Volvo XC60 Archives

Volvo XC60 gets ‘smarter’ with integrated Google apps and services

Volvo Car Malaysia has updated its XC60 and apart from cosmetic changes and added safety features, the significant new feature is integration with Google Services. This is the outcome of the partnership between the Swedish carmaker and Google which sees a first-of-its-kind built-in infotainment system complete with a host of Google Services.

Volvo Cars is the first company to team up with Google to integrate an infotainment system powered by Android with Google apps and services such as Google Assistant built in. This means that Volvo drivers can get the same sort of apps that they have on an Android smartphone integrated with their infotainment system and use voice commands to manage and operate them.

Of course, there is now also Android Auto which can mirror apps from a compatible smartphone onto infotainment systems but having the apps and services as part of the system is even better.

Additionally, with the Volvo Car App and Connected Services, the driver can be easily connected to the XC60 using a mobile device. This enables convenient remote control of several functions, eg cooling down the cabin by starting the air-conditioner, checking vehicle status, locking/unlocking the doors, etc.

Referring to the latest model as ‘The Smarter XC60’, Charles Frump, Managing Director of Volvo Car Malaysia, said that with Google Services, customers can get the most intuitive infotainment experience in the automotive industry. “It fully delivers on our brand promise to provide the freedom to move in a personal, sustainable and safe way,” he said.

The latest XC60, priced from RM325,449 (without insurance and sales tax), has a new grille, new front bumpers and a new exterior colour. For the Recharge T8 version, there are also new 19-inch 6-multispoke black diamond-cut alloy wheel design and a Bowers and Wilkins sound system as standard.

As an electrified model, the XC60 uses hybrid technology with its 2-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine that has a supercharger as well as a turbocharger. The combustion engine output is 407 bhp/640 Nm with the electric motor contributing 87 bhp/240 Nm. All that power goes through an 8-speed Geartronic automatic transmission and propels the car from 0 to 100 km/h in a claimed 5.3 seconds.

In the past, that sort of performance would mean high consumption but the XC60 is said to be able to do up to 45 kms/litre. This is because the powertrain does not run on the petrol engine all the time and depending on conditions, it use the electric motor which means no fuel is consumed. There is even a mode that can ‘lock’ the powertrain in pure electric mode but only for a limited distance as it will be constantly drawing on power from the lithium-ion battery pack.

Volvo built much of its reputation on safety and the XC60 ensures that is maintained. While the early Volvos had impressive passive safety (which protects occupants when an accident occurs), today’s models have more advanced Active Safety systems. These Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) can help to avoid collisions, keep the car in its lane and even stop the car at a junction if another vehicle is approaching from either side (but the driver is unaware). Small cameras provide a simulated image of the area around the vehicle so the driver can spot hazards and also park more precisely.

Volvo Car Malaysia offers lifetime warranty for genuine parts

Volvo XC60 wins praise in America

Volvo’s mid-range SUV, the XC60 has been named 2018 Utility of the Year by the Detroit Free Press, Detroit’s largest daily newspaper. Built using the Scalable Product Architecture platform, the 2018 model year is new from the ground up, combining Swedish elegence and precise craftmanship. The vehicle was given the accolade because of what it brings to the table.

Like it’s bigger brother, the middle child of Volvo’s SUV family features striking good looks that is topped off by the signature ‘Thor’s hammer’ headlights. This complements the slew of safety features very well. The XC60 is able to monitor it’s blind spots and take control of the steering if it detects an impending collision.

Besides this, it’s various front and rear sensors help prevent head-on collisions and other fender benders, acting as the driver’s third eye. Then there’s also the semi-autonomous safety system that is able to steer and keep the XC60 at a constant speed provided that the road lane markings are clearly visible.

“The XC60’s value, design and advanced safety features set it apart from other utility vehicles,” Detroit Free Press auto critic Mark Phelan said. “It sets a high standard for other SUVs.”

The Volvo XC60 is offered with a number of powertrains including the award winning T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid at the top of the powertrain range delivering 400bhp. Expect the automaker to chalk up a number of other awards in the coming months as more publications get their hands on this sophisticated machine.

Volvo wins Car Technology Brand of the Year award

Volvo’s latest technology innovations have not gone unnoticed. Through them, the automaker was named Car Technology Brand of the Year for the second year running. The Volvo XC60 was awarded Best Safety Technology for its Steering Support system, Best Navigation, and Best Safest Car due to its exceptional Euro NCAP safety rating.

