Volvo Winnipeg Blog

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It is part of our Scandinavian heritage that things be made to last. Perhaps the most visible expression of Volvo quality is the continued durability of Volvos that were built a decade ago. According to a recent independent study by Polk, the median life expectancy of all Volvos in service is 18.6 years. And Volvo is the only car company with a High Mileage Club. These impressive facts help demonstrate another Volvo theme: that quality is an underlying principle of everything we do.

Consider our paint and rust-proofing processes: During construction, every critical joint receives a zinc welding primer. Body components are assembled to extremely precise standards and caulking compounds seal all body joints. A corrosion resistant zinc coating is applied to all areas of the car susceptible to rust. The body is etched with an acid spray to give the primer a firm grip. But we are not satisfied with simply immersing the body in primer. Going an extra step, we apply opposite electric charges to the body and primer. The result is an attraction that creates bonds of optimum thickness and exceptional uniformity. In all, seven layers of primers, sealers, and coatings are applied. Special polyester-based formulas are applied to the lower parts of the body to help protect against chipping. To further reduce corrosion, anti-corrosive gel is sprayed into body sections that can trap moisture. Engine and suspension systems are sprayed with a rust-proofing oil. Finally, the inner fenders, which receive a relentless assault from road grit, sand, stones and salt, are protected by fender liners installed in all four wheel wells.

Scandinavian Design

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Hasselblad, Lego, Electrolux, Fiskars, Bang & Olufsen, Volvo: All of exceptional quality. All elegant in their functionality. All representatives of Scandinavian design.

The Scandinavian approach to design is rooted in the region’s long held democratic ideals; its relatively equal distribution of wealth; and its small — even intimate — market.

The emphasis was on affordable objects that could enhance everyday life, both aesthetically and functionally. Close ties and constant communication between manufacturers and consumers meant that refinements and improvements were ongoing.

Technological innovations were sought after to bring more benefits to more people. Furniture makers developed laminated woods and new ways to work with them. Swedish silversmiths embraced stainless steel as a way to bring finely crafted and pleasing eating utensils to everyone. Transportation is a universal need. And in the Scandinavian tradition, Volvo seeks to fulfill that need with innovative vehicles that bring quality, functionality and beauty to the largest number of people possible.

http://www.volvocanada.com/Experience/EnvironmentalPolicy.aspx?lng=2

Volvo builds cars for people
Cars are driven by people. The guiding principle behind everything we make at Volvo, therefore, is and must remain – safety.

Assar Gabrielsson
Gustaf Larson

Environmental care is a natural extension of our safety philosophy. As such, it is part of the Volvo driving experience.

Environmental care has been one of Volvo’s core values for the last thirty years or so. Our aim is to become a leader in environmental care in the premium car segment of the automotive industry. Our environmental programs embrace the car’s complete life cycle, technical development, efficient utilization of resources, and reduced emissions.

Clean Inside

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Safe and Healthy Interior
The interior of a Volvo is designed to be healthy and safe – even for people with asthma and contact allergies. Particular attention has been paid to the use of environmentally compatible materials.

Air quality – Incoming Air

Interior Air Quality System

Volvo Cars works systematically to create a healthy passenger compartment environment. A cabin filter prevents dust, particulates and pollen from entering the interior through the ventilation system. Most Volvos can also be equipped with an interior air quality system (IAQS)*. This consists of an electronic sensor that monitors the amount of carbon monoxide in the incoming air and closes the air intakes if the level becomes too high, for example in dense city traffic, traffic tailbacks and tunnels. A combined filter with an activated carbon element protects the occupants from virtually all unpleasant odours caused, for example, by exhaust fumes, washer fluid and oil. The combined filter also reduces occupant exposure to gases such as nitrogen oxides, ground-level ozone and hydrocarbons.

* Option in combination with ECC (Electronic Climate Control).

Allergy Tested Interior

The interior also complies with the Oeko-Tex 100 ecological standard – a major step towards a healthier in-car environment. Oeko-Tex certification covers components such as fabrics, threads, carpets and safety belts. In addition, the leather upholstery is the product of a chromium-free tanning process based on natural plant extracts, which also meets the Oeko-Tex requirements. Other components, such as the handbrake button, load anchoring eyebolts, space ball and steering wheel badge are tested for contact allergens and meet the EU directive for nickel leakage from jewellery.

