Volvo Cars, the premium car maker, will build its first fully electric car in China.

Volvo Cars, the premium car maker, will build its first fully electric car in China, the company announced today at Auto Shanghai in China. 

The all-new model will be based on Volvo’s Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) for smaller cars, and will be available for sale in 2019 and exported globally from China, Volvo said. 

The decision to make its first electric car in China highlights the central role China will play in Volvo’s electrified future and underlines China’s growing sophistication as a manufacturing centre for the automotive industry. 

“Volvo Cars fully supports the Chinese government’s call for cleaner air as outlined in the latest five-year plan. It is fully in-line with our own core values of environmental care, quality and safety,” said Håkan Samuelsson, chief executive of Volvo Cars. “We believe that electrification is the answer to sustainable mobility.” 

China is the world’s largest sales market for electrified cars, and has ambitious targets to expand sales of fully electric and hybrid cars in order to address congestion and air-quality issues in its cities. 

Volvo has a commitment to sell a total of 1m electrified scars – including fully electric cars and hybrids – by 2025. It is developing a fully electric car on its Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) as well. The Swedish company also plans to offer plug-in hybrid versions of every model. 

Volvo has three manufacturing facilities in China: in Daqing, which makes its 90 series cars; Chengdu, which makes its 60 series cars; and Luqiao, which will make its 40 series cars.

Volvo, 20 years ago launched the V70 CC, today that CC Range has been expanded to more models and bigger sales.

Volvo Cars’ instrumental role in defining the adventurous Cross Country segment is widely acknowledged. With the imminent reveal of the new V90 Cross Country, the Swedish car maker is set to cement its leading role as the most capable and comfortable premium all-roader on offer and complete its 90 series line-up.

“Cross Country has become the true expression of a Volvo car in many people’s eyes. It was a winning concept from the start, perfect for the tough climate and road conditions that we experience in Sweden,” said Håkan Samuelsson, President & CEO, Volvo Car Group.

Developed in 1996, the first Cross Country estate combined functional flexibility and rugged capability. Today, 20 years later, the Cross Country segment is a familiar sight across the premium car market, providing a capable yet comfortable driving experience.

Extreme climate capability

Designed to cope with the demanding requirements of an extreme Scandinavian climate, Cross Country models perform in all sorts of road conditions – from muddy tracks and knee-deep snow to long-distance motorway driving. 

Proving a popular choice with horse and boat owners thanks to its high ground clearance, pulling power and responsive All-Wheel Drive, Cross Country has cemented its position as a premium mainstay and a true all-weather alternative to the SUV.

“We were very careful from the very beginning to ensure that the Cross Country concept was not just an exercise in rugged styling. 

We placed high demands on real-world capability, and as we developed the segment, we added the comfort and convenience elements that Volvo drivers have come to expect,” said Dr Peter Mertens, Senior Vice President Research & Development at Volvo Car Group.

The eagerly awaited V90 Cross Country will be revealed in mid-September.

First generation, 1997 – 2000

Developed as a capable alternative to the SUV and front-wheel-drive cars, Volvo Cars’ first Cross Country – the V70 XC – grew in popularity as old-school SUVs began to morph into city jeeps. Cross Country offered a new, adventurous take on motoring that delivered a competent mix of capability, functionality and comfort. 

The V70 XC was an instant success, especially in the North American market.

Second generation, 2000 – 2007

In 2000, the second-generation V70 XC came with much bolder styling and higher ground clearance.

When Volvo’s first SUV – the XC90 – came in 2002, the V70 XC received a newer, more modern All-Wheel Drive system and changed its name to XC70 in order to align to its bigger brother.

Third generation, 2007 – 2016

The third-generation Volvo Cross Country arrived in 2007 with added elegance and luxury. The XC70 continued to be a North American love affair, accounting for almost half of the total volume produced.

In 2014, the XC70 gained recognition around the globe as Zlatan Ibrahimović’s car thanks to a Volvo Cars commercial featuring the Swedish footballer. Such was the impact that sales of the model grew markedly during its last years of production.

Co-op Insurance presents its first ‘Safe Used Car’ award to the Volvo V40, the safest car in the segment.

• Co-op Insurance presents its first ‘Safe Used Car’ award to the Volvo V40
• UK’s first car safety award that focuses on the used car market
• V40 achieved the highest ever scores in its Euro NCAP crash test

The Volvo V40 has been presented with the ‘Co-op Safe Used Car 2016’ award. The inaugural Co-op Insurance award celebrates the safest used cars typically bought by families in the UK.