The Car Tech Awards honours manufactures with the best in-car technology launched over the year. The Winner of each category is chosen by a jury of experts from buyer’s guide Carbuyer and technology website Alphr. It should come as no surprise that cars like the XC60 are lavished with such praise when safety is the criteria.

It is fitted with Volvo’s Steering Support technology that automatically provides steering assistance to drivers during an emergency to help avoid a potential collision. Working in tandem with its city stop function, the car will be able to decrease the risk of avoidable collisions or accidents significantly.

Speaking of the award, Stuart Milne, Editor of Carbuyer, said, “Volvo’s success in the Car Tech Awards is remarkable. The company scooped Car Technology Brand of the Year for the second year in succession.”

“Our judges were impressed by the way Volvo refuses to rest on its laurels, developing a series of products and philosophies that build on its Vision 2020, that no one will be killed or seriously injured in a new Volvo by 2020,” he added.

Volvo’s XC60 almost scored full marks in its Euro NCAP crash test results. It received a 98% rating adult occupant protection and 95% for its safety assistance features. Adding to that, its intuitive and easy to use navigation system as well as a number of other features have made it the complete package.

Volvo XC60 earns top marks in crash tests

Thatcham Research is an independent advocate of automotive safety & repair as well as an adviser to motorists, insurers and vehicle manufacturers in aiding the reduction in accident frequency, severity and costs. This world leader in crash safety and research, has awarded the Volvo XC60 with top marks for vehicle safety.

In fact, the Swede scored 95% in the Safety Assist category, which is about 40% higher than the average for cars that were tested this year. Contributing to this stellar score was its Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) system that scored maximum points when tested at highway speeds and was successful at avoiding all collisions.

“The new Volvo XC60 has “aced” the exacting test protocols,” said Matthew Avery director of research at Thatcham Research. “It’s exceedingly rare for a vehicle to score so favourably across the board. The adult occupant protection result for the Volvo XC60 is one of the best on record.”

“But it’s in active safety that Volvo is really maintaining its lead. The XC60’s standard-fit safety technologies are excellent – or rather those that we were able to test, as its Turn Across Path and Run off Road systems are not yet a feature of the Euro NCAP programme,” he added.

Other SUVs that were tested during the same period included the Citroën C3 Aircross, Opel / Vauxhhall Crossland X, VW T-Roc, Skoda Karoq and Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross. All of them performed relatively well by achieving the Euro NCAP 5-star rating respectively.

Besides crash and track research, Thatcham Research also conducts tests and accredits crash repair parts, vehicle repair technicians, as well as others services. The acquired data is then used to benefit the collision repair industry for insurers, motor manufacturers, equipment manufacturers and suppliers.

XC60 optimised with Polestar powertrain

Polestar, Volvo cars’ performance arm has fitted an optimized powertrain to the XC60, which moves it inline with the XC90 T8 as the most powerful models the Swedish automaker produces at the moment. It’s engine now offers 421bhp, putting it in the big leagues of powerful 4×4 vehicles that you can buy today.

The work that Polestar did has resulted in improved engine performance and gearbox functionality specifically in the mid-range. The gear-hold function maintains the same gear when cornering with high lateral g-force in order to avoid unsettling the balance of the vehicle.

“Our goal is to create usable performance in everyday driving situations for Volvo owners who want an enhanced driving experience,” said Henrik Fries, Vice President, Research and Development at Polestar. “The new XC60 has provided us with an excellent base to work on with a dynamic chassis and a state of the art powertrain. With the Polestar optimization, it makes the new Volvo XC60 a true drivers’ car.”

Polestar’s expertise in making super Volvos, is a culmination of more than two decades’ worth of motorsport derived R&D with Cyan Racing, its on track partner. As such, the XC60 now has better engine performance, throttle response, off-throttle response, gearshift speed and hold.

In total, there are five variants of the XC60 that have been made available with the Polestar optimization option, which are the T8, T6, T5, D5, and D4. We don’t know if the option will be made available over here, but we are sure it will be welcomed with open arms.

New Volvo XC60 rolls off production line in Sweden

Volvo’s XC60 has just started rolling off the production line at the company’s plant in Torslanda, Sweden. It was the T5 AWD Inscription (in Crystal White) that was the first variant to come off the line.

