréalaise tant en condition urbaine que sur autoroute. J’ai même eu le temps de rouler dans les sentiers de terre (chemins de tracteurs) du terrain de culture de cèdres de mon ami Pierre Archambault à Laval pour «tester» les capacités hors-route de la Cross Country. Je ne m’attends pas à ce que les propriétaires de cette belle berline s’aventurent dans des sentiers exigeants comme ils le feraient avec une Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. La Cross Country peut très bien s’acquitter de petits déplacements sur terrain légèrement accidenté grâce au bon débattement de sa suspension. Mais ce sera surtout en hiver qu’elle se distinguera des autres véhicules comme, par exemple, pour atteindre un chalet en montagne! Et si vous voulez remorquer, cette Volvo a une capacité de traction de 1800 kg.

Souvenir de février dernier en Suède : un petit exercice en «off-road» à Lulea. Une situation que bien des propriétaires québécois de Cross Country risquent de répéter…l’hiver prochain!(Photo Éric Descarries)

Sur la route, ma Volvo d’essai était avantagée par les pneus Pirelli qui lui donnaient une meilleure tenue de route. Peu importe la conduite, l’auto est relativement silencieuse et toute la mécanique y fonctionne en douceur. La direction est précise à souhait et le freinage remarquable. Passer de 0 à 100 km/h demande à peine sept secondes alors que Volvo annonce une vitesse de pointe de près de 210 km/h. La familiale offre de la bonne visibilité tout le tour alors que le régulateur de vitesse (optionnel) de ma voiture d’essai était muni de la fonction d’espacement adaptatif avec les le véhicule la précédent en plus du système Pilot Assist qui permet de conduire (très prudemment) en relâchant le volant. On est loin du système Super Cruise de Cadillac mais je suis persuadé qu’éventuellement, Volvo nous proposera un système semblable. N’oublions pas que Volvo investit beaucoup dans les éléments de sécurité (j’ai pu l’expérimenter alors que j’étais en marche arrière et qu’un jeune homme a décidé de traverser derrière la voiture qui a aussitôt freiné d’elle-même!)! Mes déplacements se sont soldés par une consommation de 10,9 l./100 km alors que l’ordinateur au tableau de bord indiquait 10,2. Volvo recommande de l’essence Super pour cette auto.

Cette Volvo V60 Cross Country T5 affichait un prix final de 61 300 $ incluant des options comme l’ensemble Premium de 3400 $ (affichage numérique avec écran de 12,3 pouces, navigation, choix de mode de conduite, éclairage de haut niveau, phares au DEL directionnels et plus), l’ensemble d’hiver de 1250 $ (sièges avant et arrière, volant et gicleurs de pare-brise chauffants), l’ensemble de visibilité de 1800 $ (détecteur de déviation de voie, caméra 360 degrés assistance au stationnement et plus encore) et l’ensemble d’accessoires pratiques de 1500 $ (ouverture de porte de garage, assistance semi autonome de conduite avec régulateur adaptatif et boussole intérieure). Ajoutez-y la peinture métallisée de 900 $, la sellerie de cuir de 1100 $, la voute de couleur charbon de bois de 250 $, la sonorisation Harmon Kardon de 1200 $ et les jantes de 20 pouces de 1000 $. Enfin, additionnons au prix final les frais de transport et préparation de 2 015 $ et les taxes, bien entendu!

La Cross Country ne devrait pas connaître beaucoup de concurrence sauf, peut-être la Subaru Outback. Mais alors, il n’est certes pas question de créneaux comparatifs, la Cross Country jouant dans un segment plus luxueux d’où la différence des prix. Éventuellement, toutes les Volvo (une marque désormais dans le giron du constructeur chinois Geely) seront à propulsion électrique ou hybride ce qui n’est pas le cas de la Cross Country. Le sera-t-elle un jour?

 Où sont les jeunes? À l’Eurokracy !

