Nother CarGuy

Shortly after the announcement of Volvo becoming an EV carmaker by 2030, the Swedish carmaker has revealed the new C40 Recharge, an all-electric coupe-SUV model that will be available for purchase exclusively online. The new Volvo C40 Recharge is based on the same CMA platform as the XC40 Recharge but it’s the company’s first model to be designed as pure electric only. The electric Volvo C40 Recharge adopts the usual styling traits of coupe SUV models, including a lower sloping roofline. Other features include a redesigned front fascia with new headlights that adopt “state-of-the-art pixel technology”, and a range of color and deco options that are unique to the new model. Power comes from a twin-motor setup, on on the front and one on the rear axle, producing a combined 402 HP and 487 lb-ft (660 Nm) of torque. Combined with a 78 kWh battery pack, the new Volvo C40 Recharge is estimated to offer around 261 miles (420 km) of driving range on the WLTP test cycle. In addition, the new Vol...

The Polestar 2 is right around the corner as the company has released the first teaser image of the electric vehicle. Set to be a stylish four-door fastback, the Polestar 2 will be a high-performance EV that will compete with the Tesla Model 3. The teaser image isn’t very revealing, but it shows the car will have a rear charging port and slender taillights which are connected by a thin illuminated strip. In keeping with traditional fastback styling, the Polestar 2 has a gently sloping rear window which meets a relatively short trunk. We can also get a glimpse of the car’s flowing bodywork which appears to be interrupted by a subtle character line. The automaker is keeping details under wraps, but they confirmed previous reports suggesting the model will have an Android-based infotainment system. Dubbed the Google Android HMI (Human Machine Interface), the system will feature Google Assistant which is a virtual assistant similar to Amazon’s Alexa. Besides confirming some tech...

According to Volvo, having to go through airport security and waiting several hours to board a noisy, cramped airplane is something the autonomous car of the future will be able to fix. The automaker’s new 360c concept represents a self-driving fully electric first-class private cabin that can drive you to your destination in complete comfort, regardless of how far away it is. It also doesn’t have a steering wheel, which means even more room for passengers to stretch out. These types of vehicles could open up new growth markets for Volvo, such as the multi-billion dollar domestic air travel industry. The 360c concept has four main potential uses – a sleeping environment, mobile office, living room and entertainment space, all of which re-imagine the way people travel. “The business will change in the coming years, and Volvo should lead that change of our industry,” stated Volvo boss Hakan Samuelsson. “Autonomous drive will allow us to take the next big step in safety, ...

Volvo’s third generation S60 model was unveiled at the automaker’s first U.S. manufacturing plant in Charleston, South Carolina, which was also officially inaugurated yesterday. The all-new S60 is the Volvo’s first model to be sold without a diesel unit within its engine range, in turn signaling the company’s commitment to electrification. The Swedish automaker has previously stated that come 2019, all of their new models will be electrified. “The new S60 is one of the most exciting Volvo cars we’ve ever made,” stated Volvo boss Hakan Samuelsson. “It is a true driver’s car that gives us a strong position in the US and China sedan markets, creating more growth opportunities for Volvo Cars.” Buyers will be able to choose between two turbocharged and supercharged plug-in hybrid petrol engines. Opt for the T6 Twin Engine AWD PHEV spec and you’ll end up with 340 HP, whereas the US-spec T8 version will deliver 400 HP. The automaker’s proven T5 and T6 petrol engines will be ...

Volvo is getting ready to unveil the third member of its re-engineered ’60’ family, as a new S60 saloon will soon join the XC60 SUV and V60 Estate. Poised to take on rivals such as the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Audi A4, Jaguar XE and BMW 3-Series, the premium compact four-door model isn’t shying away from showing its face on video. Looking essentially like a shrunken S90, it gets the Thor’s hammer LED headlights, signature grille with the Polestar badging, mean-styled front bumper with what appears to be a carbon fiber-made apron and large air intakes. This is the top-of-the-line model of the series, which will be known officially as ‘Polestar Engineered‘. It benefits from a few styling upgrades over the regular versions, such as a special suspension setup with adjustable shock absorbers and strut bar, whose design is shared with the Polestar 1. With a combined output of 409hp (415PS / 305kW) and 494lb-ft (670Nm) of torque (in US-spec), courtesy of an internal combustion uni...