The new vehicle replaces the original XC60, which has been produced for nine years since its launch and has gone on to become the best-selling premium mid-sized SUV in Europe and allowing Volvo to sell nearly a million of them globally. Due to its popularity, the XC60 accounts for 30 per cent of Volvo’s sales worldwide.

“This is a proud day for everyone at the plant,” said Magnus Nilsson, vice president of the Torslanda plant. “We have worked hard in recent weeks and months to prepare Torslanda for this latest new Volvo model, and now we are ready to start delivering new XC60s to customers.”

Unlike its predecessor, the new vehicle is built on Volvo’s SPA (Scaleable Product Architecture) which already underpins three other models in the company’s current line up inclduing the 90 series cars. The SPA platform has improved overall efficiency and has had a positive effect on employment at Volvo, with thousands of new jobs being created in production, research and development, and other areas.

Like the rest of the line-up, The XC60 features cutting edge safety tech which include Steer Assist, City Safety, Oncoming Lane Mitigation which help avoid head-on collisions and Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) that works with Steer Assist to reduce the risk of lane-changing collisions.

Apart from that, there’s also Pilot Assist, which is available as an option. It’s a semi-autonomous driver-assistance system, that takes over the tasks of steering, acceleration and braking on well-marked roads at speeds of up to 130km/h.

Inside, the cabin features a CleanZone four-zone climate control system that removes harmful pollutants and particles that enters the cabin. The XC60 is available with a T8 Twin Engine petrol plug-in hybrid that delivers 407bhp and allows it to sprint to 100km/h from a standstil in just 5.3 seconds.

Volvo has also fitted an infotainment system that comes with connected services such as Sensus and Volvo on Call. It also offers smartphone integration with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
The Volvo XC60 will be made available in markets across the world gradually as the automaker aims to make 2017 another record-breaking year.

New Volvo XC60 to be produced this month

Volvo turns 90 this month, and its no coincidence that it will begin manufacturing the new XC60 at its facility in Gothenburg, Sweden starting this month. It is set to replace one of the company’s best selling vehicles to date. Sales of the original XC60 were so good that, since its launch in 2008, Volvo has sold 1,000,000 of them worldwide.

It accounts for 30% of the Swedish automaker’s worldwide sales, which is a signficant chunk of its yearly revenue. Volvo planned it this way so that 90 years to the month that its first car rolled off the lot, the ÖV4, it will once again be bringing a revolutionary product to the masses.

“Volvo is very proud of its history. The past 90 years have been exciting, but the 10 years left until the 100-year anniversary may come to be more exciting as industry focus shifts to autonomous driving, electrification and connectivity,” says Håkan Samuelsson, chief executive of Volvo Cars. “The new XC60 is in many ways the embodiment of these trends.”

It’s common knowledge that Volvo makes some of the safest cars in the world and with the XC60, it shows. The new vehicle features a myriad of safety tech including Oncoming Lane Mitigation system, which uses Steer Assist to help mitigate head-on collisions. It also has, as an option, Volvo’s semi-autonomous driver-assistance system – Pilot Assist, which takes care of the steering, acceleration and braking on well-marked roads up to 130 km/h.

Volvo is launching the new vehicle across global markets in a staggered manner, hoping to keep supply and demand in check and ensure that customers get their vehicles on time. The automaker is confident that the new XC60 will boost thier sales even further, allowing them to post record sales for 2017. No news yet on when it will be made available here in Malaysia, but we hope its sooner rather than later.

Piston.my

Volvo XC60

Volvo XC60 gets ‘smarter’ with integrated Google apps and services

Volvo XC60 wins praise in America

Volvo wins Car Technology Brand of the Year award

Volvo XC60 earns top marks in crash tests

XC60 optimised with Polestar powertrain

New Volvo XC60 rolls off production line in Sweden

New Volvo XC60 to be produced this month

Volvo XC60 gets ‘smarter’ with integrated Google apps and services

Volvo XC60 wins praise in America

Volvo wins Car Technology Brand of the Year award

Volvo XC60 earns top marks in crash tests

XC60 optimised with Polestar powertrain

New Volvo XC60 rolls off production line in Sweden

New Volvo XC60 to be produced this month

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