2001 Volvo S60 Base Sedan 4-door 2.4l on 2040-cars

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Recharge Wrap-up: video touts Volvo electric buses, Nissan and BMW build EV chargers in S. Africa

Volvo is touting the advantages of electric buses in a new video. The short film, called Route 55, promotes the ElectriCity Project for public transport, and, more specifically, the new electric bus route in Gothenburg, Sweden. The new route debuts June 15 using Volvo electric and hybrid buses. In the video, two teenagers are seen waiting for the bus. As one boards, the other asks her out from the sidewalk, but she can't hear him over the noise of the diesel bus, which then closes its doors and drives away. The film asks, "What if this bus had been silent?" See the video above, and read more in the press release below. BMW and Nissan will build an EV charging network across South Africa. Through 2017, the two automakers will build fast-charging and AC stations around the country in order to encourage the adoption of EVs. Nissan has been selling the Leaf in South Africa since 2013, and BMW introduced the i3 and i8 in March. "In order for the introduction and expansion of electric vehicles as well as plug-in hybrid electric vehicles to be successful in this market, we need to work together," says BMW South Africa Managing Director Tim Abbott. Read more at Automotive News Europe. The Renault-Nissan Alliance will provide the United Nations with 200 electric vehicles for the COP21 climate conference in Paris. The fleet of vehicles includes the Nissan Leaf and e-NV200, as well as the Renault ZOE, Kangoo ZE and Fluence ZE. The entire passenger car shuttle fleet will use all-electric vehicles as some 20,000 UN attendees descend upon Paris from November 30 to December 11. "Thanks to the Alliance's fleet of 100-percent electric vehicles, it will contribute to our goal of achieving a carbon neutral event," says French Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development and COP21 President Laurent Fabius. "The technology of electric vehicles helps reduce greenhouse gases in the transportation sector efficiently." Read more from Renault. Visa will be the official title sponsor of the Formula E London ePrix. Officially called the "2015 FIA Formula E Visa London ePrix," the races on June 27 and 28 will be the last of the electric racing series's inaugural season. Visa Europe will award the Visa Fastest Lap trophy after the each round, and will have interactive activities at the race's eVillage.

Volvo XC40 gets the merest hint of a mid-cycle update

Scandinavian design is known for its subtlety and minimalism, but even by Nordic standards the Volvo XC40 lineup has received the tiniest wisp of change. Volvo Germany uploaded the new crossover a little early by the looks of it. In front, a slightly reshaped bumper frames Volvo's new Pixel headlights and some T-shaped fog light housings. The grille remains on the mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid XC40 models, but the XC40 Recharge gets the same solid faceplate as on the C40 Recharge. We can't see a difference anywhere else outside save for the wheels; the updated XC40 Recharge sits on the 20-inch aero wheels that debuted on the C40 Recharge, while the hybrid models get a selection of new wheel designs. Looks like Volvo's reworked exterior pacakges, dropping Inscription and R-Design (at least in the UK and French markets that still show the non-facelifted car) for Essential, Core, Plus, and Ultimate packages, the number of choices depending on the model. After that, Bright and Dark trim molding treatments add flair or shadow to the exterior. The battery-electric XC40 Recharge in the U.S. presents the choice of Plus and Ultimate.   The Sage Green and Fjord Blue hues from the C40 make their way to the XC40 Recharge paint palette as well. Inside, tailored wool joins the Microtech and leather dressing options, and high-zoot configuring can get the Orrefors gear selector. The Android-based operating system has been ported to the nine-inch infotainment screen, too.  Since Volvo hasn't finished rolling out this vehicle in Europe, it's likely we're not going to see it until sometime next year, perhaps as a 2023 model. We expect it will be joined by the refreshed XC60 with the larger battery and extended all-electric driving range. Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

How many other cars does it take to kill a Volvo?

We all know how safe Volvo cars are, but a European junkyard has decided to put it to the test by crashing, jumping and rolling the life out of an 850 wagon. While government tests use automated systems to crash new cars, the guys in this video do so with a driver behind the wheel. Aside from what looks like a safety harness and roll bar for the driver, it seems like this car is otherwise bone stock.
Not wanting to spoil the fun for you, we'll just point out that at the start of the video, our hero car looks pretty flawless, and by the end, well, let's just say the Craigslist ad for the car would say "needs some body work." Check out the video below to watch some stunts that even the Duke Boys might shy away from.