Clean Outside

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From cradle to grave, the environmental impact of a car is roughly as follows: 5% occurs during production, 90% during the vehicle’s useful life, and 5% during scrapping and recycling.

Volvo’s aim is to ensure that the environmental impact of the car is the minimum possible at all stages of its life cycle.

To make environmental programs as effective as possible and apply resources where they will do the most good, it is necessary to identify the problems that must be prioritized.

Fuel Efficient Engines

In terms of its effect on its surrounding, road traffic:

* increases emissions of greenhouse gases, mainly CO2
* impairs air quality by emissions of substances such as hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and particulates.

With the benefit of advanced technology, the combustion process in the modern petrol engine is highly efficient which, in itself, produces low emissions. The exhaust gases are further cleaned by the latest generation of three-way catalytic converter. This is located immediately adjacent to the engine to reach full performance quickly, even when starting from cold. This reduces emissions of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides by 95-98%.

Approximately 90 percent of the environmental impact of a car is generated during its useful life. One of the most important environmental goals at Volvo Cars is to reduce fuel consumption and thus emissions of carbon dioxide, which contribute to the greenhouse effect.

V8 Engine

Lower Emissions

This is the cleanest-running gasoline-powered V8 available in an SUV – the only one in the world that meets the EPA’s stringent Ultra Low Emission Vehicle, stage II (ULEV II) requirements. In fact, the Volvo XC90 V8 is so clean-running, it already meets European clean-air standards before they’ve been mandated.

Clean All Its Life

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In years gone by, protecting the environment generally meant cleaning up afterwards. Now, however, it means doing things correctly from the beginning. So environmental care is built into our cars right from the design stage to reduce the total lifetime environmental impact of the car.

The analytical tools we use in product development and design enable us to compare and evaluate how different solutions and materials effect the environment.

Our entire operation is certified in accordance with ISO 14001.

Our production plants are among the cleanest in the world.

We impose tough requirements on our suppliers; for example, in terms of implementing environmental management systems.

Manufacturing Techniques

Volvo Cars has dramatically improved the environmental performance of its plants since the 1960s, for example by installing several kinds of cleaning technology and substantially reducing emissions to air and water. However, these technologies do not solve all of the problems since they consume energy. Lower energy consumption is one of Volvo Cars current main environmental objectives for its plants.

Solvent emissions
Solvent emissions from car production have attracted much attention in the last 30 years. Inhalation of high concentrations of solvents can affect human health. Solvents also contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone. Reduction of these solvents is a highly prioritized area in our plants. Solvent emissions from the Torslanda plant have been reduced by 30 kg/car in 1977 to 1.4 kg/car in 2003.

Use of chemicals
In 1991, Volvo Cars established a database containing detailed information on more than 5,000 chemical products. Since its introduction, the number of chemical products used in production has been reduced and a large number of substances have been eliminated from production operations.
Volvo Cars has been using standards for chemical substances since the beginning of the 1990s. These standards are actually tougher than the relevant legislation, and substances such as CFCs and asbestos were phased out before the legislation came into force.

Energy consumption
Significant amounts of energy are used in car manufacturing and Volvo Cars is working continually to reduce energy consumption in its plants. However, the environmental impact of the operation is a function of the energy used. Volvo plants mainly use natural gas, which is a preferable alternative from the environmental point of view. The Torslanda plant also uses residual heat from a nearby oil refinery for heating.

Water consumption
Closed water cycles are used to reduce the consumption of fresh water and all Volvo plants are equipped with advanced water treatment facilities. Residual products are treated in an environmentally compatible manner. The introduction of water treatment has significantly reduced emissions of substances such as phosphorus, iron, chromium, nickel and zinc.

Waste and recycling
Volvo Cars has introduced waste management systems to minimize residual products and improve material utilization. In addition, it is important to continually increase the proportion of recycled and reused materials. The implementation of recycling and waste management procedures has yielded very successful results.

Recyclability

A higher level of recycling is an important method of reducing the consumption of finite resources. All Volvo cars are designed to take account of their recyclability at the end of their useful life. This is a matter of specifying the correct materials and developing solutions which will facilitate dismantling. To simplify recycling, we mark plastic components, avoid mixed materials and reduce the number of fasteners. This allows 85% of a new Volvo to be recycled and the aim is to increase this to 95%. Procedures for scrapping cars differ from market to market. However, your Volvo dealer will assist you in finding a suitable take-back station.

