2019 Volvo XC40 first drive review
We put the 2019 Volvo XC40 to the test in and around Barcelona to see what it takes from its bigger siblings and what it brings to the table.
2018 Volvo XC40 review
Boasting fresh styling, clever convenience features, and superb value for money, the Volvo XC40 enters a highly competitive luxury compact SUV segment. Is the brand known for safety out of its element, or well equipped to conquer a new market?
2020 Volvo V60 Cross Country first drive
Volvo laced up its smallest station wagon in hiking clothes to create the V60 Cross Country. It's a lifted, all-wheel drive family-hauler that laughs at icy roads while coddling its occupants in a comfortable, high-tech cabin. We travel to Sweden to try it out on snowy roads a stone's throw from the Arctic Circle.
Volvo has created an autonomous truck that looks like a sports car
Volvo’s autonomous truck, called Vera, is about to start work at a port in Gothenburg, Sweden. The vehicle has a modest top speed of 25 mph and features a striking design that makes it look as if the driver’s cab has been swapped for a sports car. It’s one of several efforts by Volvo to put driverless trucks to work.
Uber’s next self-driving car, a hat-wearing Volvo, will start testing in 2020
Volvo and Uber have unveiled their latest autonomous prototype. It's based on the second-generation XC90, and it's fitted with the self-driving technology Uber developed in-house. The companies plan to begin testing in real-world conditions in 2020, but the prototype won't be sold to the general public anytime soon.
Volvo is crash-testing bike helmets against cars to improve cyclist safety
Volvo and safety gear manufacturer POC have developed car-bike helmet crash tests in an effort to better protect cyclists in collisions with vehicles. The two Swedish companies claim this is a world first. Volvo claims current bike helmet tests don't account for impacts with cars.
Volvo wants to use augmented reality tech to help design future cars
Volvo and Finnish tech firm Varjo have developed an augmented reality headset that can be used while driving a real car. Volvo claims this will help speed up the development process of future cars. Digital tools are quickly being adopted by automaker design departments.
Volvo’s new app walks you through what to do after an accident
Volvo's Accident Advisor sends information on what to do after an accident directly to a driver's smartphone. Drivers can also use it to notify their insurance companies and find a repair shop. Volvo is making Accident Advisor available free of charge on all 2015.5 model year and newer vehicles.
Polestar electric vehicle won’t lose $7,500 tax credit because of Volvo sales
Up to 200,000 buyers of Volvo parent company Geely's Polestar electric vehicle will qualify for $7,500 in tax incentives, quelling fears that Volvo sales in the U.S. would affect that number, If Polestar sales were lumped together with Volvo EV sales, both brands would lose the customer tax credit inducement sooner.
415-hp Polestar-engineered powertrains coming to 2020 Volvo V60 and XC60
The Polestar Engineered upgrade originally offered on the 2019 Volvo S60 sedan will be available on the V60 wagon and XC60 crossover for the 2020 model year. Changes to the T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid powertrain yield 415 horsepower. Volvo didn't discuss pricing or any other availability details.
The compact XC40 crossover will kick off Volvo’s electric-car push
The Volvo XC40 will get an electric powertrain option, according to a new report. The electric version will be unveiled later this year, and go on sale in 2020. The XC40 will be the Volvo brand's first mass-market electric car, but the related Polestar 2 will launch around the same time.
Volvo wants to use speed limiters, in-car cameras, and data to reduce crashes
Volvo believes new tech is the best way to improve car safety. The Swedish automaker will let owners set speed limits when loaning out their cars, install cameras to monitor drivers, and use data to design better safety features. Volvo previously said it would limit all cars to 112 mph.
Unrestrained by heritage, Polestar sets its sights on becoming a digital brand
With no heritage to worry about, Polestar is free to move full-speed ahead towards its goal of becoming a digital brand. All of the company's upcoming models will be electric, and they will inaugurate an Android-powered infotainment system. Polestar COO Jonathan Goodman explains what the brand stands for.
Predictably named Polestar 3 to debut in 2021 as a coupe-style electric SUV
Volvo sister company Polestar will continue expanding its lineup of electric, tech-laden cars in the 2020s. Its third model will be a "coupe-style SUV" named 3, company COO Jonathan Goodman told Digital Trends during the 2019 Geneva Auto Show. Offered only as an EV, it will make its debut in late 2021.
Volvo goes big, puts autonomous driving tech into a full-size bus
Forget self-driving cars, and even self-driving shuttles. Volvo put its autonomous vehicle technology into a full-size electric bus and has been testing it in Singapore. The ultimate aim is to deploy the passenger bus along fixed routes for scheduled services in the city state.
Volvo to impose a 112-mph speed limit on its cars in the name of safety
Beginning in 2020, all new Volvo cars will be limited to a maximum speed of 112 mph. While other automakers have used speed limiters before, Volvo is the first to do so specifically to promote safety. Volvo may also use geofencing to limit speeds around schools and hospitals in the future.
Electric luxury sedan face-off: Polestar 2 vs. Tesla Model 3
Volvo sister company Polestar isn't shy about its intentions to take on Tesla. Its second model, which is called 2, is aimed directly at the Model 3. We take a look at how the 2 and the Model 3 compare in terms of range, performance, price, and tech. The Model 3 is on-sale now, but the 2 won't arrive until early 2020.