Working in collaboration with safety experts Thatcham Research, Co-op Insurance awarded the trophy to the Volvo V40 with Driver Support Pack, which beat strong competition from the Volkswagen Golf and Nissan Qashqai to claim the title.

In order to be in the running for the award – which is the first to recognise safety in the UK used car market – all the cars had to have a five-star Euro NCAP crash test rating, CO₂ emissions of 120 g/km or lower and be available to buy on the second-hand market for £15,000 or less. The cars were then evaluated further on their crash worthiness, which included ratings for adult, child and pedestrian protection, and the availability of Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB).

The Volvo V40 received the top rating of five stars in its Euro NCAP crash test in 2012, and its overall scores are still the highest ever recorded by the safety assessment institute.

The V40 was one of the first cars to have AEB as standard. The system, known as City Safety, works at speeds of up to 31 mph and will automatically apply the brakes if it senses an impending crash to avoid the collision entirely or lessen its severity. The V40 was also the first car in the world to come with an airbag to help protect pedestrians in an accident.

The optional Driver Support Pack for the V40 provides class-leading safety technology, including Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keeping Aid, Blind Spot Information System with Cross Traffic Alert, Road Sign Information, and Collision Warning with Full Auto Brake, which is capable of working at all speeds.¹

James Hillon, Director of Products at Co-op Insurance, said: “At the Co-op, we are keen to help educate people not only about car safety, but about what they should be thinking about before they even set foot on a car forecourt.

“The Volvo V40 was awarded the accolade because it is a perfect example of a reasonably priced car that has a large number of safety features as standard, even on older models. It has a five-star Euro NCAP rating and provides good protection in a crash for the driver and front passenger, as well as children. Where it really shines, though, is in the standard of collision-avoidance technology available.”

Bruce Greenwood, Used Car Programme Manager for Volvo Car UK, said: “With renowned Volvo safety, quality and dependability, as well as the peace of mind you get when buying through the Volvo Selekt Approved Used Car programme, the Volvo V40 is an outstanding used family car choice.

“Volvo is committed to protecting drivers, passengers and pedestrians, and we are thrilled that the V40 has been recognised by Co-op Insurance as the first ever ‘Co-op Safe Used Car’.”

Volvo Cars starts the next phase of it's rebirth with the new 40-Series range of cars, a new family of small cars

Volvo Cars, the premium car maker, today unveiled two new concept cars that move the Swedish brand in an audacious new direction and mark the official launch of its global small-car strategy.

Today’s newly revealed 40 series concept models demonstrate for the first time how Volvo plans to expand into the large and lucrative global market for premium small cars with a range of vehicles that combine bold exterior and interior design with industry-leading connectivity, electrification and autonomous drive technologies.

The new concept cars will be the first built around Volvo’s new Compact Modular Architecture (CMA), which has been specially created for smaller cars and which has liberated the company’s designers and engineers to explore bold and daring new directions.

“Each member of our product family has its own distinct character, just like the members of a real family. CMA has helped us to capture something special, something youthful in our new concept cars. They have an energy, a disruptive and engaging urban character that makes them stand out among the crowd. This is the flavour of small Volvos to come,” said Thomas Ingenlath, Senior Vice President, Design, at Volvo Car Group.

Volvo’s small-car strategy is an essential element in its ongoing global operational and financial transformation. The Swedish company is currently implementing an ambitious revitalisation plan that will reposition the brand to compete with its global premium competitors within the next four years.

Volvo’s new global small-car range will include a pure-battery electric vehicle as well as Twin Engine plug-in hybrid powertrain variants, in line with the company’s commitment to the electrification of its entire portfolio. Volvo plans to have sold a total of up to one million electrified cars by 2025 globally.

“By taking a modular approach to both vehicle architecture and powertrain development, we have succeeded in leap-frogging many of the players in the premium segment,” said Dr Peter Mertens, Senior Vice President, Research & Development. “Our new battery electric powertrain variant opens yet another exciting chapter in the unfolding Volvo story.”

On top of their daring exterior design and electrified powertrain options, the new cars will also offer a full range of innovative connectivity services, plus the world’s most advanced standard package of safety features and ground-breaking Scandinavian interior design.

“The new 40 series cars have the potential to improve our market penetration in an important growing segment,” said Håkan Samuelsson, President and Chief Executive of Volvo Cars. “An electric powertrain program, including both a new compact Twin Engine plug-in hybrid as well as a pure electric car, are central to the CMA architecture.” He added that the first new 40 series car is expected to go into production in 2017.