Volvo cars also include components made of recycled materials, while certain components are reused through the Volvo Cars exchange system for remanufactured parts. This system, in which used parts are collected from dealers and remanufactured to the same quality as new parts, is a good example of reuse. This enables the amount of resources and energy used in component manufacture to be reduced significantly. Over 2,000 different components, from gearboxes to consoles, are remanufactured in this manner. And the only difference between remanufactured and all-new parts is that we use them more than once – naturally with a full warranty.

Environmental Declaration

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The impact a car has on the environment is not limited to the years it is driven. Its impact lasts from cradle to grave. Our environmental efforts reflect that reality. Volvo has established rating systems and control tools so as to be able to assess the environmental impact of every single production decision. In fact, we are the first company to issue an Environmental Product Declaration certified by an objective third party, which quantifies our progress in this area.

VOLVO GUIDE TO IN-CAR CHILDCARE
Most parents do everything they can to keep their children safe from harm but there can be danger even when traveling in the family car, caused by a lack of awareness about in-car child safety.

Supported by the company’s comprehensive safety studies, Volvo has produced a handy guide to keep children safe while on the road. ‘Children In Cars’ is full of helpful tips and advice for anyone who travels with children1.

SIT UP, BELT UP
Six out of ten parents don’t buckle their children in properly. They are unaware of how to fit the diagonal section of a seatbelt correctly (not too far out on the shoulder and never under the arm) and not sure how to fit a lap belt (across the tops of the legs, never across a child’s stomach).

Using a standard seat belt provides 60% better protection than no restraint at all but using a forward facing child seat or booster cushion provides 80% better protection whilst a rearward facing child seat is 90% better.

FACE THE BACK FACTS
Quite simply, sitting facing the rear is the safest way to travel for any of us, but especially for children. Babies and children are fragile passengers as their heads are big and heavy in relation to the rest of the body (25% of total weight), and have thinner skulls, underdeveloped necks, pelvis and vertebrae compared to adults.

In the event of an impact using a rearward facing child seat, the whole of the child’s back takes the impact, rather than its much more vulnerable neck. There is a five times greater risk of fatality or serious injury for children in forward-facing seats.

Babies and toddlers should be rearward facing up until at least the age of three and preferably longer. Currently, only 1 in 4 three year olds use rearward facing seats. Rearward facing seats should be only be used in the front passenger seat if the car has no, or a disabled, passenger airbag.

GETTING BETTER
The good news is that from 1976 to 2000, there has been a marked improvement in child car safety. In Sweden, the use of seat belts and car seats, particularly rearward facing child seats has risen from 25% to almost 100%. As a result, occurrences of injuries of Maximal Abbreviated Injury Scale scoring 2 or above (on a scale of 1 to 6, where 6 is most severe) are now a fifth of what they were 20 years ago.

Volvo Cars of Canada Corp. encourages all customers to make themselves aware of the regulations and recommendations stipulated by Transport Canada regarding young passengers.

1All statistics and information taken from ‘Children in Cars, A Safety Guide’, written and published by Volvo Car Corporation and based on comprehensive, ongoing research by Volvo’s Traffic Accident Research Team and a variety of Swedish academic and governmental studies.

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The Volvo Safety Centre is uniquely Volvo, the only one of its kind within the car industry. It helps us stay at the forefront in the one race that really matters: the race to save lives by building safer cars. Highly advanced laboratory equipment, like our pivoting crash track, enable safety engineers to create and analyze front impacts, rear impacts, and rollovers. That’s nearly every conceivable accident scenario along with every angle in-between. Since 1970, the Volvo Accident Investigation Team has traveled around the world to investigate over 28,000 accidents. We don’t take our reputation for safety lightly and neither should you.

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In 1927, when Volvo founders Assar Gabrielsson and Gustaf Larson drew plans for their first motorcar, they believed that good design must include the utmost consideration for safety. Their commitment to safety has endured, and has been embraced and expanded today in Gothenburg, Sweden, headquarters of Volvo Cars. Through the years, Volvo has designed safety features based on extensive research of real-world accidents.

