At the Detroit Auto Show 2011 Volvo Cars is spotlighting the important issue of electric car safety in an unusual, but distinctive way. On the company's stand there is a Volvo C30 Electric that has undergone a frontal collision test at 40 mph (64 km/h). "Our tests show it is vital to separate the batteries from the electric car's crumple zones to make it as safe as a conventional car. In Detroit we are the first car maker to show the world what a truly safe electric car looks like after a collision with high-speed impact," says Volvo Cars' President and CEO Stefan Jacoby.
► 2012 Volvo C30 Electric - Winter Tests
The Volvo C30 Electric has been exposed to gruelling winter conditions in order to ensure that the battery-powered car runs smoothly in temperatures as low as -20° Celsius. Volvo Cars' requirements on the C30 Electric are just as stringent as on all other Volvo models and the battery-powered car is exposed to the same test regime. On top of this, several new test methods have been developed for the electric vehicles. All in all, over 200 different tests have been performed. The C30 Electric has a innovative solution that makes it possible to get comfortable heating in cold winter conditions without compromising the battery driving range. Climate control in the passenger compartment takes place via a bio-ethanol powered heater fitted in all cars. The car's ethanol tank can carry 14.5 litres of bio-ethanol. It is also possible to run the climate unit on electricity from the batteries. In electric mode an immersion heater warms up the coolant in the climate unit.
► 2011 Volvo C30 DRIVe Electric ready for delivery !
The Volvo C30 DRIVe Electric looks like a normal C30 inside and out. The difference is that it is powered solely by electricity, entirely without Exhaust emissions, and has a range of up to 150 kilometres. The Volvo C30 DRIVe Electric project has attracted a lot of international attention with visits from many potential overseas customers and the first sales contract has already been signed. Volvo Cars' electric car project currently encompasses about 250 vehicles. The car has a top speed of about 130 kilometres per hour and accelerates from zero to one hundred in 10.5 seconds. The first ten C30 DRIVe Electric's will go to the energy company Göteborg Energi with deliveries starting during the autumn of 2010.
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Volvo Crash Test Center.mpg
Volvos crash-test laboratory now 10 years new
[img]http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/AmericanFlag.jpg[/img] [url=cleanmpg.com]We are continuously taking new steps towards our vision that nobody should die or suffer serious injuries in a new Volvo car by the year 2020.[/url]
[fimg=left][/fimg]Wayne Gerdes - [url=cleanmpg.com]CleanMPG[/url] - May 8, 2010
At Volvo, the ability to replicate road accidents contributes to world-class crash safety.
Volvo's crash-test laboratory in Torslanda turns 10 this year - and the almost 3,000 full-scale tests that have been carried out during the high-tech facility's first decade have helped give Volvo owners some of the safest cars.
"We can replicate most of the incident and accident scenarios that take place out on the roads. By analyzing these and then testing new safety technology in the crash-test laboratory, we can improve the safety level in our cars so that they become even safer in real-life traffic conditions," says Thomas Broberg, Senior Safety Advisor at Volvo.
When the new safety center was inaugurated by Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf in early 2000, it was one of the most advanced in the car industry - a position it has retained over the years thanks to the continuous implementation of new equipment and new test methods.
The latest technology infusion is in the form of a set of digital high-speed cameras that can take 200,000 frames per second.
Car and tractor crash
I passed this accident on the N69, just outside Askeaton, Co. Limerick 10-01-11. Although I can't be 100% sure it looks like the bale of hay came off the back of the tractor and straight into the front of the Corolla. You can't see the front of the car fully in the video but it was badly damaged. It didn't look like anybody was hurt thankfully.
2012 Volvo S60 small overlap test
2012 Volvo S60 40 mph small overlap front test
Overall evaluation: Good
Full rating at http://www.iihs.org/ratings/rating.aspx?id=1672&seriesid=412
Crash Test Results for Sedan Bumpers
Bumpers on 2009 models of the Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, Mazda 6, and Nissan Maxima performed better than their 2007
predecessors in low-speed crash tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Bumpers on the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu and 2010 Ford Fusion did worse than earlier models. Get the complete story at TheAutoChannel.com.
2013 Volvo V40 - Crash Test
The all-new Volvo V40 - Safety & Support:
The most IntelliSafe Volvo model ever
Adding several new high-tech features to a full deck of safety and support systems from larger models makes the all-new Volvo V40 the most IntelliSafe Volvo so far.
