alin89

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Posts posted by alin89

  1. Posted · Report post

    Summer is here, and as the saying goes, the time is right for cramming the kids and the dog and grandma and the cooler full of sanity-saving beer into the family truckster. Yep, you guessed it: It's time to go on vacation. It's time for a road trip.

    There are a lot of factors that go into a successful road trip (Did you remember the sandwiches? The maps? Did you leave grandma at that last gas station?), but the most important one is often the most overlooked. Yep, that's right--we're talking about the car. The wheels that you choose can make or break your good-time highway odyssey.

    Herewith, we present to you Automobile Magazine's list of the six best road trip cars for 2008. The steeds here were chosen based on real-world criteria, not just cold and heartless intangibles. Enjoy, travel safe, and don't forget to write.

    BEST SEATS: Volvo S80

    Volvo seats are among the best in the business, and the chairs in the S80 are the best that Volvo has to offer: comfortable, friendly to sore backs, and supportive in the extreme. Long hours behind the wheel require seats that don't add to your fatigue, and the S80's thrones are essentially mattresses with recline adjustment. If you're looking for big side bolsters and infinite adjustability, look elsewhere, but if the idea of a comfort-filled thousand-mile day stokes your fires, then look no further.

    continuarea la:

    http://www.automobilemag.com/features/news/0806_best_road_trip_cars/index.html

  5. Posted · Report post

    Sa nu-mi dati in cap dragi colegi si prieteni dar francezii au realizat ceva deosebit cu acest C6. Este cea mai sigura masina din LUME ,uitativa la testele EuroEncap ,are 5-5-4 stele ( impact frontal  ,lateral ,protectie pietoni) .Dar e o chestiune de gust alegerea acestei masini.

    Daca nu-ti place mergi fara retineri pe Volvo!

    Sincer Marian....nu poti sa compari nicioadata EuroNCAP cu centrul de testare al sigurantei masinilor de la Volvo. E mult mai slab EuroNCAP decat ce are Volvo...

    Dar...peste tot e loc de o spaga mica nu? Ca sa scoti o masina in frunte...chiar si la EuroNCAP !

  7. Posted · Report post

    Ford-owned Volvo Cars on Monday said it will recall 65,000 V70 and XC70 cars to adjust the software that triggers the release of side-impact air bags.

    Volvo Cars spokeswoman Maria Bohlin said the recall affects 2008 models primarily in Europe and does not apply to owners in the U.S. and Canada.

    The cars' so-called "inflatable curtains" were found to be deployed too late in a European safety test, Bohlin said.

    "We will fine-tune the software that triggers the release of the inflatable curtain," she said. "Now, we will send letters to all the owners of the affected cars and tell them to take the car to a mechanic to get this upgrade."

    Sursa: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/04/28/business/EU-FIN-Sweden-Volvo-Cars-Recall.php

  8. Posted · Report post

    Volvo didn't unveil any new products at the Chicago Auto Show, but it won some hearts anyway with a campaign about pet safety.

    Volvo says it's teaming up with Bark Buckle Up, a San Diego-based group that promotes safer pet travel. Dogs today were hopping in and out of Volvo's XC90, which was fitted with an optional, factory-installed cage that can help protect pets.

    The group wants to educate consumers on using cages while pets are traveling or pet harnesses that can be threaded through safety belts.

    Bark Buckle Up says that even if a car is going just 30 miles per hour, a 60-pound dog can cause an impact of 1,200 pounds.

    Sursa: http://www.wthitv.com/Global/story.asp?S=7838431

  9. Posted · Report post

    nu neaparat Dinamo,nu prea ageez fotbalul intern,imi place campionatul englez in mod deosebit,fotbal de calitate...

    Da alex..e frumos cel englezesc..dar pacat ca-l joaca numai la ei acolo..cand ies afara nu mai merge smecheria...mie cel mai mult imi place campionatul italian  :77:

  11. Posted · Report post

    It’s a Volvo XC90, but not as we know it! The Swedish manufacturer unveiled a new R-Design package for its big-selling SUV at the Detroit Motor Show – and this is it.

    It comes with a host of cosmetic enhancements, including striking 19-inch alloy wheels and twin exhaust pipes. Further setting it apart from lesser models are the stainless steel sills, while the sump guard and door mir­rors feature matt silver trim.