In 1970, we formed the Volvo Accident Investigation Team to study accidents involving Volvos. Since then the team has researched more than 20,000 individual accidents, resulting in significant improvements in automobile safety design, many of which have since been adopted by other carmakers. We are proud of this tradition, and hope that our innovations continue to inspire higher standards of safety throughout the automobile industry.

Volvo Safety Milestones

* 1944 Safety cage
* 1944 Laminated windshield
* 1959 Three-point seat belts in the front
* 1960 Padded dashboard
* 1964 Prototype of the first rear-facing child seat
* 1966 Energy-absorbent crumple zones at both front and rear
* 1967 Seat belts in the rear
* 1968 Head restraints in the front
* 1969 Three-point, inertia-reel seat belts in the front
* 1970 Establishment of the Volvo Accident Research Team
* 1972 Three-point seat belts in the rear
* 1972 Rear-facing child seat and childproof locks in the rear
* 1973 Collapsible steering column
* 1974 Energy-absorbent bumpers
* 1974 Fuel tank located ahead of rear axle
* 1978 Child booster seat
* 1982 Anti-submarining protection in the front and rear seats
* 1982 Wide-angle door mirrors
* 1984 ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)
* 1986 High-level brake light
* 1986 Three-point seat belt in the center rear seat
* 1987 Driver airbag
* 1990 Integrated child booster seat
* 1991 SIPS (Side-Impact Protection System)
* 1991 Automatic height adjustment of the front seat belts
* 1993 Three-point, inertia-reel seat belts standard in all seats
* 1994 SIPS bags (side-impact airbags)
* 1997 ROPS (Rollover Protection System) (convertible models)
* 1998 WHIPS (Whiplash Protection System)
* 1998 IC (Inflatable Curtain)
* 2000 Inauguration of Volvo Cars Safety Center in Gothenburg
* 2000 ISOFIX attachment system for all child seats
* 2000 Dual-stage inflation airbags
* 2001 Volvo Safety Concept Car (SCC)
* 2002 Extended rollover protection system (ROPS)
* 2002 Development of the virtual pregnant crash test dummy
* 2002 RSC (Roll Stability Control)
* 2003 IDIS (Intelligent Driver Information System)
* 2003 Rear seat belt reminders (in S40 and V50)
* 2003 New, patented, front-end structure reduces collision forces
* 2003 Inauguration of Volvo’s Traffic Accident Research Team in Bangkok
* 2004 WRG (Water Repellent Glass)
* 2005 Introduction of DMIC (Door Mounted Inflatable Curtain) on the All-New Volvo C70

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There’s more to automotive safety than avoiding accidents and reducing injuries. Volvo’s holistic approach to safety extends to the personal safety of drivers and passengers not just in, but also around, your Volvo. To protect you and your property, we’ve developed extensive foolproof and redundant systems that help protect against vehicle theft, forcible entry, theft of personal property, and personal threat.

Volvo Innovations in Personal Safety

* Home Safe Lighting System – illuminates the interior and the area in front of and around your Volvo for 30 seconds after you remove its key from the ignition and pull the high beam lever.
* Theft-Proof Lock System – makes it impossible to start the car without the right key and deadlocks the doors if a window is broken when the system is armed.
* Volvo OnCall – integrates a GSM telephone with built-in GPS unit for direct communication with a Volvo OnCall centre in the event of an accident, emergency, breakdown, break-in or theft. Route guidance, traffic and travel information are also available.
* A central locking system – locks or unlocks all the doors with the touch of a button from the driver’s seat or by remote control outside the vehicle.
* Advanced security and alarm system is activated when the vehicle is tampered with, or by remote control in threatening situations.

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Simply put, avoiding accidents is better than having accidents. Much better. Preventative safety features like Dynamic Stability and Traction Control (DSTC) help you, the driver, avoid accidents by evading them. And nothing is safer for you than no accident at all. So every Volvo is equipped with a variety of innovative preventative safety features, many of which are, of course, uniquely Volvo, developed by Volvo safety engineers over years of research, design and testing, both in the laboratory and the real world.

Increased Visibility
One of the best ways to avoid accidents is for drivers to see and be seen clearly. That’s why, when Volvo engineers and designer design Volvo’s, they insist on large windows that help to reduce blind spots, automatic windshield wipers with intermittent speeds, electric rear window defrosters, innovative headlamps that produce more natural light, daytime running lights, side marker lights, and high-level brake lights. It’s all an integral part of Volvo design. And that’s a design that’s easily recognized on roads all over the world.