The announcement of Volvo’s new global small-car strategy comes on the back of a strong start to the year in terms of sales and profitability.

The company announced revenues for the first three months of the year rose 24 per cent year-on-year to SEK41.7bn, generating an operating profit of SEK3.1bn and an operating profit margin of 7.5 per cent. Global sales for the first quarter of 2016 increased 11.9 per cent to 120,591 cars. Volvo has a medium-term ambition to sell 800,000 cars a year, up from 503,000 in 2015

Volvo launches the new range of accessories to boost your normal car into a Polestar performance vehicle.

Polestar introduces a whole new line of high-performance products in the form of Polestar Performance Parts, offering even more driving pleasure to Volvo drivers.

Polestar Performance Parts offers a wide range of extensively developed enhancements for the Volvo S60, V40, V60 and XC60 models to begin with, including chassis parts, wheels, exhaust, interior and exterior details, and more.

"We have received strong feedback over a long period of time from customers all over the world regarding Polestar Performance Parts. We are delighted to be able to meet the demand, starting from today. This is a product improving on the already strong base of Volvo cars in terms of performance, handling and driving pleasure," said Niels Möller, Chief Operating Officer of Polestar.

All Polestar Performance Parts are designed under the philosophy "Made to Perform", fully utilising the 20-year motorsport experience of the engineers and racing drivers from Polestar and its motorsport partner Cyan Racing.

"What we learned on the racing circuits with our colleagues at Cyan Racing is that championships are not won in a single lap. The secret of our success on the tracks is in creating balanced and precise cars that are predictable for the driver to control in all situations. 

Lessons learned on the tracks are transferred directly into the development of our road cars and performance products. The new range of Polestar Performance Parts is no exception – they are designed and developed with the very same philosophy," said Henrik Fries, R&D Director of Polestar.

The Polestar Performance Parts can be purchased as a complete package, including chassis parts, wheels and tyres, intake and exhaust, as well as exterior and interior parts. All of these components will together create a more compelling driving experience, especially in combination with the Polestar Performance Optimisation, and can be bought in separate packages as well.

All Polestar Performance Parts are developed and tested together with Volvo Cars to the same high standards as all other products. This process ensures a perfect fit and finish, with no impact on the Volvo factory warranty, while most importantly increasing driving pleasure.

The Polestar Performance Parts will be available from participating Volvo dealers in April. Prices are yet to be announced. Further Volvo models will be included in the Polestar Performance Parts range in due course.

Volvo gives the V40 and Cross Country a new front look, now sporting the "Thor's Hammer" headlights.

Volvo Cars gives its bestselling V40 and V40 Cross Country the new face of Volvo for Model Year 2017, with trim updates across the range. Central to the model year exterior updates are new LED ‘Thor’s Hammer’ headlights, resulting in a confident new look shared with Volvo’s new XC90, S90 and V90. 

In the UK, these all-LED lights mark the V40 and V40 Cross Country out as the first models in the segment to get LED headlights as standard across the range. Also new are grille meshes featuring the updated and more visually striking Volvo Iron Mark.

“The V40 is the best-selling Volvo model in the UK, making it a vital car for the company. With the updates for Model Year 2017, we’re making this already very successful model even more attractive to customers,” said Nick Connor, Managing Director of Volvo Car UK.

The exterior update includes the addition of eight new wheels across the V40 and V40 Cross Country models, and five new colours to the V40 range, including the completely new Amazon Blue and Denim Blue, as well as three colours already used by other models in the Volvo Car UK portfolio: Bursting Blue, Mussel Blue and Luminous Sand.

Continuing its innovative approach to powertrain engineering, Volvo has reduced CO₂ emissions on its popular D2 manual powertrain to just 89 g/km in all trim level and wheel options.

The V40's trim structure has also been changed in line with that of the new XC90. Customers can now choose from Momentum and Inscription versions, along with the sports-inspired R-Design and the rugged Cross Country.

In a cue taken from the award-winning Volvo Concept Estate, a new upholstery called City Weave will be added. Several new interior panel trims will also be offered: Milled Aluminium, Black Grid Aluminium and Stealth Aluminium. New tread plates will be added for the R-Design and Inscription trim levels, and an updated key fob with the new Volvo logo will be available.

Volvo On Call

The Volvo On Call smartphone app, which allows remote access and control over a wide range of in-car features, receives a substantial update. Volvo On Call already delivers wearable connectivity (Apple Watch/Android Wear), and the new Microsoft Band 2 connectivity now enables voice-control for certain features when using Windows 10-based smartphones.