Someone stared at a Volvo on their phone for nearly 10 hours to win it
Volvo didn't want you to watch the 2019 Super Bowl or the million-dollar ads that pepper it. Instead, it gave those willing to ignore the big game the chance to win a two-year subscription to a brand-new S60. The three participants who many spent hours staring at the S60 on their phone won the contest.
Volvo could install a camera that watches you while you drive, but not soon
Volvo will add an in-car camera to its list of extra-cost options before the end of 2019. The driver-facing unit monitors vital stats like glucose levels to reduce accidents caused by health problems, and it opens the door to facial recognition technology. The firm isn't worried about privacy issues.
600-hp, $155K Polestar 1 is the alluring Volvo coupe you’ve been waiting for
The Polestar 1 will be built in a brand-new factory located in China starting in 2019, and it will boast a carbon fiber body.
Luminar lidar sensor aims to detect if you’re sipping a latte or crossing a road
Volvo and sensor company Luminar Technologies have made a breakthrough in lidar technology that will greatly improve the vision of autonomous cars. The lidar allows an autonomous car to see up to 270 yards away, and gives it the ability to identity human actions and body parts (like arms and legs).
Volvo’s self-driving trucks are ready to start work at a mine in Norway
Volvo is about to launch its first-ever commercial operation using its driverless truck technology. A deal with a Norwegian mining firm will see six of its autonomous vehicles carry limestone between the mine and a port in an operation aimed at boosting productivity and reliability, as well as safety.
Volvo will be at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show, but it won’t bring any cars
Volvo has declared that it won't unveil anything at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show, and that its display at the show won't feature a single car. Instead, Volvo plans to focus on mobility services, partnerships with tech companies like Amazon and Google, and autonomous-driving tech.
Volvo plans to face the future without sacrificing its identity
Volvo is embarking on an ambitious push to fill its lineup with electric and hybrid cars, as well as an infotainment partnership with Google. Volvo Americas CEO Anders Gustafsson explains how the Swedish automaker plans to pull that off, and what customers can look forward to over the next few years.
Volvo’s lifted V60 Cross Country wagon laces up its hiking boots
The Volvo V60 Cross Country is a V60 station wagon with jacked up suspension and more rugged looks. It's the latest Volvo to take advantage of the Swedish automaker's Scalable Product Architecture platform and advanced safety tech. The V60 joins the larger V90 Cross Country in Volvo's wagon lineup.
Volvo leverages the power of software to build more dynamic cars
Volvo has asked sister company Polestar to make its cars more dynamic through a software update. Offered at an extra cost, the AWD optimization upgrade sends more power to the rear wheels when the driver turns on dynamic mode. It stops short of making the car fully rear-wheel drive but it changes the way it drives.
IIHS tests advanced driver-assist tech, gets mixed results
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) tested adaptive cruise control and active lane-keep systems from BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Tesla, and Volvo. Testers found them to be unreliable in the real world, and noted that drivers must remain attentive behind the wheel.
Volvo’s Polestar performance brand is working on a Tesla Model 3 competitor
Volvo’s dedicated performance division, Polestar, is upping its ante by gearing up to take on the Tesla Model 3. According to a new report, the Polestar 2, will sport an all-electric powertrain with a range up to 350 miles and an output of up to 400 horsepower. It will cost $40,000 to $66,000 U.S.
M, Volvo’s new on-demand car service, wants to get to know you better
Volvo wants a slice of the growing car-sharing business. The company is developing an app-based service that lets registered users find and reserve a car in a few taps. Learning technology will know which Volvo to suggest. It might recommend an XC40 for trips into a city or a V90 for users taking friends along.
By 2021, you could be sleeping behind the wheel of an autonomous Volvo XC90
By 2021, you could be sitting behind the wheel of a truly driverless Volvo. The Swedish automaker's research and development chief recently said that the company is planning to sell a Level 4 self-driving crossover SUV in 2021. Level 4 autonomy describes cars that can drive themselves without any human interaction.
Kids help Volvo and Lego design the construction vehicles of the future
Volvo CE and Lego Technic collaborate with children in designing futuristic construction equipment models. Now in the third year, the focus groups with children have resulted in patents for revolutionary concepts that may influence autonomous electric-powered vehicles on both construction sites and city streets.
Volvo shows its athletic side with the S60 Polestar Engineered package
Tuner Polestar became a stand-alone sub-brand, but it will continue to lend its name and expertise to Volvo. The next-gen S60 will become the brand's first car to receive the Polestar Engineered package. It adds more power, bigger brakes, and upgraded suspension components borrowed from the Polestar 1.
Volvo has designed a self-docking system for yachts
We're already working on self-parking cars, so why not take things a step further and investigate self-parking boats? Of course, the correct vernacular here isn't "parking," but rather "docking." But semantics aside, Volvo -- an expert on both land and water -- has now designed a self-docking yacht.
Cutting-edge Lidar tech will help Volvo’s autonomous cars see better
Volvo's recently-inaugurated tech fund has made its first investment. It backed an American company named Luminar that specializes in hardware and software for autonomous cars. Its Lidar helps cars see faster, and its annotating platform lets them better understand the data processed by on-board sensors.