Nombreux sont ceux qui critiquent le fait que les jeunes ne semblent pas intéressés par l’automobile. En tout cas, pas plus que cela. À ces gens, je leur dis de participer au prochain évènement Eurokracy présenté par Unitronic qui se déroulera l’an prochain approximativement aux mêmes dates. Car, si l’on se fie à l’Eurokracy de 2019 qui vient de se passer au complexe ICAR (aéroport de Mirabel), il y a toute une foule de jeunes amateurs d’automobiles surtout européennes pour qui la passion de l’auto brûle toujours. Malgré la pluie de samedi (mais grâce au beau temps de dimanche), ils se sont retrouvés en grand nombre à ce rassemblement de véhicules modifiées ou de performance. Voici quelques images prises par mon fils Guillaume qui appuient ce que j’avance :

 Difficile de parler d’européennes de performance sans qu’il y ait des Porsche aux alentours. (Photo Guillaume Descarries)

Les courses d’accélération font partie des activités de l’Eurokracy. (Photo Guillaume Descarries)

Il y a aussi quelques asiatiques à l’Eurokracy comme le prouve cette Nissan 240 SX modifiée. (Photo Guillaume Descarries)

Des jeunes amateurs d’automobile? Oui…à l’Eurokracy ! (Photo Guillaume Descarries)

Quand même spectaculaire cette Jaguar à l’Eurokracy, non ? (Photo Guillaume Descarries)

Enfin, je viens de recevoir un message de Tumblr qui me dit que ce blogue existe maintenant depuis QUATRE ans! J’espère le continuer encore plus de quatre ans! 

[rkcarnews-blog]

New Post has been published on https://www.rkcars.my/volvo-v60-coming-in-late-2019/

Volvo V60 coming in late 2019

Volvo Car Australia has confirmed the all-new V60 wagon will be joining the local range before the end of the year, shortly after its S60 sedan twin lobs Down Under.

At this stage a handful of engine and trim variants will be offered here, including the flagship T8 plug-in hybrid with its powerful 288kW/640Nm petrol-electric drivetrain.

Pricing will be announced closer to launch, but you can expect the line-up to kick off with the entry-level T5 Momentum, moving up to the T5 Inscription and T5 R-Design, topped by the T8 R-Design. The S60 sedan should follow a similar model line-up.

If you opt for the T5, you get a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine making 184kW and 350Nm. The T8 Twin Engine, meanwhile, mates a 223kW/400Nm 2.0-litre twin-charged (turbo and supercharged) petrol engine with a 65kW/240Nm electric motor, making for the aforementioned system outputs of 288kW and 640Nm.

Key rivals for the V60 include the Audi A4 Avant and Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate, which are priced from $64,400 and $66,200 plus on-road costs respectively in base trim.

Expect the V60 to kick off at around the same bracket as its German rivals, and a decent amount of standard equipment.

The standard V60 will be joined by the jacked-up V60 Cross Country sometime in 2020, though the local arm is unable to provide more definitive timing at this stage – more details to come in another article.

[perksofwifi]

2019 Volvo V90 Cross Country: Why I’d Buy It – Mark Rechtin

“What SUV should I buy?” It’s a question consumers ask themselves every day, but what would executive editor Mark Rechtin drive? Keep reading for the answer, and see other editors’ picks here.

Face it: You don’t need the elephantine girth of a SUV. It’s unnecessary weight and heft. You can fit everyone and everything into a wagon. The 2019 Volvo V90 Cross Country T6 delivers that plus 8.3 inches of ground clearance, which is the industry standard for what people consider necessary for an SUV. And with gas prices in L.A. blowing well past the $4/gallon mark, fuel economy is back on the radar.

The V90 Cross Country is opulent and elegant, yet in starting at $53,195 for the base T5 version, it costs less than smaller SUVs from other luxury automakers. Of course, the version I’d like as equipped comes in at $57,700, which I know is pretty rarified air.

More about Mark: Mid-career, married, homeowner, no kids, one part-time dog

Under the hood, a 316-hp turbo-four makes it a rocket on the road, with a 6.5-second 0–60 and a sub-15-second quarter mile. Yet it gets 22/29/25 mpg fuel economy. Braking from 60 to a standstill is a good-enough 128 feet. And while SUVs often have to deal with longer suspension travel, the V90 CC absorbs freeway undulations with aplomb—even when there should be a thrum of Buddy Rich riffs juddering through the cabin.

Let’s get inside, shall we? Check out that snazzy Scandinavian style that continues the sleek exterior lines. The infotainment interface feels like an iPad, complete with CarPlay. For those unfamiliar, Volvo makes some of the finest seats in the business, and that’s where you spend all your time. The optional Bowers & Wilkins stereo is a sonic force, though it’s steep as a $4,000 add-on. Add all this up, and you feel special.

The second row has tons of kneeroom, and the cargo area is so spacious you could almost fit a third row of seats back here. But the V90 CC instead lets you fit many, many, many bags of soil amendment, plots of plants, paving stones, or whatever you need from Home Depot to fulfill your weekend’s chores.