Improved Handling
To ensure Volvo drivers maintain control of their vehicles at all times, we’ve developed smart systems that improve handling in demanding conditions. All Volvos are equipped with antilock brakes, but some models are also available with stability and traction control systems. These help prevent wheels from slipping and help drivers maintain control during unpredictable skids and roadway surprises.

Ergonomic Interiors
A driver must remain alert and focused at all times. Our preventative safety philosophy includes accessible controls, ergonomic seats, and advanced climate control systems that help you maintain a comfortable and refreshing environment, free from distractions.
This also means you keep your eyes on the road and hands on the wheel, right where you need them to be at all times.

Volvo Innovations in Preventative Safety

* Dynamic Stability and Traction Control (DSTC) – gathers and performs analysis of driving data in real time and stabilizes the vehicle by braking or limiting engine power.
* Antilock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Braking force Distribution (EBD) – automatically pumps and releases brakes to help maintain control during hard braking.
* Roll Stability Control – helps prevent rollovers during extreme maneuvers.

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The top executive at Volvo Car Corporation says the new Volvo XC60 is stepping boldly into what is currently the automotive world’s fastest-growing segment – the small premium crossover segment – dressed in a thrilling blend of muscular XC capability and the sporty charisma of a coupe.

“This is not only the safest Volvo ever. If you ask me, it’s also the most stunning. Not a bad combination, is it?” says Volvo Cars President and CEO Fredrik Arp. The new XC60 has its premiere showing at the international car show in Geneva in March, with the first cars reaching retailers in Canada in early 2009. Pricing will be announced at a later date.

The Small Premium Crossover segment is growing quickly. By 2009, this segment is expected to expand by 75 percent to 443,000 units with up to 10 vehicles competing for buyer attention.

“In order to succeed in that kind of competition, you have to stick your chin out and create a car that stands out from the crowd,” explains Arp. “The new XC60 bases its unique appeal on the synthesis between daringly sporty design and a range of intelligent safety systems that help the driver avoid accidents.”

The big safety news for the XC60 is City Safety – a unique feature that can help the driver avoid or reduce the effects of low-speed impacts that are common in city and stop-and-go traffic. If the XC60’s sensors determine that a collision with the vehicle in front is imminent and the driver does not react, the Volvo applies the brakes autonomously in an effort to reduce the severity of the impact.

“We are first manufacturer in the world to offer this type of feature as standard,” says Arp. “City Safety clearly advertises that the new XC60 is the safest vehicle Volvo has ever produced. The crossover is packed with our accumulated safety know-how and technology, both when it comes to preventing accidents and protecting all the occupants in a collision.”

Six-cylinder turbo
The new XC60 will have one engine choice in Canada: the six-cylinder turbocharged T6 engine producing 281 horsepower. All Wheel Drive (AWD) with Instant Traction is fitted as standard.

“Owing to its compact dimensions, the XC60 is 20 cm shorter than the XC70 and lower than the XC90 – it continues our range of slimmed-down car models with high energy efficiency,” reveals Arp.

The chassis setting is aggressively sporty without losing anything in terms of comfort. Sitting behind the wheel of the new XC60, it becomes clear the vehicle was built to deliver a rewarding driving experience.

Target group with high demands on technology
The XC60 project has its sights set on a target group that imposes high demands on design, brand integrity and high-tech content in its choice of lifestyle products.

Tongue in cheek, one might say that it’s all about consumers who’ve grown up with the microchip as a natural supplement to their breakfast cereal. They’re used to the immensely fast pace of development in the world of electronics – and every succeeding birthday has brought with it increased capacity in ever-shrinking gift packages.

When it comes to the choice of vehicle, these consumers adopt the same view as they do for other lifecycle products: all the properties should preferably be integrated into one single attractive and intelligent package.

“One might say that this could be the C30 owner’s next vehicle. It’s as sporty and exciting, but way more capable. An all-round crossover for the person who lives single in the city and for the young family taking the kids for a weekend of fun and adventure,” relates Arp. “We’re aiming primarily at lifestyle rather than age. With the XC60 we are broadening our model range to attract even more customers with an active urban lifestyle. Like the Volvo C30, the XC60 plays an important role in our planned volume expansion strategy.”