The new features include world-first Pedestrian Airbag Technology, Lane Keeping Aid with haptic auto steering, an ingenious Park Assist Pilot, automatic Road Sign Information, Active High Beam and a Cross Traffic Alert radar system at the rear.
The all-new V40 also features the groundbreaking Pedestrian Detection with full auto brake - as well as the City Safety further developed low-speed collision avoidance system which now operates at speeds up to 50 km/h.
Park Assist Pilot - making parallel parking easy
A study by global research institute TNS reveals that one-third of European drivers have problems with parallel parking. In a similar study by UK insurer elephant.co.uk, around two-thirds of interviewed drivers stated that they felt uncomfortable in parallel parking situations.
The new Park Assist Pilot makes parallel parking easy and precise by taking over and operating the steering wheel while the driver handles the gearbox and controls the car's speed.
The parking manoeuvre is based on front, rear and side-facing ultrasonic sensors.
When the driver activates the Park Assist Pilot the sensors start to scan the side of the car. When a parking slot measuring a minimum of 1.2 times the car's length is detected, the driver is notified by an audible signal and advised to stop via a message in the instrument cluster.
The display guides the driver step by step via texts and animations in the instrument cluster until the car is correctly parked. Although the driver initially engages reverse gear and continues to control the speed of the car, steering is taken over by the Park Assist Pilot. When parking is completed the driver is notified by an audible signal and a text message.
The all-new Volvo V40 can also be equipped with a rear park assist camera and park assist sensors front and rear.
Lane Keeping Aid - active help to stay on course
Studies show that many accidents take place in uncritical traffic situations and good weather conditions due to driver distraction, drowsiness or illness. Approximately 30 percent of all accidents in Volvo Cars' statistical accident database are accidents with an initial road departure. About 75 percent of these occur on roads with speed limits of 70 km/h or more.
The new Lane Keeping Aid in the V40 helps the driver stay in the intended lane. This feature applies extra steering torque to the steering column when the car gets close to a lane marking and is about to leave the lane. The system is active at speeds between 65 km/h and 200 km/h.
The forward-looking camera monitors the left and right lane markings. Lane Keeping Aid registers the car's progress between the lane markings and takes action if the driver shows signs of unintentionally drifting out of the lane.
As a first step Lane Keeping Aid applies gentle steering wheel torque to help the driver steer back onto the intended course. If the car leaves the lane, the technology generates a distinctive warning through a haptic vibration in the steering wheel.
2012 Volvo C30 Polestar Performance Test Drive & Car Review
http://www.autobytel.com/volvo/c30/2012/ The 2012 Volvo C30 coupe is a lot of fun to drive. Volvo is known for being one of the world's safest car manufacturer. Most of their line-up consists of sedans and crossover utility vehicles and the C30 is the only coupe in their line-up of vehicles. The 2012 Volvo C30 has a base price of $24,950 with the top of the line R-Design Platinum costing $31,850. But you can add a factory performance upgrade called the Polestar package for under $2000 that will Boost performance significantly.
Volvo did not hold back when it came to powering the C30. Under the hood live a turbocharged 2.5 liter inline 5-cylinder engine that makes 227 horsepower and 236 lb-ft. of torque. Transmission options are a 6-speed manual or 5-speed automatic. Fuel economy is pretty good for a high performance engine as the 2012 Volvo C30 nets 21 MPG in the city and 29 MPG on the highway. The vehicle featured in this car review video has the $1295 Polestar Performance Package equipped. This package is essential an engine tuner software that adds 23 HP and 37 lb-ft. of torque without sacrificing fuel economy. Also the Polestar Package will not void the factory warranty.
From a styling stand-point the 2012 Volvo C30 really stands apart from the crowd. This coupe appeals to a broad range of car buyers: men and women both young and old. When you opt for the 6-speed manual transmission the fun factor really goes through the roof. On the inside the interior has a very simple Scandinavian look and feel to it. You can even opt for a 650 watt premium sound system. The Volvo C30 is packed with tons of safety features like Dynamic Stability Control, Traction Control, and a Whiplash Protection System. In fact the 2012 Volvo C30 was named a Top Safety Pick for 2012 by the IIHS.
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2011 Volvo C30 Start Up, Engine, and In Depth Tour
In this video I give a full in depth tour of the 2011 Volvo C30. I take viewers on a close look through the interior and exterior of this car while showing details, over viewing of features, and noting unique styling cues to the vehicle itself. I also show the engine and the details of it, start it up and see how it sounds under acceleration. A thorough tour/review of this car designed to give others a greater overall appreciation of the vehicle.