    There’s one feature buyers won’t get, however. The sporty newcomer does away with the roof rails fitted to the standard XC90.

    Inside, chronograph watch-style instruments help to give the cockpit with a special feel. Two-tone part-leather upholstery is also fitted throughout, while the new sports seats provide greater support for enthusiastic drivers. Other additions include a leather-rimmed steering wheel and alloy pedals.

    The finishing touch is the introduction of neat aluminium trim on the specially designed centre console, door inlays and gearlever. The R-Design package will replace the existing Sport trim in May. It will be available with all engine variants, and although Volvo bosses have yet to confirm prices, the new model is expected to command a premium of £2,000 over the XC90 SE.

    Sursa: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/215265/big_volvos_got_spec_appeal.html

  13. Posted · Report post

    Volvo has officially introduced its dual-clutch automatic transmission, dubbed Powershift. The new transmission — which features six gears and twin wet clutches — will be available beginning in February on diesel-powered Euro-spec C30, S40 and V50 models.

    The new dual-clutch setup will improve performance while decreasing overall emissions. The transmission — which can handle up to 330 lb-ft of torque — helps the three diesel models hit 60 in around 9 seconds, while returning 47 miles per gallon. Powershift also reduces CO2 emissions.

    "Lower fuel consumption allied to increased comfort and higher performance sounds like an impossible equation. But with Powershift we have shown this is perfectly possible," says Magnus Jonsson, Senior Vice President, Research & Development, Volvo Cars.

    No word on when, or if, the new transmission will make it to the U.S.

    Sursa: http://www.leftlanenews.com/report-volvos-dual-clutch-gearbox-to-arrive-in-under-a-year.html

  14. Posted · Report post

    Ce sa spun, cica ar fi varianta Canadian al filmului Too Fast Too Furious dar numai asa nu e, e in franceza, povestea ar fi cam asa, e un racer cam nebun, are un accident si ajunge in spital unde sta ceva timp, in spital se indragosteste de una care are probleme cu inima si care are si un copil, ies pana la urma din spital dar starea fetei se agraveaza si necesita un transplant urgent de inima dar din pacate daca ar astepta dupa acea lista nu ar mai avea sanse, asa ca singura solutie e unul ilegal, dar pt asta are nevoie pt inceput de 50 000, asa ca el se reapuca de curse, face ceva bani, apeleaza la niste mafioti si la o veche prietena tot racer-ita, face rost de inima dar da in conflict cu mafiotii repsectivi si de aici incepe carambolul, urmariri, etc, finalul te las pe tine sa il vezi.

    Personal as zice ca meritca cat de cat vazut, nu e chiar cine stie ce dar are o poveste realistica fata de alte petarde de filme unde numai realitate nu vezi, ma refer la imitatiile gen Fast and Furious sau ceva de genul

    L-am urmarit, dar nu a fost cine stie ce...o sa ma uit la filmele acelea postate de tine  :D)) cu masini.  ;)

  17. Posted · Report post

    Volvo is poised to press the green light on a complete rethink of its model range in a last-ditch attempt to break out of a decade-long sales gridlock.

    A new range of models that centers around the “V and XC badges†– models that already account for 60-70 percent of production - is currently being finalized at Volvo’s HQ. So buyers can expect a big push on versatile wagons and rugged off-road-style vehicles.

    There’ll be fewer sedan models in Volvo’s future, too. Longer-term, a very small Volvo “city car†and an electrically driven hatchback are also on the Gothenburg radar, as is a large “V100†flagship that could step in for the S80.

    The key model to Volvo's resurgence will be the new V30, as imagined in the artist’s impression here. This will be a spacious five-door hatchback designed to attract a global market of younger, more affluent buyers who have young families but retain a keen interested in outdoor activities.

    This car will be aimed at drivers who might otherwise look at the Audi A3 or VW Rabbit, but it'll be a more sophisticated and modernist take on the conventional family hatchback.

    Hints from company bosses suggest the V30 may have a higher and longer roofline than, say, the Audi A3 Sportback, as well as being equipped with the sort of flexible interior package that is more usually found inside a conventional minivan.

    The V30 will be based on a moderately updated version of the excellent Focus-family chassis and is also likely to come in an XC version with a raised ride height, four-wheel drive and rugged body styling. It will slot into the range above the three-door C30 in 2010. Despite widespread rumors, Autocar understands there will be no five-door version of the C30.