Safety? Unlike many SUVs, the V90 CC has no blind spots. Volvo’s lane keeping assist system works even up to 95 mph, keeping me perfectly centered through a high-speed test oval’s curves without me having to give any steering input. With adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist, you could probably drive this car while asleep. (Note: Do not do this.)

Full disclosure: I love Volvos. I’ve owned four of them, including our current XC70 Cross Country. But the V90 Cross Country is such an exponential improvement over our existing wagon that it’s not even comparable. If you are going to treat yourself with your SUV, I highly recommend you reconsider your portly silhouette for the svelte 2019 Volvo V90 Cross Country.

Other SUVs to consider: Volvo V60 Cross Country, Land Rover Range Rover Velar

The post 2019 Volvo V90 Cross Country: Why I’d Buy It – Mark Rechtin appeared first on MotorTrend.

https://www.motortrend.com/news/2019-volvo-v90-cross-country-why-id-buy-it/ visto antes em https://www.motortrend.com

[mobileautorepairpros]

We drove the 2020 Volvo V60 Cross Country near the Arctic Circle and found a spacious, luxurious, and capable wagon wrapped in a stunning design. With more than 8 inches of ground clearance, it will climb the snowy hill to the slopes while coddling occupants in supremely comfortable heated seats. The rear has 23.2 cubic feet of cargo space and... Joel Feder2020 Volvo V60 Cross Country, 2019 Ram 1500 Warlock, 2021 Mercedes S-Class: Car News Headlines http://bit.ly/2tmvK7D

[smoothshift]

TheStraightPipes - 2019 Volvo V90 Cross Country Review - Battle Wagon via /r/cars

TheStraightPipes - 2019 Volvo V90 Cross Country Review - Battle Wagon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dbKbRhynTo

[enginerumors]

2019 Volvo XC70 Redesign, Release Date, Price

2019 Volvo XC70 Redesign, Release Date, Price

2019 Volvo XC70 Redesign, Release Date, Price– Volvo is really a great Swedish-based Business that manufactures top quality autos. Considering that XC series was first produced, it offers become popular worldwide. A lot of people appreciate XC70 version as it comes with an exceptional design and compelling performance. This provider is currently discharging a fourth generation type of XC70. The…

[blogueericdescarries]

Volvo V60 T8 et Cross Country et les publications suédoises

Le 6 février 2019

Volvo. Ce seul nom capte l’attention de bien des automobilistes québécois, surtout les plus âgés. En effet, on pourrait presque avancer que, autre que les voitures anglaises, il n’y avait pas beaucoup de voitures étrangères chez nous durant les années cinquante et au début des années soixante. Il y avait bien les «petites» Volkswagen et Renault Dauphine mais pour faire face aux plus imposantes «Américaines», rien ne battait une Volvo. Après les PV 544, nous avons eu droit à l’Amazon qui s’appelait chez nous la 122 ou encore La Canadienne. La PV 544 ressemblait aux anciennes Ford des années quarante mais la 122 affichait certes des lignes nous rappelant les bonnes vieilles berlines américaines des années cinquante. Mais qui plus est, il y avait une version familiale, une «station wagon», dans cette lignée. Les familiales n’étaient pas si courantes chez les constructeurs étrangers. Mais Volvo en avait. Et les Québécois ont toujours aimé les familiales. Même aujourd’hui.

Encore une fois, peu de constructeurs étrangers ont eu ou ont des familiales à leur catalogue (pire encore, peu de constructeurs américains ou japonais n’en offrent, la plupart ayant opté pour la formule VUS…). Et s’il y en a, c’est bien souvent à un prix élevé. Toutefois, rappelez-vous, Volvo en a toujours à son catalogue! Et sa plus récente livrée, c’est la S60, une voiture aux lignes très effilées et très agréables basée sur une des plus récentes berlines de la marque (notez qu’il existe une S90 familiale mais celle-ci fait plutôt partie des voitures haut de gamme et elle n’est livrable que sur commande spéciale). Au départ, la S60 est offerte avec la traction avant ou intégrale en version T5 (250 chevaux) et en traction intégrale T6 (316 chevaux).

Aussi curieux que cela puisse paraître, alors que la S60 vient à peine d’arriver sur notre marché (et que je ne pourrai l’évaluer que dans quelques semaines), le constructeur suédois invitait une poignée de journalistes canadiens en Suède même la semaine dernière pour prendre contact avec deux autres versions de la V60, la Cross Country et la T8 Twin Engine hybride. Parmi les six canadiens du voyage, il y en avait quatre du Québec. Pourquoi tellement plus du Québec ? Parce que, selon Hugues Bissonnette, le directeur canadien des ventes de Volvo qui nous accompagnait, plus de la moitié des familiales Volvo vendues au pays le sont dans la Belle Province!

