New XC90 in Truro

[XCeed]

At the end of the day, it's just another new car - a good one maybe, but car makers are pushing the boundaries all the time. How the hell do Volvo manage to impress and p**s everyone off at the same time !? Dooooggghh...

[st4]

Originally Posted by XCeed

At the end of the day, it's just another new car - a good one maybe, but car makers are pushing the boundaries all the time. How the hell do Volvo manage to impress and p**s everyone off at the same time !? Dooooggghh...

People are only ****ed off as they have to wait for it, and it costs a fair bit.

Autocar had a test of one and reckoned it the winner out of the Discovery and X5. High praise indeed. I'm planning somehow a way to afford one in the future. As good as my S80 is man I want this car.

[Deejai]

I personally would love one. All in metallic black, rear privacy glass. OMG would be a stunning VIP car and would turn people's heads.

[Westyman]

There was one at a car show at Wollaton Hall, Nottingham today. A black one with privacy glass! My initial feeling was what a large car for a 2litre 4-cylinder engine despite the facts that suggest that performance and economy are good. I still think the black grill is better than the chrome ones that were shown initially.

[NewVolvo]

I drove a black D5 in Sweden and i was highly impressed!

One really does think that a 4-cyl engine in this car is to small, but its actually very nippy and not slow by any means. Personally i would also love to see Volvo offering this with a 6-cyl engine as this would suit it much better.

[rich1068]

As much as some may dislike this trend towards four cylinder engines rather than sixes or eights, it is obviously the way things are going. Volvo is unusual in that it only offers four cylinder engines but both BMW and Mercedes have used four cylinders in their X5 and M Class for a while now and neither feel lacking.

The thing to remember isn't just that engine technology has advanced but gearbox technology too. Modern seven and eight speed gearboxes are well suited to smaller engines making the combination perfectly viable in large SUVs.

[Westyman]

Looking at the price list online it's odd that with 20" wheels instead of 19" the RFL goes up one band!

[st4]

Originally Posted by Westyman

Looking at the price list online it's odd that with 20" wheels instead of 19" the RFL goes up one band!

Not really, they are wider so have a great rolling resistance and impart a great drag factor.

Many will add the larger wheels but all they will do is make their car noiser and less comfortable plus more expensive to fuel and tax.

I take the point that the 4pot engines offer the power and torque 221bhp and 350odd ft/lb torque is more or less the outputs of the old V6 diesel in my old Mercedes. However, refinement, power delivery and smoothness from larger engines are just better.

The newer 4pot petrols might IMHO suit the car better simply for the quiet factor.

[Rossi-fan]

Well I'm sorry peeps, but if you search Geeky, sorry I mean Geely Cars, then click on the images tab, I can see where these new Volvo's are going. Just my opinion.

[Yellowbelly]

Sorry Rossi-fan but I don't think you understand the relationship between Volvo and Geely. Each company has its own design departments and will be positioned differently in terms of price in particular. The owner of Geely is no fool and knows that for Volvo to be successful it has to really exploit its Swedish Heritage - hence the massive investment in the old Swedish and Belgian factories and the R and D Department in Sweden. Today's customers, particularly in the premium segments, are far too knowledgeable to be fobbed off with a Chinese "knock-off"

Unlike when AB Volvo and Ford owned the company, or during the relationships with Mitsubishi and Renault, the Swedes have been able to build what they want, as they are neither compromised by cash or the need to share parts.