    The V30 will effectively replace both the S40 sedan and V50 wagon. Sales of the somewhat confined S40 are slowing as the European market for small sedans vanishes. The V50 is also on the small side for a wagon in this class, so Volvo plans to push the nameplate up a size. The new 2010 V50 will marginally bigger than today’s BMW 3-series Touring but marginally smaller than the next-generation Volvo S60.

    Can Volvo do it this time?

    Despite its best efforts, the Swedish carmaker has failed to take full advantage of the boom in premium car sales over the last 15 years.

    In 1997 the company sold 400,000 cars, and after peaking at 450,000 in 2004, sales have again drifted back down to below 430,000 units. Rumors are rife that the company’s profitability is also sliding away.

    Company bosses are still aiming for 600,000 annual sales, a target that will be made much easier with the launch of the XC60 compact off-roader later this year.

    However, despite its rapid design evolution Volvo is finding that it is still strongly associated with its classic square-cut wagons from over two decades ago. Modernizing the brand and capturing new customers is proving much more difficult than anticipated.

    Volvo’s new pitch at environmentally conscious, family orientated outdoors enthusiasts simply has to work.

    Sursa: http://www.speedtv.com/articles/newmodels/automotive/42341/

  20. Posted · Report post

    Conclusion: Maybe wagon aficionados have had the right idea all along

    Whatever you call it, Chrysler's Pacifica impressed us with its smooth ride, precise and light handling, excellent ergonomics, comfortable seating, and good load space. But in the end, it's less useful than the minivans it so doggedly tries not to be. It also fails to project the adventuresome image of a traditional truck-based sport/utility, and it doesn't nail the polished profile of premium Japanese or European crossovers.

    With its Touareg, VW has created a great-looking, great-driving SUV in a marketplace filled with premium entries. But its ride quality is compromised on rough roads, and, with its high weight and smallish narrow-angle V-6, it's only adequately powered. The Touareg offers less load and people space than a conventional midsize SUV, but its interior is a work of art. It offers an optional V-8, which will address any power issues, and it's the most capable off-roader among this bunch.

    Our choice when it comes to wagons is, well, a wagon--the improved XC70. The Volvo is handsome, it's the right size, and it delivers an ideal balance of fuel economy, acceleration, ride and handling, all-weather capability, and excellent people- and cargo-moving room. Maybe wagon aficionados have had the right idea all along.

    Sursa: http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/wagon/112_0310_2004_suv_wagons/specifications.html

  21. Posted · Report post

    The Caresto V8 Speedster brings its posh new C70 cousin along to SEMA. The Caresto V8 Speedster makes a comeback at the 2007 SEMA Show in Las Vegas - accompanied by its posh cousin, the stunning Volvo C70 Caresto Edition.

    "The Speedster is a dream car that few people can afford, while the new C70 is the affordable distant relative. Two very different cars, but put them next to each other and you see that they dropped from the same family-tree," says specialist car builder and customizer Leif Tufvesson.

    Leif Tufvesson is one of Sweden's most skilled specialist car builders and customizers. Many of his cars have received widespread international acclaim. He is the man who built the Caresto T6 Roadster and V8 Speedsters, shown by Volvo at the 2005 and 2006 SEMA Shows, respectively, in Las Vegas. And now Leif is back again in Vegas with the V8 Speedster - plus a refined version of the new C70 convertible.

    Inspired by the Speedster, Leif has put his own personal touch to Volvo's hardtop convertible with a new front and rear, a new interior and a beautiful two-tone blue paint job.

    Leif used a BSR PPC tuning system to give the five-cylinder turbo engine a hefty vitamin injection. Power is up from 220 hp to 278 hp and torque has increased from 320 Nm to a massive 441 Nm. The inlet pipes are made of polished aluminum and the engine cover is made of carbon fiber. Leif also used an Optiflow sport air filter. It took Leif less than two years to build the V8 Speedster.

    Sursa: http://autopark.blogspot.com/2008/01/2008-volvo-c70-caresto-edition.html

  23. Posted · Report post

    Volvo Cars booster seat wins Popular Science "Best of What's New" award

    Volvo Car Corporation has been chosen as one of the 100 best new technologies for 2007 and winner of a "Best of What's New" award from Popular Science magazine for its new two-step integrated booster cushion. The booster seat helps protect children who have outgrown their toddler seats and is adjustable for the child's height.

