Hot Cars

New Volvo V70 Revealed

Backed by 54 years of ongoing refinement and improvement, Volvo Cars is still the global leader in the segment for large estate cars. Now the all-new Volvo V70 is making its entry onto the market with an innovative combination of luxury and versatility.

“This segment has been our specialty ever since we invented it back in the 1950s. Our competitors can count on us remaining number one in the future too. In the all-new V70, rear passengers and luggage both ride in first class,” says Volvo Cars President and CEO Fredrik Arp.

The segment for estate cars is growing and the demands on the cars themselves are increasing as more and more sedan owners appreciate the added versatility that this roomier car type offers – without having to compromise on design, comfort or driving dynamics.

“The attitude towards the estate car has undergone a significant change. With greater focus on design and comfort, the all-new V70 is both luxurious and practical, not just for families with growing children but also for all active people with high demands on their cars. In fact, we expect that half of all V70 buyers won’t actually be families with children,” explains Fredrik Arp.

Completely new vehicle architecture

By using a completely new vehicle architecture, Volvo’s designers and engineers have gained a number of advantages:

- For the first time ever there is a six-cylinder engine under the bonnet of a Volvo V70, which has a broader than ever engine range, from two sixes (the new 285 hp T6 and the 3.2 which produces 238 hp) to fuel-efficient diesels and the bio-ethanol FlexiFuel model producing 145 hp.

- Front seat comfort has been considerably enhanced, with superb seats and ergonomically designed instruments. This naturally also includes the elegant, super-slim centre console and the world-class audio system.

- Space in the rear seat has grown compared with the current V70. Families with young children now also have access to a world breakthrough: dual built-in child booster cushions that can be adjusted in two stages. The inflatable curtains have been extended by 60 mm, and in combination with the new booster cushions and the strong body side structure this provides more children of different sizes with effective protection in a side impact.

Still a genuine estate car

Despite its injection of comfortable luxury, the all-new V70 still inherits its genes from classics such as the Volvo Duett, Volvo 245 and Volvo 745. Here too Volvo is taking a huge stride forward with a luggage area that has increased in both volume and versatility.

A number of smart new functional details and accessories allow the V70 owner to individually adapt the car to suit his or her specific needs. The rear seat’s 40/20/40 split makes it the most flexible in the segment. Other smart examples include a power tailgate, sliding load floor and a storage compartment under the luggage area floor that locks when the tailgate shuts.

“In the leading estate car, the cargo should naturally ride as comfortably as the passengers do. Every little detail in the luggage compartment and all
the accessories have been specially designed to give the correct feeling of luxury without compromising on the smart functionality that is and remains our mark of honour,” says Volvo Cars Design Director Steve Mattin.

The rear of the all-new V70 has a more dynamic, more sculpted shape than in today’s model. The eye can even discern a forward-leaning upper tailgate section.

“Using innovative design, we have once and for all put to bed the boxy shape traditionally associated with our estate cars. From the outside, the car has a dynamic stance. But with the help of the smart overlapping tailgate, which takes the tail lamps up with it, the space inside the car is larger than in the previous V70,” says Steve Mattin.

School Bus Crashes Into Numerous Parked Cars

Ford Unveils Ford Edge with HySeries Drive

Due to lack of proper hydrogen refueling infrastructure it is difficult for a car to completely rely on the fuel cell. Ford has unveiled a special version of its recently introduced Edge crossover utility vehicle (CUV). This HySeries Drive concept features a flexible vehicle architecture, which allows it to accept a wide variety of powertrain options. The vehicle employs an advanced propulsion technology.

In its current form, the Ford Edge with HySeries Drive uses a 350-bar hydrogen fuel cell (4.5 kg of useable hydrogen) in addition to electric motors, which are fed by a 336-volt lithium-ion battery pack. The car is always powered by its battery pack.

The advantage with this technology is that the battery can be recharged by any of the two ways. Either by plugging the vehicle into a standard home outlet using the onboard 110/220 charger or by the hydrogen fuel cell.

With all these advanced technologies, the car has a high economy rating of 41MPG, an extended range of 200 miles due to hydrogen fuel cell over the post range of just 25 miles due to the battery pack when fully charged.

This is a real good concept from the company that provides them the flexibility to produce a car fit for any domain. The company is looking forward to further improve the version by implementing healthier hydrogen refueling infrastructure, more durable fuel cell components and more cost-effective lithium-ion batteries.

PT Cruisin’ On The Pacific Coast Highway

Chrysler Group has unveiled two new special editions for spring 2007 – the PT Cruiser ‘Pacific Coast Highway’ and the Grand Voyager ‘Signature’ models. The ‘Pacific Coast Highway’ model makes the great looking Chrysler PT Cruiser even more striking with Ocean Blue metallic paint and a matching interior.

The new PT Cruiser is based on the standard Touring model, and adds cruise control, leather steering wheel and chrome gear knob plus a six-disc CD/radio. The exterior styling has been enhanced with 17” alloy wheels, lowered suspension, chrome bodyside mouldings and tailpipe and a body colour roof spoiler.

The PT Cruiser ‘Pacific Coast Highway’ is available with a 2.4-litre petrol engine and manual or automatic transmission or as a manual-only 2.2-litre CRD diesel version. The special edition model is priced at £15,550 for the 2.4-litre manual, £16,370 for the 2.4-litre auto and £16,725 for the 2.2-litre CRD.

A new special edition Grand Voyager will also join the Chrysler model range in 2007. The Grand Voyager ‘Signature’ model boasts a list of standard equipment to rival any of its competitors.

Peter Lambert, Managing Director of Chrysler Group UK, said: “The Grand Voyager is our most popular model but this new special edition represents remarkable value for money with a list of standard equipment as long as your arm!”

The new model boasts an overhead rail system with sliding storage boxes, two-tone leather trimmed seats, rear seat DVD system, rear park assist, driver and front passenger airbags, plus three row side curtain airbags, power tailgate and sliding side doors.

The Grand Voyager ‘Signature’ is available with a 2.8-litre CRD engine and is priced from £29,175. Both the new special editions are available in Chrysler Group dealers now.