Nous avons pris contact avec les Volvo V60 Cross Country sur une baie glacée de la mer Baltique. (Photo Éric Descarries)

Et si vous pensez que Volvo aurait choisi un de ces «beaux pays chauds» où nous aurions tout simplement conduit ces voitures sans obstacles, c’est plutôt chez lui, en Suède qu’il nous a transporté. Et pas n’importe où! Au nord, à Lulea, aux abords d’une des baies (gelée bien dur) de la mer Baltique.  

Notre première ballade nous a menés au travers la jolie petite ville de Lulea en Suède. (Photo Éric Descarries)

Les deux modèles en vedette étaient la T8 Twin Engine hybride (toutes les autos de ce type sur place étaient rouge) et la Cross Country (en gris). Après avoir transité par Munich et Stockholm, nous sommes atterris à Lulea où nous avons été transportés sur une île dans la baie près de la ville. Vous vous doutez que la baie était gelée (nos hôtes nous disaient avoir mesuré l’épaisseur de la glace et elle dépassait les 80 centimètres!). Après un rapide lunch, nous avons pris la route dans la superbe campagne de la région. Toutes les autos étaient munies de pneus d’hiver à crampons, des Nokian Hakkapeliiitta pour les T8 et des Michelin pour les Cross Country. Malheureusement, le soleil tombe vite dans le Cercle Arctique où nous étions ce qui m’a empêché de prendre les photos que j’aurais voulues car certains endroits étaient tout simplement jolis. Cependant, nous avons pu constater que les phares des Volvo sont bien adaptés pour la conduite nocturne (là où les automobilistes locaux ajoutent des phares d’appoint pour cette condition). Notez que presque toutes routes étaient recouvertes de neige très dure alors que d’autres nous faisaient passer sur des «ponts» de glace. Donc notre premier contact fut plutôt tranquille ce qui nous a permis d’apprécier la douceur de roulement et la stabilité des voitures.

Certaines routes de campagne de Suède sont féériques mais on n’y dégage pas la neige jusqu’au pavé! (Photo Éric Descarries)

Le soleil se couche tôt à Lulea qui est dans le Cercle Arctique. Il est à peine 15h00 sur cette photo. (Photo Éric Descarries)

Le lendemain fut plus occupé. Cette fois, Volvo a voulu nous prouver que ses nouvelles familiales V60 étaient aussi des voitures offrant beaucoup de sécurité sur la route, même glacée, grâce à leur système de stabilisation ou beaucoup de plaisir de conduite avec leur traction intégrale en nous «lâchant lousses» sur les tracés de vitesse sur la glace de la baie. La voiture la plus plaisante à conduire sur la glace fut la T8 Twin Engine, cette familiale avec le moteur turbo suralimenté à l’avant et le moteur électrique aux deux roues arrière. Nous avions donc à notre disposition une familiale à traction intégrale qui a permis de superbes dérapages sur la glace (à ne pas reproduire sur la route!)

La V60 T8 sur le tracé glacé choisi par Volvo. Lulea est en arrière-plan. (Photo Éric Descarries)

La Volvo V60 T8 Twin Engine. (Photo Éric Descarries)

Les Suédois conservent des couvertes d’urgence dans leur coffre! (Photo Éric Descarries)

Volvo avait aussi prévu un court circuit hors-route plus exigeant (mais certes pas du même calibre que ceux utilisés pour les Jeep, après tout!) pour les Cross Country. Les journalistes et chroniqueurs ont alors pu essayer la voiture sur des courbes fortement inclinées avant d’attaquer une petite côte abrupte puis, des ondulations avant de terminer par le passage sur des billots.

Passer sur des billots était un des exercices réservés aux Cross Country. (Photo Éric Descarries)

Je dois avouer que j’ai un petit penchant pour les familiales. Dans le cas de ces Volvo, je crois que le constructeur suédois a vu juste. L’amateur de Volvo familiales aura alors le choix entre la V60 à traction avant, la V60 à traction intégrale, la V60 Cross Country à traction intégrale et la T8 Twin Engine hybride (qui peut fonctionner à l’électricité seulement)…en attendant la version de performance Polestar. Les prix demeurent à déterminer pour les versions les plus élaborées mais soulignons que la V60 de base débute à 43 900 alors que la Cross Country commence à 48 900 $.

