05 Volvo Xc90 W/ New Twin Turbos, Loaded Nav./ 3rd Row Seating For 7 on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Volvo celebrates 20 years since 850 wagons came to BTCC

This year Honda Yuasa Racing brought a station wagon back to the ranks of competitors in the British Touring Car Championship (its drivers currently sit in third and fifth place in the Championship). In 1994, however, Volvo was the first team to run an estate in the series that's one of the best for delivering close racing.
Rickard Rydell and Jan Lammers drove the duo of 850 Estates prepped by Tom Walkinshaw Racing, lining up at Thruxton and proving that the rumors of a wagon in the series weren't a joke. The team used that year for development, getting the 2.0-liter, 290-horsepower, naturally aspirated five-cylinder engine ready for the next year's proper assault. The team's best finish over the 21 races was a fifth place, and they took 14th overall.
Rules changes led Volvo to switch to the 850 sedan the following year, but all the right noises had been made with the wagon. Rydell drive on to a third-place overall finish in 1995, three years later he claimed the Championship title. You'll find details and reminiscing from Rydell in the press release below, as well as the full video with scenes from the glory days.

Recharge Wrap-up: 10-year sentence for biodiesel fraudsters, overhead fast charging EV buses in Luxembourg

Toyota will use addressable TV advertising to target potential Prius Prime customers. By choosing to advertise in households with specific attributes, Toyota hopes to grab the attention of buyers who "see their vehicle as an extension of their consumption of advanced technology," according to Toyota Motors Sales media manager Lisa McQueen. The ad depicts a person who is skeptical of various inventions throughout history until he finds himself inside the Prius Prime. Hyundai has also used addressable TV ads for its Genesis brand. Read more at Automotive News. Two Florida men have each been sentenced to over 10 years in prison for biodiesel credit fraud. Thomas Davanzo and Robert Fedyna of Gen-X Energy Group and its subsidiary Southern Resources and Commodities were convicted of buying fuel that had already been sold with Renewable Identification Numbers, then fraudulently claiming more credits on that fuel. The scheme raked in more than $46 million, mostly in selling the fraudulent credits. Critics of the Renewable Fuel Standard point to incidents like this as a reason to oppose the program. Read more from Reuters. Volvo electric buses in Luxembourg will use Heliox Fast Charge systems. Public transport operator Sales-Lentz has ordered three of the Heliox systems that will charge the buses using pantograph (overhead wire) contacts. The chargers will be placed at end-of-route stops for opportunistic charging of the transport agency's four Volvo 7900 electric buses. The 450-kW, Wi-Fi-enabled OppCharge system automatically connects the charger to contact plates on the roofs of the vehicles, charging them in three to six minutes. Read more at Green Car Congress. Related Gallery 2017 Toyota Prius Prime Advanced View 35 Photos News Source: Automotive News, Reuters, Green Car CongressImage Credit: Volvo Buses Government/Legal Green Marketing/Advertising Toyota Volvo Biodiesel Technology Electric recharge wrapup

2024 Volvo XC60 Review: Ignore the Germans, go Swedish

Pros: Elegant styling and beautiful cabin; spacious for the segment; excellent plug-in hybrid option; solid value Cons: Middling handling; pricey and strange Polestar performance model There's no doubt that European luxury SUVs are dominated by German carmakers. But what if you're looking for something a bit different? The 2024 Volvo XC60 may be the alternative you've been seeking, with unique Scandinavian design inside and out. Add in Volvo's commitment to safety, which should be of particular importance to family-minded shoppers, and the XC60 should have even stronger appeal. The XC60 is available as either a mild-hybrid or a more powerful Recharge plug-in hybrid, which can drive as many as 36 miles on electricity alone. We're certainly fans of the plug-in model, but its significant price premium may have shoppers settling on the more-than-adequate B5 base engine. More likely than not, prospective owners will spend more time configuring the interior. There are several choices of upholstery and interior trim that should fit a variety of tastes, and we're especially fond of the wool blend seats that are available on the Recharge. The XC60 isn't as sporty as the BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz GLC or Audi Q5, but that shouldn't matter much for the typical SUV driver. If you're one of the rare drivers who wants more athletic handling, the Polestar Engineered model should satisfy, but it comes at the cost of ride comfort. Considering the similarly sized Volvo V60 wagon would perhaps be a stronger alternative, including the raised, all-wheel-drive Cross Country model. Whichever route you take, the 2024 Volvo XC60 is a classy, safe and sensible alternative to the more common luxury SUVs. Interior & Technology   |   Passenger & Cargo Space   |   Performance & Fuel Economy What it's like to drive   |   Pricing & Trim Levels   |   Crash Ratings & Safety Features What's new for 2024? The XC60 lineup gets pared down a bit. The base B5 engine is no longer offered with front-wheel-drive and the more powerful B6 engine has been discontinued. There are some additions, though, including an air purifier for Plus and Ultimate trims and laminated windows for the Ultimate. A new Black Edition appearance package also debuts for the top trim. What are the XC60 interior and in-car technology like? Volvo’s attractive and refined shape is mirrored in its stylish, welcoming interiors.