Equal allocation to Europe and North America
The sales target for the new XC60 is over 50,000 cars per year. Distribution between Europe and North America is unusually uniform: about 40 percent each. The remaining 20 percent is destined for the rest of the world. The five largest markets during peak year 2010 will be the USA, Germany, Great Britain, Russia and China.

“This car has a natural appeal in North America,” explains Arp. “Here in Europe it is the sporty personality in combination with the compact format that attracts new buyers, primarily women. The XC60 offers a feeling of space even though it is about 20 centimetres shorter than the XC70. The fact that both China and Russia are among the five largest XC60 markets is proof that these growing markets are now beginning to be really large. Both markets will now advance even higher up the sales league in the future.”

The Volvo XC60 will be built at the Volvo Cars factory in Ghent, Belgium.

Volvo Cars of Canada Corp. is part of the Volvo Car Corporation of Göteborg, Sweden. The company provides marketing, sales, parts, service, technology and training support to the 42 Volvo automobile retailers across the country. The company’s product range includes the stylish and sporty C30, the elegant C70 hardtop convertible, the compact S40 sedan, the S60 sport sedan, the S80 flagship sedan, the versatile V50 wagon and the award-winning XC90 sport utility vehicle. For 2008, the company is introducing two all-new models: the redesigned V70 wagon and the capable and comfortable XC70.

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GÖTEBORG (January 21, 2008) — Volvo Car Corporation’s Scandinavian heritage and weather testing framework create a foundation for industry-leading winter performance.

The dedication stems from the belief that customers should be able to rely on Volvo vehicles everywhere, irrespective of climate and road conditions. It’s for this reason that Volvo vehicles are tested under the most extreme conditions found on the planet, from Arizona’s blisteringly hot desert to the biting cold of the Arctic north.

“Our cars have to be able to withstand ambient temperatures between -40 and +60 degrees Celsius,” says Jan Inge Eliasson, head of the Complete Vehicles Testing department at Volvo Cars. “This requirement has been around a long time and is one part of our safety tradition. Our aim is to create the best possible total function for all climates.”

Tough demands on the entire car

This extreme weather testing applies to the entire vehicle, down to the smallest part. A Volvo vehicle consists of about 40 main systems such as the engine, climate unit, seats, etc. The main systems are divided into 400 subsystems such as the starter motor, fan, seat heaters and others. The final classification consists of approximately 3000 components, everything from sensors to heating circuits.

Systems, subsystems and components are responsible for thousands of different basic functions and therefore must work as intended. For instance, the seats move forward and back, the fan delivers the desired power, and the windscreen wipers operate at set intervals.

In addition to basic functions, the vehicle also has a long list of supplemental requirements that can be dramatically affected by temperatures. Volvo Cars’ requirements outline the minimum amount of time for functions — such as windscreen demisting or temperature variances between the occupants’ head and feet — at a wide range of temperatures.

“Extreme winter climate is probably the toughest test to which one can subject a car” says Eliasson. “The stresses on the engine, steering, climate unit and other systems are immense. As far as I know, we are alone in carrying out tests down to -40 degrees. The reason is our Scandinavian heritage. Both we and our customers impose extra demands on us since we come from Sweden.”

Always on the customer’s terms

Volvo Cars was the first manufacturer to start winter testing its vehicles in the Swedish Lapland in the 1960s. Today, the company has a modern proving ground just outside Kiruna where all Volvo models — equipped with the widest array of options and equipment available — are put through rigorous tests.

The winter test season stretches from December to April. During this period vehicles are driven up to 200,000 kilometres on a test track and public highways, the equivalent to driving about five times round the world. The tests are carried out by a team of local drivers and Volvo test engineers. The team, composed of both male and female test drivers of different ages, is tasked with identifying and reporting any faults.

“All testing takes place as close to the customer’s everyday reality as possible,” says Eliasson. “And even if most Volvo customers never come into contact with this type of extreme climate, the car has to be ready on what may well be the one day a year when the snow suddenly blankets everything.”

Safety is in the holistic approach

Completing a carefully designed test program that relies on specific temperatures and conditions sometimes requires additional equipment to create more predictable weather patterns. For example, Volvo Cars employs refrigerator containers for cold start testing. The vehicle is parked inside overnight at thirty degrees below zero. The next morning, the doors are forced open and the engine is started.