Les V60 T-8 étaient équipées de pneus d’hiver cloutés Hakkapeliitta. (Photo Éric Descarries)

Les Volvo Cross Country roulaient sur des Michelin cloutés. (Photo Éric Descarries)

J’en aurai alors plus à vous raconter sur les Volvo V60 au cours des prochaines semaines alors que j’aurai conduit la V60 régulière pour quelques jours dans mon patelin.

Les Suédois aiment les autos!

On a beau se vanter d’être des amateurs de voitures au Québec que les Suédois nous battent et de loin. Je ne vous parlerai pas ici des nombreux pilotes de Formule Un et de rallye qui nous viennent de ce pays nordique si semblable au nôtre, vous devriez le savoir déjà.

J’ai déjà été en Suède à la fin des années quatre-vingt. À cette époque, j’avais noté que les Suédois aimaient beaucoup les voitures, surtout les Américaines. Je me rappelle avoir photographié une Camaro 1968 dans les rues de Stockholm. Oh! Je me dois de vous mentionner que cette Camaro avait un compresseur mécanique (blower) qui sortait du capot et…un essieu rigide à l’avant! Un vrai «gasser», quoi! Puis, j’avais acheté, à cette époque, plusieurs magazines de voitures suédois, beaucoup d’entre eux traitant de voitures américaines modifiées et de hot-rod (on m’avait expliqué à l’époque que, pour éviter les frais et les taxes, les Suédois achetaient une voiture aux États ou au Canada et en retiraient le moteur au pays d’origine. La voiture était alors transportée par bateau en Suède, sans moteur, comme ferraille. Le moteur, lui, tombait sous d’autres lois et arrivait d’une pièce en Suède pour être replacé sous le capot de la voiture d’origine. Celle-ci passait alors l’inspection et…voilà!)

La semaine dernière, par curiosité, j’ai jeté un coup d’œil chez un marchand de journaux et magazines à l’aéroport de Stockholm et j’y ai vu une dizaine de magazines sur l’auto dans ses rayons, la plupart en suédois et la plupart traitant de…bagnoles américaines modifiées! Hugues Bissonnette, le directeur des ventes mentionné plus haut m’a dit qu’il avait vécu quelques années en Suède et qu’il s’était rendu compte que les Suédois aimaient les autos américaines…

Si les Suédois, qui sont aussi (peu) nombreux chez eux que nous au Québec sont capables de produire autant de magazines sur l’auto (de toutes configurations), pourquoi n’en sommes-nous pas capables? (Photo Éric Descarries)

Alors, ma question est celle-ci. Nous, au Québec, avons une population semblable à celle de la Suède. Nous avons aussi nos champions en course automobile. Il me semble que nous soyons également aussi mordus de l’auto que les Suédois. Alors, comment cela se fait-il que nous n’ayons pas plus de magazines sur l’auto que cela, des publications québécoises en français? N’allez pas me servir l’excuse des magazines américains et anglais qui nous envahissent, ils les ont en Suède aussi! On a beau aimer l’internet (les Suédois aussi), il y a encore plusieurs d’entre nous qui aimons les magazines en papier…

[heaaaaather]

2019 Volvo V40 Concept, Refresh, Photos, Performance

2019 Volvo V40 Concept, Refresh, Photos, Performance

The 2019 Volvo V40 continues to offer top safety scores, remarkable space inside, and all-round versatility; it’s still one of the best small SUVs, and a good value for money.

2019 Volvo V40 Redesign & Style

The 2019 Volvo V40 SUV is in its last year before a redesign, but thankfully not a rethink. It’s spacious, quiet, comfortable, and capable, mostly thanks to its standard all-wheel-drive…

[mikethepec-blog]

2019 Volvo V60 Release Date, Review And Price

2019 Volvo V60 Release Date, Review And Price

Right after shelling out almost all associated with 2015 having a new Volvo V60very long termer, you emerged out significantly astounded by that Swedish conduct every thing functionality. It absolutely was exciting to get, comfy, supplied a great deal for cargo area, and can even take care of a few gentle off of-roading. Them never ever available in large figures, nevertheless typically the V60…

[lagunapeach]

2019 Volvo V90 Release Date And Review

2019 Volvo V90 Release Date And Review

2019 Volvo V90 Release Date And Review–  Stopped in 1998 following only two years on the market, the V90 sent back as Volvo’s flagship wagon in 2016. The new V90 is created on Volvo’s new Scaleable Creation Structures platform, which presently underpins the XC90 SUV and the S90. As a result, the wagon also utilizes the same drivetrains as the S90, which borrowed them from the XC90. Similarly, the…