    The seat design was originally shown in 2001 on Volvo's Safety Concept Car as a device that would provide better seatbelt positioning for children. Subsequent refinements to the seat, vehicle side body structure, seat belt attributes, and inflatable side curtains were launched with Volvo's XC70 at the Geneva Motor Show in Switzerland last March.

    "Our goal is to help protect occupants," said Thomas Broberg, Senior Safety Advisor, Volvo Car Corporation. "This award acknowledges our efforts to help protect our smallest passengers, our children. This new seat, in conjunction with our refinements in side body structure and the inflatable curtain, will have a significant reduction in child injuries."

    Sursa: http://www.canadiandriver.com/news/071114-7.htm

  24. Posted · Report post

    For a company whose advertising tagline used to be "Ford: A Better Idea," there has been astonishingly few of them coming from the Dearborn automaker in the past few years. Clearly, not that all of the company's decisions have been bad, but here's what I'm talking about:

    Buying Volvo, good idea.

    Buying Jaguar, bad idea.

    The new Mustang, good idea.

    Renaming the Taurus the 500, bad idea.

    Renaming the 500 the Taurus, bad idea.

    Hiring Jim Farley, good idea.

    Selling Jaguar (and Land Rover), good idea.

    Keeping Volvo, great idea.

    Maybe things at the Blue Oval are looking up.

    In making the announcement this morning that the company was keeping Volvo-for now-Ford CEO Alan Mulally said, "I think we can do substantially better than where we are today." He was speaking about profits, and Volvo lost money in the third quarter. Ford doesn't have a lot of cash to throw around, and all of its brands must make money. Mulally said the company is developing a strategic plan to emphasize Volvo's strengths in order to make the brand more profitable. Good idea.

    Ford already has sold Aston Martin, which, in keeping with the theme of this column, was a good idea. Aston is a small company making niche vehicles and is better served being out from under the behemoth that is Ford. And it now looks as if Jaguar and Land Rover will be sold as a package deal to either one of two Indian bidders or a private equity firm.

    Again, shedding the two British brands makes sense. If either Tata or Mahindra and Mahindra, the two Indian firms, are the successful bidders, it gives either company two recognizable worldwide brands.

    But Volvo is a different story. Despite its Swedish heritage, Volvo is, and has been, a much more mainstream brand in the United States than either Jag or Land Rover, and it deserves to stay in the Ford fold. It has a solid lineup of vehicles, from a small coupe (the new, fun-to-drive C30), to a crossover (the XC90), up to a luxury flagship sedan (the S80).

    Across the lineup, the cars are solid, comfortable and good-looking, in a Scandinavian-furniture kind of way. To Ford's credit, it has allowed Volvo to remain distinctly Volvo, with its own look and emphasis on safety and engineering. You easily could make the argument that one of Jag's downfalls has been Ford's attempt to make the storied brand appeal to the everyman (can you say X-Type?), rather than keeping it as a luxury brand.

    Volvo gives Ford a portfolio of premium vehicles that are different from the other vehicles it markets. For my money, the only idea stupider than selling Volvo would be to sell Mazda, a company that makes good-looking, well-engineered, affordable, fun-to-drive cars. Using resources from both Volvo and Mazda will make Fords, Lincolns and Mercurys better.

    Ford shareholders should celebrate the day Mulally hands over the keys to Jag and Land Rover . . . and they should fight to make sure Volvo remains in the Ford family.

  25. Posted · Report post

    Volvo’s XC70 Surf Rescue concept was conceived from the Volvo Cars design team and built by Aria, a concept car building firm located in Irvine, California. Inspired from lifeguard vehicles seen on California beaches, the XC70 Surf Rescue is equipped with a 3.2-liter engine producing 235 Hp and it rides atop a 5-inch-lift suspension, oversized tires and heavily modified body panels.

    As its name suggests, the XC70 Surf Rescue is fitted with a full compliment of life-saving equipment and custom rescue surfboards. Take out the graphics and the surfer/rescue equipment and sign us in for one, this is how the stock XC70 should have looked like in the first place.