“The big challenge lies in getting all the systems to function faultlessly together,” continues Eliasson. “The cold slows down the locking systems and various displays. The snow penetrates and blocks filters. Ice covers the windows and lamps. All this and much more has to be dealt with to meet the tough demands that are imposed – not least as regards safety.”

Safety-related work does play an integral part of Volvo Cars’ cold weather testing. First and foremost, the vehicle must create an environment and an interior climate that keeps the driver alert for long periods of time. Visibility is also critical. As is steering and braking ability in severe snowstorms and on black ice. What is more, the company’s all-wheel drive system and protective safety systems — such as air bags and seat belt pretentioners — must work reliably in such severe climates.

Nothing can replace reality

For Volvo vehicles, physical cold weather testing takes place late in a product’s development cycle. The test team uses pre-production vehicles that look and function exactly like the final model, however, the design has often been put through rigorous testing before arriving at the cold weather test centre. Volvo engineers use computer simulations and wind tunnels to examine the vehicle’s performance in artificial snow storms at extreme temperatures.

“The advantage of laboratories is that the tests are predictable and repeatable,” says Thomas Persson, head of technology & systems engineering for climate systems for Volvo Cars. “However, there is a danger too. We generally say that the wind tunnel reveals the answers we are looking for. Out on the open road, however, we find answers to questions we never even asked. For us, our reward comes later. When we meet the car on a cold winter’s day and we know that the car’s occupants are sitting in comfort and safety in their Volvo.”

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Göteborg (February 19, 2008) — The very first Volvo car left the factory on April 14, 1927. It was called the ÖV4 because the letters ÖV are Swedish for “Open Car” and 4 denoted the number of cylinders powering the new Swedish car. On February 20, 2008, it is once again an open car that is under the spotlights. That’s when car number 15,000,000, an attractive convertible Volvo C70, will leave the factory in Uddevalla.

In the first year, production proceeded at a modest pace, with 297 cars being sold in 1927. Emerging from the shadow of the global economic depression and Second World War, it took Volvo 23 years to build its first 100,000 cars. Today, that figure corresponds to about three months of production.

However, Volvo has never really been a high-volume manufacturer. Early in the company’s history, it was decided that the brand name should signify quality and safety. Since the early 1970s, environmental issues too have come to the forefront of the company’s corporate agenda. It is therefore no accident that Volvo was first off the mark with the world’s single most important safety invention (the 3-point safety belt was fitted as standard to Volvo cars as far back as 1959) and with one of the world’s foremost innovations in the environmental sphere (the 3-way catalytic converter with Lambdasond was introduced in 1976).

Many Volvo owners have over the years also expressed their appreciation of their cars’ sensible, solid engineering. Functionality has always been important and this was confirmed when British motoring magazine AutoExpress undertook an ambitious survey about ten years ago to find out which cars are best and worst to live with from the owner’s viewpoint. Two Volvo models took part in the survey, and both won their classes. The Volvo C70 was regarded as the best sports car and the Volvo S80 was named the best luxury car in stiff competition against considerably more expensive cars.

Today the Volvo brand is equally renowned for the attractive design of cars that reflect characteristic Scandinavian design traditions. When that first car drove past the factory gates back in 1927, it proudly carried its “iron symbol” on the radiator grille. That mark was and still is a symbol of Swedish steel and quality. When car number 15,000,000 now leaves the factory in Uddevalla, that symbol is still carried with pride on the front and it still represents quality and solidity. The Volvo C70 is one of the absolute safest convertibles ever built. It is a functional and spacious car. And it is actually two cars in one as the three-piece retractable hardtop transforms the Volvo C70 from coupe to convertible at the touch of a button.

Footnote: The best-selling Volvo model ever is the classic 200 Series. Between 1974 and 1993, no less than 2,862,573 were built.

Footnote II: Probably the best-known of all Volvo models is the P1800 sports coupe that was built during the 1960s. For one thing, it was the car that Roger Moore drove in the highly popular TV series “The Saint”. For another, Irv Gordon’s red P1800 from 1966 is in the Guinness Book of Records as the car that has covered a higher mileage than any other car on the planet. In 2002 his car’s odometer rolled past 2,000,000 miles (3,218,000 km) and in 2012 Irv expects to be doing the three million mile (4,827,000 km) service on his trusty car. Beat that if you can…