For 2010, Volvo added the R-Design package to its XC60. It’s intended to give the crossover sportier driving dynamics and looks. This newest edition of the 2010 Volvo XC60 starts at $42,400.
A standard Volvo XC60 T6 starts at just over $39,000. This includes the top-of-the-line 281-hp turbocharged six-cylinder engine, leather interior, 18-inch wheels, numerous airbags (this is a Volvo), Bluetooth, and all-wheel-drive.
For a total of $3900 more, buyers can opt for the XC60 R-Design. It includes all of the XC60 T6 standard equipment, and adds a stiffer chassis with a revised suspension, unique 20-inch five-spoke wheels, color matched body trim, sports seats, and a unique “metallic-themed” interior. All of these changes are meant to give the XC60 a sportier, yet more refined driving experience.

Source: Distro Car

Airbag, Bluetooth, Four-wheel drive, Straight-six engine, Turbocharger, Volvo, Volvo XC60 T6, VolvoXc60

Given Volvo’s reputation for safety, when the company calls its new XC60 the safest Volvo yet, and probably the safest vehicle in the world, it’s not just hyperbole. It should be a serious consideration when out shopping. Impact test data was not available at the time of this review, but if a crash test dummy could ‘come to its sensors’ it should try to get in line for the XC60 test that day.

Volvo has rolled out the XC60 for 2010 to stake its share in the extremely popular small luxury crossover SUV segment, taking on the BMW X3 and much newer Audi Q5 and Mercedes GLK, among many, many others. Safety being in its DNA, this part of the XC60 story starts with the very steel used to make it and body structure that employs collision management to distribute energy. The very shape and flush elements of the energy absorbing front-end reduces the severity of impact with pedestrians and cyclists. Bumpers that match the height of lower car bumpers negate bigger than usual fender bender bills, and the transversely mounted engine will be less likely to penetrate the passenger cabin in a front-end collision. The XC60, of course, comes with a full complement of multi-stage front and side curtain airbags. We are talking about the company that invented the side airbag, not to mention the single most important advancement in automotive safety – the three-point seatbelt. Fifty years later, the XC60 boasts another nifty Volvo first. It stops itself!

The City Safety system is born out of these statistics. Seventy-five percent of crashes occur at speeds under 30 km/h, and half of those are because of distraction, where the driver did not brake at all! Behind the rear-view mirror on the XC60 is a laser that scans for objects 6 metres ahead. Based on the distance to any vehicle or object and your speed, the system calculates braking forces needed to avoid collision. If you exceed that threshold by, you guessed it, NOT hitting the brakes or not pressing down on the peddle hard enough, the system takes over. The City Safety system does not promise to avoid collision, but even if there is contact the severity of the crash will be reduced significantly. There are some limitations, however, like snow and ice covering the laser. In addition, that laser is best at reading reflective objects like a car, so don’t plough through your flat beige garage door showing off this cool new feature to your neighbor.

Despite its 2,774-mm (109.2-inch) wheelbase the XC60 provides a lot of leg and cargo volume at 1,907 litres (67.3 cu ft). Built-in two-stage booster seats are a very nice feature, too. XC, of course, stands for cross-country, and the XC60 provides ample ground clearance of 230 mm (9.0 inches) for off-road use. It does not offer lower gearing, however, because at its heart it is a luxury family mover.

Read the full review on Autos Canada

Airbag, Audi Q5, Automobile, BMW X3, City Safety, Crossover, Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class, Traffic collision

In a well-remembered advertising campaign, Volvos were marketed as the sensible Swede.” Maybe the company should resurrect that slogan, because what’s more sensible than trying to build the world’s safest automobiles?

Keeping occupants from harm has become a religion at Volvo’s Gothenburg works, so that’s where the company directs its energies. And a lot of Volvo R&D is designed to make a vehicle that’s smarter than its driver — in some situations.

For instance, Volvo studies have found that in 50% of all collisions below 30 km/h, the driver takes no action to avoid impact. Enter the 2010 XC60 crossover, the first to get Volvo’s new City Safety low-speed-collision avoidance/mitigation system as standard equipment.

At speeds under 30 km/h, City Safety uses a laser sensor to calculate the closing rate between the XC60 and the vehicle in front. If a collision is imminent and the driver takes no action, 50% of braking power automatically is applied. Volvo saysthe

system can eliminate collisions entirely at speeds under15

km/h and lessen the severity up to 30 km/h.

City Safety sees” only large reflective surfaces and does not react to pedestrians or bicycles. Wisely, Volvo engineers have located the sensor behind the windscreen, where grunge can be cleaned away by the wipers, making the system operable in all kinds of weather.

It’s a bit of a leap of faith to put your fate in the hands of some lasers and computers. But as I find in repeated demos with an XC60 AWD, the system slows you to the point where you can safely bring the vehicle to a full stop.

Our test car also has the blind spot information system (BLIS), which is part of the AWD package. With this, an orange light glows on either outside mirror if a vehicle is approaching from the rear, and might go unnoticed. This, too, really works.

All XC60s come standard with four-wheel anti-lock brakes (ABS) with electronic brake distribution (EBD) and emergency brake assist (EBA) plus six airbags, Volvo’s side impact protection system (SIPS) and whiplash protection system (WHIPS).