    Lifeguards on Southern California's famous beaches have been glamorized by Hollywood for decades. While they share the spirit of adventure and camaraderie, these dedicated men and women are highly trained professionals who take safety very seriously. Half a world away, a Volvo designer in Sweden who is captivated by lifeguard skill competitions accepted the challenge to design a show car for his heroes. The result, Volvo's XC70 Surf Rescue (SR) concept, pays homage to the brave individuals who protect and serve the ocean-going public.

    At the Volvo Concept Center in Gothenburg, Sweden, Joel Alexandersson was charged with creating the conceptual design for a one-of-a-kind rescue vehicle that upholds Volvo's core value of safety in a bold and dynamic new way. The XC70 SR's interior concept was assigned to Volvo's styling center in Barcelona, Spain. Larry Abele, design manager at the Volvo Monitoring and Concept Center (VMCC) in Camarillo, California, coordinated the global teamwork and vehicle build.

    As a testament to Volvo's advanced design capabilities, the XC70 SR concept was initially created in a virtual world. "The entire design process was performed digitally," says Abele. "This enabled us to review and modify the design in real time by projecting it onto large scale screens at each studio."

    Volvo selected the Aria Group in Irvine, California, to build the concept. Starting with a production XC70, the Aria team completely stripped the vehicle of its paint, trim, bumpers and interior. Custom-designed parts were crafted for the concept without the traditional method of building clay models. Being able to go directly from digital designs to a process called rapid prototyping greatly reduces development time.

    Guided by the surfing lifestyle and casual beach culture, the XC70 SR's paint scheme is developed specifically for the show car by DuPont. Colors are selected from DuPont's Global Advanced Design Show, which represents cutting edge trends in automotive color. The exterior yellow is a multi-layer effect coating incorporating a vibrant color with pearl like qualities. The secondary red uses a tinted clear to produce high chroma with warm undertones. These exotic finishes use DuPont's wet on wet coating technology for multi layer effects without the high cost of multiple baking steps.

    Eye-catching Surf Rescue graphics are added for instant recognition on a crowded beach. The exterior also sports a custom-crafted front fascia that wears a one-off milled aluminum billet grille. Front and rear skid plates and wider wheel lip cladding provide extra body protection from flying sand. The new fascias also reduce front and rear overhang, thereby improving approach and departure angles.

    The chassis is lifted an additional five inches from the stock ride height for improved ground clearance. It also makes way for a massive set of custom designed 20-inch wheels and Pirelli 275/45R20 tires (www.pirellityre.com) made specifically for the XC70 SR. The tread is designed for increased grip on loose and sandy soil with the flexibility to provide excellent traction both on and off the road. The rear subframe is beefed-up for added ruggedness with milled aluminum billet components.

    True to form, the XC70 SR is topped by a unique aerodynamically designed roof-mounted emergency light bar integrated with a rescue board rack. Not only does this treatment contribute to the stunning good looks of the vehicle, it also helps to reduce wind drag by attaching directly to the XC70's OEM supplied roof rails.

    When it's time to respond to a call, the driver or front passenger can activate a barrage of flashing blue strobe emergency lights. In addition to the roof, they're neatly inset into the lower front valance panel, headlight and rear combination light clusters as well as the inside rearview mirror.

    Lifeguards get wet and sandy on the job so the interior is modified for heavy-duty use - without sacrificing style. The XC70's standard front bucket and folding rear seats are recovered in wetsuit style neoprene fabric that's custom tailored in black and gray with bright yellow inserts. Decorative interior panels throughout the cabin are yellow tinted with clear to segue with the spirit of the exterior hue.

    Bulky emergency rescue gear housed in the cargo compartment can easily be accessed via the XC70's power rear tailgate. Secured to the neoprene covered floor are two scuba tanks, an oxygen tank, a small first aid kit, a resuscitator box and a large waterproof box containing additional medical supplies and surf rescue equipment.

    The XC70's 3.2-liter in-line 6-cylinder normally aspirated engine produces 235 horsepower and 236 lb.-ft. of torque. It's mated to a six-speed "Geartronic" automatic transmission that enables the driver to shift manually when desired. All-wheel-drive with Instant TractionTM is standard. Electronic Hill Descent Control (HDC) uses the vehicle's brakes and engine torque to crawl in bottom gear on steep downhill slopes.

    Sursa: http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2007/10/2007-sema-volvo-xc70-surf-rescue.html