Volvo of Santa Monica

SAFETY is a cornerstone of Volvo‘s sales philosophy. They claim we are safer driving in a Volvo than any other car produced by anyone.

With the launch of the XC60 in South Africa this month, Volvo has taken safety another leap forward, and is in fact bold enough to say this is the safest car in the world.

It has either standard, or as options, just about every safety feature – both active and passive – of any car on the road. Now they‘ve added City Safety, unique to the XC60 and designed to avoid low-speed collisions in city traffic.

Statistics show that 75 per cent of accidents happen at less than 30km/h. In 50% of all rear end collisions a distraction meant the driver did not brake. City Safety, using a sensor mounted in the front grille now applies brakes automatically, stopping the car before the collision occurs.

It works together with Volvo‘s collision warning and auto brake features so that automatic braking without driver input takes place at any speed.

XC60 looks a lot like a scaled down XC90 just as the BMW X3 is a clone of the X5. In fact X3, together with the Landrover Freelander, are probably its closest rivals as luxury compact SUVs here.

Volvo SA marketing manager Michelle Naude calls it “our new baby from Sweden with love” and says as a premium urban crossover vehicle it is “the best of both worlds”.

It certainly has presence and drives as well as any luxury car in both urban and rural environments. Add to that all-wheel drive and excellent traction combined with 230mm ground clearance, and it can tackle rough stuff pretty well.

Comfort, space and luxury inside is top class with an array of optional safety items to play with in the cars at the press launch including driver alert control to warn tired and inattentive drivers; adaptive cruise control to monitor the vehicle in front, adjusting speed to maintain a set distance; distance alert to help maintain the set time gap behind the vehicle in front; blind spot information system that detects vehicles in the blind spot; Active Bi-Xenon lights that follow the curve of the road when cornering; and park assist camera to aid.

Dynamic stability traction control and roll stability control are standard features while a lane departure warning system which activates when crossing a white or yellow line is optional.

Two engines are offered. D5 is a 2,4-litre 5-cylinder turbodiesel producing 136kW and 400Nm of torque and the 3,0T, a 6-cylinder 3,0-litre turbocharged petrol engine producing 210kW.

The 3,0T petrol version is the more exciting and responsive version to drive but if it‘s economy and torque you are after, the D5, although a little harsh sounding (an uprated diesel engine is on the way later this year) might be a better choice.

Prices are:

D5 manual R469500

D5 Geartronic R48100;

3,0T Geartronic R515000.

FAST FUEL FACTS.

Volvo XC60figures to consider (as at February coastal fuel prices).

To fill the 70 litre tank of the 3.0T petrol model will cost R446.

The combined urban, extra-urban fuel consumption figure given is 11,9 l/100km giving a range of 588km.

To travel 1000km will cost R758. (76c per km).

These figures are based on February coastal fuel prices of R6,37 per litre.

PERFORMANCE DATA

Volvo XC60 3.0T

0 to 100km/h 7,5 seconds

op speed 230km/h.

http://www.theherald.co.za/herald/motor/m05_17022009.htm

Volvo has priced its entry into the premium compact SUV niche, the 2010 XC60 T6 AWD, announcing that it will take $38,025 including an $825 destination charge to put one into consumers' garages. Of course that's just the basic cost of admission when the vehicle hits showrooms this March. Tack on a few technology-laden options and there's nowhere to go but up, pricewise.

Just one engine will be offered in the all-wheel-drive XC60 - Volvo's 281-horse, 295 lb-ft, turbocharged, 3.0-liter inline-six. Volvo includes its six-speed automatic gearbox and Instant Traction system as standard, while leather seats, a power driver's seat, satellite radio, Bluetooth connectivity, HD Radio, and, for a limited time, a Panorama moonroof, are also included in the base MSRP. Still, Volvo makes it clear that there is much more to be offered. The options list includes everything from a $1,000 Climate Package with such add-ons as heated seats, rain-sensing windshield wipers, a humidity sensor, and headlamp washers, to a $2700 Technology Package loaded with the Volvo Navigation System, a rear park assist camera, and Dynaudio's 12-speaker premium sound system.

The XC60 is included in Volvo's Complimentary Factory Scheduled Maintenance Program, which offers the first four regularly scheduled services free of charge.

A full list of options for the Volvo XC60 can be found below. Also be sure to check out our First Drive of the 2010 Volvo XC60 on Motor Trend Online.

2010 Volvo XC60 T6 Pricing
MSRP $37,200
Destination Charge $825


OPTION PACKAGES

Climate Package $1,000

Heated front seats
Heated rear seats
Heated windshield washer nozzles
Rainsensor windshield wipers
Headlamp washers
Interior Air Quality System (IAQS)
Humidity Sensor


Technology Package $2,700

Dynaudio(r) Premium Sound System, Dolby Pro-Logic II(r) Surround Sound, 650-watt amplifier, 12 Dynaudio(r) speakers, rear seat headphone jacks, audio controls
Volvo Navigation System with Real Time Traffic, DVD map data and remote control
Rear Park Assist Camera


Collision Avoidance Package $1,695

Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
Collision Warning with Auto Brake (CWAB)
Distance Alert (DA)
Driver Alert Control (DAC)
Lane Departure Warning (LDW)


Convenience Package $1,000

Grocery bag holder
12V power outlet in cargo area
Front and rear park assist
Power tailgate
Homelink remote garage door opener


OPTIONS

Black Sapphire Metallic $525

Electric Silver Metallic $675

Maple Red Pearl $525

Barrents Blue $525

Silver Metallic $525

Lime Grass Green Pearl $525

Savile Grey Pearl $525

Terra Bronze Pearl $525

Dual onboard two-stage child booster seats with adaptive seatbelts and power child rear door locks $495

Dual Xenon with Gas Discharge Headlights with Active Bending Light $800

Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) $695

Personal Car Communicator (PCC) with Keyless drive $550

Nordic Light Oak inlays $295

Panorama moonroof n/c


*Price does not include destination charges of $825

Source: Volvo

http://wot.motortrend.com/6416252/auto-news/2010-volvo-xc60-priced-at-38025/index.html