Volvo to celebrate the Estate car at Techno Classica 2016

Volvo has confirmed it will attend the world's biggest classic car show, Techno Classica, celebrating “60 years of estate heritage”.
 
The new Volvo V90, which just debuted at the Geneva Motor Show, comes after six decades of estate knowledge, starting with the Volvo Duett which was launched in 1953. Volvo describes it as the first car to meet the combined needs of drivers’ active leisure time and practical professional lives and has sold more than 6 million estates worldwide, representing around a third of the total number of Volvos sold since the company’s foundation in 1927.

The Volvo stand at Techno Classica is entirely devoted to the Swedish brand´s estate history, featuring a selection of six iconic estate models that have shaped Volvo’s history: The Duett - Launched in 1953, the Duett went on to become one of the first Volvos to be exported to the US and it was immortalised in 1997 when featured on a Swedish postage stamp.

The Duett was followed in 1962 by the Amazon, or the 221 as it was officially known. The Amazon was a more elegant and refined estate than the Duett, which had its origins as a delivery van, while it also offered more space in the boot. At the end of November 1967, Volvo presented the third variant in what was now developing into a complete car family known as the 140 Series: the Volvo 145. This design of the rear section has since become a well-known characteristic of all Volvo estates. The Volvo 145 quickly became an extremely popular estate and played an increasingly important role within the 140 Series.
 
A refresh of the 1800 sports coupe, the 1800 ES was known in England as a Shooting Brake: a sporty estate with space for hunting gear or golf clubs in the back. The 1800 ES was introduced in the autumn of 1971, and its most exciting feature possibly being the huge rear windscreen that had no bezel whatsoever. Hinges and handles were fixed directly to the glass, which was very modern in the early 1970s. As only around 8,000 1800 ES were built, it has become one of the most sought-after classic Volvo models.
 
In 1974, the archetypal Volvo estate car was launched: the 245, which remained in production for almost 20 years until 1993, and was also available in a more exclusive edition - the 265 with a V6 engine. The 1980s marked the launch of the 245 Turbo edition, the world’s first estate car with a turbo engine. With its intense yellow paint job, 240 horsepower and acceleration of 0-62mph in 6.9 seconds. Launched as a limited edition, model year 1994-only version of the 850, the T5-R became an ‘instant collector's item’ says Volvo.

Techno Classica takes place in Essen, Germany and runs from 6-10 April.

Volvo S90 and V90 pricing confirmed

Volvo has confirmed pricing for its S90 and V90.

Available to order now, on-the-road prices start at £32,555 for the S90 saloon and £34,555 for the V90 estate.
 
Like the XC90 before them, both feature the new face of Volvo including the T-shaped LED headlights, as well as being the latest models to be built on Volvo’s all-new Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform.
 
Both models will initially be available with a choice of two 2.0-litre, four-cylinder diesel engines - the D4 and the D5 PowerPulse – and in two trim levels, Momentum and Inscription. The front-wheel-drive 190 hp D4 comes with an eight-speed automatic gearbox, and offers combined fuel consumption of 64.2 mpg and CO2 emissions of 116 g/km in the S90. In the V90, these figures are 62.8 mpg and 119 g/km.
 
The 235 hp D5 utilises Volvo’s PowerPulse to boost responsiveness. This uses compressed air, which is stored in a tank in the engine bay and refilled automatically to spool up the turbo at low revs, helping overcome turbo lag. To 'harness the engine’s power', the D5 PowerPulse comes with all-wheel drive while an eight-speed automatic gearbox is also standard.
 
Every version of the S90 and V90 is ‘luxuriously equipped’ says Volvo. As standard, entry-level Momentum cars come with leather upholstery, LED headlights with active high beam, two-zone climate control with ‘CleanZone’ air-filtration system, keyless engine starting and heated front seats.
 
Volvo’s Sensus infotainment system is also standard. This brings a 9” touch screen, satellite navigation (including lifetime annual map updates), voice-control and access to the internet and a range of cloud-based apps. The S90 gets a powered bootlid while the V90 benefits from a powered tailgate.
 
Pilot Assist, Volvo’s semi-autonomous drive feature, is standard on every S90 and V90. It automatically keeps you at a set speed or distance from the vehicle in front, braking and accelerating with the flow of traffic, and gives gentle steering inputs to keep the car within lane markings at motorway speeds up to 80 mph. Unlike previous versions of the system, it no longer needs to follow another car.
 
The latest version of City Safety is also fitted to every S90 and V90. This includes automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, and the world-first application of large-animal detection.
 
Moving up to the Inscription model adds Nappa soft leather upholstery, powered front seats, a 12.3” active TFT driver’s information display (Momentum cars get an 8” version), 18” diamond-cut/silver alloy wheels, keyless entry and handsfree boot/tailgate opening and closing. Additional premium touches include walnut interior inlays, rear footwell and side step illumination, and chrome exterior details.
 
The optional Xenium package is available across the range and adds a powered tilt and slide glass sunroof (panoramic in the V90), a parking camera system with 360 degree surround view, and Park Assist Pilot, which includes automatic parallel and 90 degree parking.
 
Both models are available to order now, with the first S90 customer deliveries expected in September and the first V90s in October.

Volvo reveals new V90

Volvo has unveiled its new V90.

Launched in Stockholm, the estate car is the latest in Volvo’s top-of-the-line 90 series, sitting alongside the XC90 SUV and the recently launched S90 premium saloon.

Building on Volvo Cars’ heritage in the estate segment, which began more than 60 years ago with the Volvo Duett, the new V90 ‘takes the premium estate a clear step forward’ in terms of aesthetics, materials and finish, says the Swedish brand.

“We have a very strong position in the estate segment,” said Hakan Samuelsson, President and Chief Executive of Volvo Cars. “In many people’s minds we are known as the definitive estate brand. While the Volvo brand today stands for more than estates, we are proud to carry forward this rich heritage with the V90.”

“The modern premium estate is all about the intriguing combination of a luxurious experience with the functional origins of the estate silhouette. The sophisticated ambience of our new Volvo interiors is combined with a great cargo space, providing the right kind of functionality – whether through connectivity or cargo and storage solutions,” said Thomas Ingenlath, Senior Vice President for Design at Volvo Cars.

The new V90 features Pilot Assist semi-autonomous drive technology, the ‘most advanced’ standard safety package on the market, including Large Animal Detection and Run-off Road Mitigation, as well as 'class-leading' connectivity, including smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay.

Volvo also says it has also worked on driving dynamics for the new model, to deliver a totally new and refined driving experience ‘characterised by a sense of engaging control and predictability’.

“We have a very strong offer in the V90. Our PowerPulse technology is designed to deliver a distinct performance boost to our diesel engine, while the T8 Twin Engine petrol plug-in hybrid will deliver around 410 hp and a pure electric range of around 31 miles,” said Dr Peter Mertens, Senior Vice President of Research & Development at Volvo Cars.