Read the full review at standard-freeholder

ABS, Airbag, Anti-lock braking system, Auto, Automobile, Brake Assist, Electronic brakeforce distribution, Gothenburg, Makes and Models, Recreation, Side Impact Protection System, Volvo, Volvo Cars, Volvo XC60

The second movie New Moon opens in theatres November 20. If you have a teenage daughter, she’s probably camped out in front of a downtown theatre right now, fogging up the ticket window with breathy anticipation.

English actor Robert Pattinson, plays pouting blood sucker and love interest Edward Cullen to actress Kristen Stewart’s love-struck mortal Bella in the popular tetralogy (four-banger).

In the first film, Edward gets to rip around the damp roads of the misty and moody Pacific Northwest coastal town of Forks, Washington, in a silver Volvo C30 at breakneck speeds. The car appears so often in Twilight, that it’s almost a character itself (notably Greig’s favourite character).

As a vampire, Edward has the power to drive inexplicably fast without worry of a fender bender.

He also appears to have a built-in radar detector due to mind-reading capabilities.

Unlike us mere mortals, he can hear the cop’s conversation beyond the bend.

Some Twihards may be in for a surprise at the New Moon premiere: Edward has traded in his flashy C30 for the roomy family-minded Volvo XC60 T6 AWD crossover.

Spoiler alert: Edward manages to impregnate Bella with a potentially fanged fetus in the fourth and final film Breaking Dawn.

Unfortunately for Bella, there’s a gang of “bad” vampires after her (a.k.a. human blood suckers, unlike Edward who subsists on deer and cougar blood). Edward’s raison d’être is now to keep Bella safe.

For vampires and customers looking for a Volvo with all-road get-away capability, the XC60 crossover equipped with City Safety is a solution.

City Safety is the very latest in safety technology.

It’s a low-speed automatic braking system.

This unique technology from Volvo helps Edward reduce the chance of a low-speed collision.

If Edward does not brake in time, the XC60 will do it for him.

City Safety monitors vehicles ahead — stopped at a light or moving in the same direction. Situated at the top of the windshield are laser sensors that gauge the distance between Edward’s XC60 and the car in front.

The XC60 brakes and comes to a stop automatically if the distance to the car ahead abruptly decreases, thus avoiding a collision as long as Edward is travelling under 30 km/h.

If he’s speeding as usual, the XC60 will still slow automatically, lessoning the impact.

If Edward is asleep at the wheel (impossible as vampires never sleep) a sensor called Driver Alert will warn him that he is possibly nodding off for the first time in almost a century.

Volvo’s XC60 is the safest Volvo yet.

It may just be the Big Brother of cars with features like Lane Departure Warning that audibly warns the driver when the car crosses the line.

A front and rear parking sensor assists through a series of audible beeps while backing into a tight spot.

Roll Stability Control monitors the vehicle rotation around its vertical axis.

Active Bending Headlights turn with the steering wheel, rounding dark corners before you do.

Particularly useful is the Blind Spot Information System which provides warnings of vehicles travelling in the XC60’s blind spots; handy if Vampires are sneaking up on you.

This Volvo is outfitted with airbags galore: multi-stage front airbags, side curtain airbags, and dual-chamber side airbags with side impact protection.

The vehicle’s body structure is designed to provide protection in a frontal collision, while Volvo’s Side Impact Protection System maintains an adequate space for the passengers in the event of an accident.

Inside the cabin, a panoramic sunroof reaches back towards the roomy rear seats providing so much light, it’s almost like driving a convertible.

Being a vampire, Edward might prefer a solid roof over his head.

Power leather heated seats will keep his chilly limbs warm.

My test unit came with chocolate brown and beige leather two-tone seats reminiscent of a saddle shoe design.

The interior is luxurious with wood inlays and quality materials.

The Navi system was easy to program, but came with remote control on which I had to press an enter button each time I started the car to agree to drive safely.

If there was a redundant “enter” button on the dash or steering I couldn’t locate it. Edward, an accomplished classically trained pianist, would appreciate the six-disc CD changer, eight speakers, satellite radio and input for his iPod.

When the sun suddenly broke out on what had been a gloomy, slippery day in Vancouver, I took my test unit to Pacific Spirit Regional Park.

Driving the small and sporty C30 back to back with the XC60, I was curious to see if the XC60 would feel cumbersome.

With a powerful turbocharged six-cylinder engine producing 281 hp and 295 pound-feet of torque, the XC60 is a decent performer for a sport-ute. In seven seconds I was easily up to highway speed.

This Volvo crossover felt great accelerating out of the corners on the wet road with just a hint of roll.

Parked in a grassy meadow, I played around with three suspension settings: Comfort, Sport and Advanced, trying to imagine which setting a vampire might prefer.

Volvo’s All-wheel drive with Instant Traction is standard equipment.

The AWD is electronically controlled and can sense which wheel or wheels has the best grip on the ground and distributes engine power between the front and rear wheels automatically.

The XC60 easily climbed a muddy slope in the park, something Edward’s C30 could not have managed.

Read the full story at Vancouver Sun

Actor, Airbag, Automobile, Blind Spot Information System, Edward Cullen, Electronic stability control, Twilight, Volvo XC60