Volvo is getting serious about electric vehicles. But the automaker isn’t the only one getting into the game. So is the truck manufacturer of the same name. Despite the shared heritage, name, branding, and even typeface, the two Volvos are no longer related. While Geely owns the automaker, the truck manufacturer is its own company. (Although Geely did recently buy a small portion of the truckmaker as well.) The Volvo Group also controls the Renault and Mack truck brands (among others). The commercial vehicle manufacturer has now introduced the Volvo FL Electric. It’s designed for “urban distribution and refuse operations, among other applications.” And it offers lower noise levels and better air quality than conventionally powered trucks. The FL is powered by an electric motor producing 185 kW (248 hp) and 425 Nm (313 lb-ft) of torque. That’s backed up by between two and six lithium-ion batteries (depending on requirements). They can supply between 100 and 300 kWh for a r...

It may be viewed as automotive sacrilege to some but Lotus is serious about producing an SUV and will make the most of Geely’s resources in bringing it to life. Autocar reports that Lotus will look to rival the Maserati Levante and Porsche Macan with the model and wants it to be the best handling vehicle in its class. Forming the basis of the model will be parts from the SPA platform underpinning the Volvo XC90 and XC60. Although the use of such components will limit the Lotus SUV to four cylinder engines, the vehicle will weigh less than two tonnes and the British brand has a knack for extracting serious power from small engines. Consequently, a peak figure exceeding 400 hp is a certainty. Speaking of the vehicle’s handling prowess, Lotus chief executive Jean Marc Gales said, “It will go round bends like nothing else in its segment. If we fail on that we fail the project.” The SUV’s platform won’t be the only thing it shares with Volvo. Numerous electric equipment from the ...

Volvo has released the official details of the new V60 ahead of its public debut at the Geneva Motor Show. Based on the Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform, the new Volvo V60 wants to set a new standard in the mid-size premium segment with its advanced technologies, luxurious interior and advanced connectivity features. The new Volvo V60 is also 117mm longer than the XC60, measuring 4,761mm, while the wheelbase is 2,872mm. These dimensions boost both the interior and the luggage space, which now stands at 529lt with the rear seats up, 841lt with them folded down and 1364lt to the ceiling and with the seats folded. The new mid-size premium wagon is Volvo’s first SPA-based model to be offered with two plug-in hybrid powertrains, at least in Europe that is. The first one is the T6 Twin Engine AWD version that offers 340hp from its petrol-electric powertrain while the range-topping T8 Twin Engine AWD delivers 390hp. The European engine range will also includ...

The new Polestar One is finally out, with the company releasing all the details on their new halo model during a special event in Shanghai. Set to become a halo model for the brand, the new Polestar One is a two-door, 2+2 seat Gran Tourer that’s powered by a powerful ‘Electric Performance Hybrid’ powertrain churning out 600hp and 1000Nm (737lb-ft) of torque. As expected, the new Polestar One is based on Volvo’s Scalable Platform Architecture (SPA) but the standalone performance brand claims that around 50 percent of their latest creation is new and bespoke, created by their own engineers. This happened because Polestar wants the One to be a true performance coupe, giving it things like an all-new Öhlins Continuously Controlled Electronic Suspension (CESi) and a full carbon-fiber bodywork that not only is lighter but also improves torsional stiffness by 45 percent. Polestar 1's rear axle is powered by two electric motors that also enable torque vectoring for m...

After moving away from Volvo last week, Polestar has started the teasing game that will eventually lead to the presentation of a new car. Teased on Instagram, the vehicle doesn’t give its nature away, and there's not much to work with in regards to finding out what exactly we're looking at here, because it could be just about anything at this point. However, the most plausible scenario builds upon a report published a few months ago, which said that Polestar's first model will be a two-door coupe. If this turns out to be the case, then expect plenty of carbon fiber used in its body, and as much as 600hp coming from the engine compartment. You might want to take that last bit with a grain of salt, though, because after parting ways with Volvo, Polestar is becoming a separate brand that focuses on zero-emission vehicles, and the '600hp' bit comes in contradiction with the EV technology. Of course, there's always the possibility of a new S90/V90 Polestar...

Following an announcement made this summer, Volvo is letting its performance arm, Polestar, go, as it will become a separately-branded company focusing on pure-electric cars. The decision was marked with a rather dramatic message posted by Polestar on Instagram, which leaves nothing to the imagination: "The End." It may be the end to the Volvo Polestar as we know it, but the brand will live on, separately, and it will focus on the development of high-performance electrified cars. It's still too early to talk about the exact vehicles that will be made under the close watch of Geely, Volvo and Polestar's parent company, but reports are talking about the 60 and 90 series models. Taking the reins at the stand-alone brand is Thomas Ingenlath, Volvo's Senior Vice President of Design, who is joined by the Swedish automaker's Senior Vice President of Corporate Communication, Jonathan Goodman, as Chief Operating Officer. The last Volvo Polestar models ...