2011 Volvo S60 to Debut at Geneva Motor Show in March



With the 2011 S60, Volvo aimed for a sportier and more visually enticing design by incorporating the look of a four-door coupe. The S60’s new rakish roofline is part of the flowing styling dubbed “racetrack” design, which means that the car’s lines don’t end abruptly at any point but instead flow organically around the entire vehicle. With its sculpted front fascia, short overhangs, and flowing taillights, we have to say the S60’s design really works.

Volvo didn’t leave the sporty changes just to the S60’s styling, however, as the new S60 has a more dynamic chassis than any Volvo before it. The S60 sports stiffer springs all around and a stiffer chassis to increase grip and give the driver more control. Along with all of these upgrades in the name of sporty driving, Volvo improved the damping to provide a balance between stiffness and ride comfort.

“We spent many weeks fine-tuning the dampers out in the English countryside,” says Stefan Sällqvist, who led the S60 chassis development. “We drove on old Roman roads that have only ever received a few layers of tarmac over the centuries -- a perfect environment for finding the right damping qualities.”

Powering this sporty Volvo is the same 3.0-liter turbocharged in-line six-cylinder engine found in several vehicles in Volvo’s lineup. As of now, this is the only engine known to be coming to the U.S. Whether other engines will be available remains to be seen. In Europe, drivers will also get the choice of two diesel powerplants when the A60 is launched, with another diesel and three gasoline engines available shortly afterward. These engines are all coupled to either a six-speed automatic or a six-speed manual transmission. The manual transmission option may also be omitted from the American S60 lineup.

Volvo’s designers continued with the racetrack-design theme inside the car. The entire interior was designed to look as if it’s in motion. There is more legroom in the rear and the seats back there have been reshaped to offer more lateral support, but, unlike other four-door coupes, three passengers can still ride on the back bench. The S60 also adopts a new infotainment system that allows the driver access via steering wheel controls, standard controls underneath the screen, or voice recognition, when equipped. A new high-end radio from Audyssey Laboratories also equalizes the sound system automatically.

As with all Volvos, the S60 comes with a host of safety features. Volvo’s City Safety, which automatically applies the brakes to reduce the damage from or completely eliminate crashes below 18 mph, is standard. A new pedestrian detection system can apply full braking power to reduce the force of a collision with a pedestrian at speeds up to 21 mph. In addition, the new S60 is available with driver alert control, a blind spot warning system, lane departure warning, and numerous airbags.

Look for the 2011 Volvo S60 to make its world debut this March at the Geneva motor show. Volvo has not yet released any further details on pricing or an on sale date, but expect the car to make it into showrooms later this year.

Despite Facelift, 2011 Volvo C70 Pricing Still Starts At $40,800



For 2011, Volvo dropped the standard 6-speed manual transmission, opting instead to make the 5-speed automatic standard. 2011 C70s also receive Volvo’s premium “Sovereign Hide” leather trim and Sirius satellite radio at no charge.

Option packages largely mirror the 2010 model. A multimedia package, which adds a premium 14-speaker Dynaudio system, navigation, and Volvo’s real-time Map Care updates, runs $2600 -- just as it did in 2010. The climate package still costs $900, and includes heated front seats, headlamp washers, and rain-sensing windshield wipers.

Volvo did increase the price of the Dynamic Trim package to $1000, which adds 18-inch aluminum wheels, Xenon headlights, and a sports steering wheel. A new convenience package, which also runs $1000, adds keyless ignition, Homelink, rear parking sensors, and an automatic-dimming rearview mirror with a built-in compass.

Standalone options include a new cranberry leather (no charge), blind spot detection system ($700), special Nordic Light Oak wood inlays ($150), and a wind blocker ($495). Metallic paint options run between $550 and $675, depending on the color.

Look for the new 2011 Volvo C70 to arrive at dealers stateside later this year.
 source by automobilemag

2010 Chrysler Town & Country Overview

Introduction

Chrysler puts a luxurious spin on the minivan with the Town & Country. Innovative seating and upscale features inside and out set this van apart from the competition.
The most important feature, both from a usability stand-point and competitive stand-point, is that this van features Stow'n Go seats. The second and third-row seats can be folded into the floor. No more fumbling to release and remove awkward heavy seats and then try to find a suitable place to store them. Combine this with Chryslers new YES Essentials seat trim that repels all but the most caustic stains, and you have a truly family-friendly vehicle. The base trim is powered by a 3.3-liter V6 rated at 175 horsepower mated to a four-speed automatic transmission. The Touring model uses a more powerful 197 horsepower 3.8-liter V6, while the Limited is equipped with a 251 horsepower 4.0-liter V6. Both the Touring and Limited use a six-speed automatic. All trims come equipped with a tilting steering column, remote keyless entry and a tire pressure monitor.
The Town & Country carries-over with minimal changes for 2010.

NHTSA Frontal Crash Test

NHTSA rates crash-tested vehicles by assigning them one to five stars, with five stars indicating the most injury protection and one star indicating the least protection.
 source by autos.alo

2010 Chevrolet Camaro Overview

Introduction

With design cues evocative of the legendary 1969 model, the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro combines the spirit of the classic American muscle car with the fuel efficiency, safety, handling, technology and build quality expected in a modern performance coupe.
The Camaro is available in three trims: LS, LT and SS. The LS and LT are powered by a 304-hp direct-injected 3.6-liter V6 with a six-speed manual or an optional six-speed automatic transmission. The SS?s 6.2-liter V8 generates 426 horsepower with the standard six-speed manual, and 400 horsepower with the optional six-speed automatic with sequential shift control. Standard equipment on all Camaros includes independent rear suspension, StabiliTrak stability control with traction control, six airbags, air conditioning, OnStar and XM satellite radio. The LT adds fog lights, 18-inch alloy wheels and power driver?s seat, while the SS features unique front fascia, sport suspension, Brembo brakes, limited slip differential, a rear spoiler and heated leather seats. The available RS Package includes 20-inch aluminum wheels with performance tires, distinctive high-intensity headlights with a ?halo ring? display, rear spoiler and unique tail lamps. Optional equipment includes Bluetooth wireless connectivity, power sunroof, performance tires, Boston Acoustic sound system and a variety of exterior stripe packages.
The Chevrolet Camaro is all-new for 2010.

NHTSA Frontal Crash Test

NHTSA rates crash-tested vehicles by assigning them one to five stars, with five stars indicating the most injury protection and one star indicating the least protection.
 source by autos.alo