... Volvo's 'Four-C' Technology at the South Florida International Auto Show
MIAMI, Nov. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- First seen at the Paris Motor Show in
September, the new Volvo S60 R rolls into Miami for a first look by North
American audiences. The high-performance sedan is a limited-production model,
inspired by the technology and performance of Volvo's renowned Performance
Concept Car.
Performance and Safety
Volvo's new S60 R is a true performance car, designed for driving beyond
the ultimate experience without compromise to the Volvo hallmark of
intelligent functionality.
"Safety is not compromised with the S60 R," says Vic Doolan, president and
CEO of Volvo Cars of North America, LLC. "We have a sophisticated
all-wheel-drive system that is integrated with an innovative active chassis,
which results in superior handling of our 300 horsepower engine," he said.
FOUR-C Chassis
Atop the S60 R list of technological breakthroughs is the Four-C
Technology (Continuously Controlled Chassis Concept), which is one of the most
advanced active performance chassis on the market. Four-C allows both the
uncompromising road holding of an extreme sports sedan with the comfort
essential in a family car.
Four-C differs from other chassis concepts in its ability to process
enormous amounts of information from sensors throughout the chassis. The
sensors send signals to the Four-C's microprocessor, which computes the
motions of the car, adjusting the stiffness of the shock absorbers so that the
car is always parallel to the road surface.
The shock absorbers are updated with new information 500 times per second.
This is made possible by a totally new technology, the first in the world of
cars, developed jointly with Ohlins Racing AB, one of the world's leading
developers of high-tech shock absorber systems, and shock absorber
manufacturer Monroe.
Three Chassis Settings
The driver has three chassis-setting options available through three
control buttons in the middle of the instrument panel - Comfort, Sport and
Advanced Sport. In the Sport setting, which is also the default setting, the
chassis is optimized for ordinary driving on winding roads and at high speeds.
Pressing the Comfort button increases the softness of the chassis and
insulates the body from irregularities in the road.
When the driver presses the Advanced Sport button, the Volvo S60 R is
transformed into a pure sports sedan. The chassis is optimized for maximum
road holding in all situations, including the racetrack.
The S60 R's electronically controlled all-wheel drive (AWD) system works
in concert with the Four-C suspension to optimize road holding and stability.
With its extremely short engagement and disengagement time, the AWD system
reacts immediately to throttle position and torque.
300 horsepower and 295 ft.-lbs. of torque
Under the hood lurks the most powerful engine in the Volvo range. The
five-cylinder 2.5-liter in-line turbocharged engine puts out 300 horsepower at
5,200 rpm and 295 ft.-lbs. of torque at 1,950 rpm. Top speed for the S60 is
electronically limited to 155 mph and it accelerates from 0 to 60 mph 5.7
seconds with a manual gearbox.
The new six-speed manual gearbox was developed to handle the high torque
delivered by the engine. Gearshift travel is short, making for fast, positive
changes.
Also available is a five-speed Geartronic automatic transmission, which
offers the best of both worlds: the gearbox takes care of all gear changes
automatically; or the driver can change gears manually, but without a clutch.
It also has a "Sport" mode selector in which the automatic transmission
changes gears at a higher engine speed and downshifts faster.
Performance Sedan Design
The styling of the new cars represents a subtle change in Volvo's
tradition when it comes to performance-car design.
The S60 R features an aggressively styled front end. The grille has a
frame in satin silver, the chin spoiler has been extended and the lower air
intake is larger to provide increased airflow and more efficient cooling.
At the back, the Volvo S60 R has a thin trunk-mounted spoiler, expressing
very clearly that the R concept philosophy is all about optimization.
The interior is designed to radiate exclusive sportiness - and the driver
is firmly in focus. The sport seats have increased side support. They are
available in three colors: Dark Blue, Gold Beige and Aniline leather, all with
unique stitching. The leather carries a strong visual link with Scandinavian
furniture design.
Production of the R Cars
Scheduled to start production in early 2003, the 2004 Volvo S60 R will be
built in Ghent, Belgium. Volumes will be limited. A wagon version - the V70
R - will be built at the Torslanda plant in Sweden. Prices have not been
announced.
Volvo expects to sell 7,000 S60 R and V70 R cars a year, and the five
largest markets are the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan and
Sweden.
For more information: http://www.volvocars-pr.com
SOURCE Volvo Cars of North America, LLC
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Related links:
http://www.volvocars.com
http://www.sfliautoshow.com
CONTACT:
James Hope or Stephen R Bohannon, both for
Volvo Cars of North America, LLC, 1-800-970-0880
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