Other updates to Volvo On Call include a calendar integration function that connects your personal calendar to the mobile app, allowing it to send calendar appointment destinations directly to your navigation on request. For 2016, Volvo On Call will broaden its scope and provide support for up to 10 Volvo vehicles, giving access to all the usual functions across a fleet of cars.

Volvo will also introduce Flic button compatibility with Volvo On Call. Flic allows you to program a single physical ‘smart button’ to perform several tasks, such as locking your car, and can be used as a shortcut to Volvo On Call services.

Volvo now also offers support for Windows 10 with a new version of the Volvo On Call application that can be used on regular PCs and tablets to interact with your car.

Volvo adds some complimentary upgrades to its best selling model the V40 Sports Back.

The Volvo V40 is the best-selling car in the Volvo range and for a limited time only, it comes with a complimentary Style Pack and upgrade to Leather Upholstery*+

The V40 is Volvo’s 5 door Sports back with a Scandinavian luxury look and feel and features class-leading safety equipment, including Pedestrian Airbag and City Safety as standard. 

Other optional features include Volvo Car's ground-breaking Pedestrian Detection with full auto brake. Several other new features include the new, fully graphic instrument cluster with personalised layout and information which enhances the intuitive and uncomplicated driver experience.

For a limited time only the Volvo V40 now comes with a complimentary Style Pack on all V40’s registered before the end of February. The Style pack benefits from the following items:

STYLE PACK*+          

Active TFT Crystal Drivers Information Display

Illuminated Gear knob

Dark Tinted Windows

Adjustable Steering

Rear Park Assist

Rear Park Assist Camera

*At participating Dealers

+ Pack content may vary depending on variant chosen

** Delivery and related charges not included

The Volvo V40 is also available with a competitive PCP Plan. Personal Contract Plan (PCP) means that the customer pays low monthly instalments for 36 months and are guaranteed a minimum future value (GMFV) of 43% of the on the Road Price. At the end of the term, the customer can part exchange their Volvo for another brand new model or return it with no further payment due†† or pay the GMFV††  and keep the car. So you can drive away for example in the Volvo V40 D2 SE from as little as €275* per month or the Sporty V40 R-Design is available from €289* per month

A Personal Contract Plan (PCP) is a fixed rate, fixed term car funding arrangement with a guaranteed minimum future value underwritten for the car. This value is deferred to the end of the finance term, reducing monthly payments during the term of the finance arrangement. At the end of the term the customer can decide to pay off the balance or give the car back or enter into a new agreement with a new model.

Under the terms of the Personal Contract Plan (PCP) from Bank of Ireland Finance, the customer pays an agreed instalment over 36 months. A portion of the car’s value is deferred until the end of the agreement. This amount is the minimum value that Volvo Car Ireland guarantees your car will be worth at the end of your agreement, your minimum Guaranteed Future Value (GMFV††).

Together with Bank of Ireland Finance Volvo is offering finance arrangements across the Volvo range. It currently offers finance through Hire Purchase (HP) agreements or PCP’s (Personal Contract Plans). To find out more, contact your local Volvo dealer or visit volvocars.ie

Example below: 

Model	On the RoadPrice†	CustomerDeposit/ PartExchange	FinanceAmount	36 Monthlypayments of	Term	GMFV †† (Optional FinalPayment)	Total Costof Credit	APR%*
VolvoV40 D2SE	€28,595.00	€8,578.50	€20,016.50	€275.00	37	€12,457.50	€2,404.49	4.90%

†Includes delivery & related charges. Model is shown for illustrative purposes only.

††The Guaranteed Minimum Future Value (GMFV) is payable if you renew or retain the vehicle at the endof the agreement. 

Further charges may be applied by your Volvo Dealer subject to kilometrelimits/condition of the vehicle. *Lending criteria and terms and conditions apply. APR 4.90% which isinclusive of a documentation fee of €63.49. To qualify for this finance offer a minimum deposit of 10%is required. Rate quoted is correct as at 19th October 2015 and is subject to change. Offer available on the Volvo V40 models ordered from 19th October 2015 to 31st March 2016, at participating Volvo dealers only. 

This is a Hire Purchase agreement provided by Bank of Ireland t/a Bank of Ireland Finance. Fuel consumption for the Volvo Range in mpg (l/100km): Urban 35.3 (8.0) – 68.9 (4.1), Extra Urban 58.9 (4.8) – 85.6(3.3), Combined 34.4 (8.2) – 156.9 (1.8). CO₂ Emissions 215 – 48 g/km. All new Volvo cars come with a 3 year warranty and 2 years’ roadside assistance.