News

Sat, 02 Feb 2008 09:12:54 GMT

Volvo Cars launches Powershift - Two Transmissions in One

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 23:00:00 GMT

Fully-automatic and sequential six-speed transmission
Twin wet clutches give extremely fast and smooth changes
About eight percent lower fuel consumption
Optimised for powerful diesel engines

Two-litre turbodiesel versions of the Volvo C30, S40 and V50 are now also available with a fully-automatic transmission. This new Powershift transmission is a six-speed unit. It features twin wet clutches that provide gearchanging comfort on a par with that of a fully-automatic transmission, yet with the performance one expects of a manual gearbox. What is more, it significantly cuts fuel consumption compared with a conventional automatic transmission.

The Powershift transmission has been developed by Volvo Cars in cooperation with its transmission partner Getrag. Powershift operates in principle as two parallel manual gearboxes. It has twin wet clutches that work independently of one another. One clutch controls the odd gears (1, 3, 5 and reverse) while the other handles the even ratios (2, 4 and 6). The two clutches operate alternately, with one engaging while the other disengages. This means that at the same time as the engine gets full power and maximum thrust in first gear, second gear is placed in readiness to be engaged. And when second gear has been engaged, third gear is readied, and so on. This promotes a continuous flood of power without any disruption in power delivery or any torque loss, resulting in extremely fast and silky-smooth gearchanges while maintaining acceleration throughout the gearchanging process.

Eight percent lower fuel consumption than a conventional automatic transmission

Apart from gearchanging comfort and high performance, Powershift contributes to noticeably lower fuel consumption.

"According to our measurements, Powershift contributes to a fuel consumption saving of about eight percent compared with a conventional automatic transmission," says Magnus Jonsson, Senior Vice President, Research & Development, Volvo Cars. "And that is an important benefit in the hunt to keep lowering the negative impact on the environment."

The Powershift function is based on the technology used in a manual gearbox but with the difference that the two wet clutches are each linked with their own input shaft. One shaft spins inside the other. The inner shaft regulates the output shaft for first, third, fifth and reverse gears, while the outer shaft controls second, fourth and sixth gears. The clutch function is operated by an electro-hydraulic control unit that ensures that one clutch is shut while the other is open, and vice versa.

Each clutch functions like a slip clutch. A piston pushes a number of clutch plates against each other and locks them together through the resultant friction.

Automatic or sequential gearchanging without any loss in torque

Powershift gives the driver an automatic transmission that permits sequential gearchanges, just like with Volvo's Geartronic transmission. The difference is that with Powershift even manual gearchanges take place without any time or power losses.

Since Powershift, unlike a conventional automatic transmission, does not need a torque converter, planetary gears or multiple wet clutches, there is also none of the added torque losses that these features bring.

Optimal choice for powerful diesel engines

Thanks to the use of twin wet clutches, the Powershift transmission can handle high torque levels and in principle has no limitations on choice of ratio. This makes it an ideal partner for today's modern, powerful diesel engines.

The version of Powershift that Volvo is now launching is dimensioned to handle torque levels up to 450 Nm. In the versions of the Volvo C30, S40 and V50 in which it is fitted, Powershift is mated to the 2-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel which delivers a power output of 136 hp and 320 Nm of torque.

"With Powershift we can now offer automatic transmission with our two-litre diesel engine," says Magnus Jonsson. "And it's not just any old automatic transmission: lower fuel consumption allied to increased comfort and higher performance sounds like an impossible equation. But with Powershift we have shown this is perfectly possible."

Spice up your Volvo XC90 with R-design - the choice for customers with a refined taste

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 23:00:00 GMT

Volvo Cars' R-design programme - a sporty factory-fitted option package - is now
also available for the Volvo XC90.
R-design is tailor made for customers who want a car with refined attributes.
The package is also available for the Volvo C30, Volvo S40 and Volvo V50.

"The possibility of tailoring one's car to suit personal tastes is becoming increasingly important to car buyers today. R-design has been developed for buyers who want a refined and sporty look for their cars," says Gerry Keaney, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Sales and Customer Service at Volvo Cars.
The R-design package for the Volvo XC90 is an extension of the XC90 Sport version that was introduced in the end of 2006. New R-design features are the optional 20-inch wheels, the dual exhaust pipes, a unique skid-plate and the R-design badges in the grille, on the steering wheel and on the seats as well as rear-view mirror caps in silk matt finish.
Features remaining from the XC90 Sport version are:

Sport chassis
Details and trim in a silk-matt finish rather than the standard chrome.
Unique sill mouldings in brushed stainless steel.
Sport steering wheel and gear selector of perforated leather and sports seats with additional lateral cushioning to support the driver, even in faster cornering.
Seats with a combination of two different grades of leather, enhanced by décor piping in different colour shades.
Instrument dials with metal chronograph watch-style faces and a shimmering blue lustre.
Sport carpets with accent-coloured décor piping.

To accentuate the sporty nature and create a sleeker appearance, the vehicle is not fitted with roof rails - although they will be available as an option for customers who need them.

R-design for C30, S40 and V50
The R-design package for the Volvo C30, S40 and V50 includes a choice between 10 exterior colours and the R-design badge in the grille is accompanied by a range of specially designed exterior and interior details.
Exterior features include a silk matt-finish grille, colour co-ordinated bumpers and lower side mouldings, rear or roof spoiler, silk matt-finish door mirror caps and five-spoke aluminium wheels (17 inches, 18 inches available as option). There is also a deco trim on the trunk lid of the S40 and tailgate on the V50.

Contrasting seats
Inside the car there are seats in off-black Flex-Tec with the seat cushion and backrest in contrasting cream-coloured leather. The R-design logo embossed on the backrest and the contrasting stitching reinforce the seats' sporty appearance.
Other R-design interior details include the leather-trim steering wheel with its R-design logo,
the unique combi instrument, aluminium pedals, specially designed aluminium centre stack and door inlays, gear selector with aluminium inlay and tufted dark sport floor mats with contrasting light leather piping.
A selection of R-design features will also be available as accessories.

Emotional and extrovert
"R-design is entirely in line with the accelerated focus on making our cars more extrovert and emotional. It gives the buyers the opportunity to spice up the already distinct personality of these car models," says Steve Mattin, Senior Vice President and Design Director at Volvo Cars.

Volvo Car Corporation presents new technologies to avoid collisions with cars and pedestrians

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 23:00:00 GMT

Recently, Volvo Cars has presented new smart solutions that will help to avoid collisions. They include a feature that brakes automatically if a pedestrian steps out in front of the car. Another, Collision Avoidance by Auto Steering, detects risk for a frontal collision caused by lane departure, and steers back automatically to avoid a frontal collision. The features are part of Volvo Cars' preventive safety development programme and they will be introduced onto the market within a few years.

The Volvo V70, XC70 and S80 can currently be equipped with a collision warning feature that brakes automatically if a rear-end collision with a moving or stationary vehicle is imminent. Collision Warning with Auto Brake will be introduced in North America in the beginning of 2008 (see related release).
The next development stage is a function that can also detect pedestrians and brake automatically
if a pedestrian suddenly steps out in front of the car and the driver fails to react.
Like the newly-introduced Collision Warning with Auto Brake, the future function will use radar and a camera to detect objects in front of the car. The radar unit has been upgraded with a wide-angle search area so that it can also detect pedestrians coming from the road side.

First a warning - then automatic braking
If the car approaches a pedestrian, a red warning light will come on first on the windscreen's head-up display. A warning signal will be heard at the same time. This helps the driver to react and, in most cases, an accident can be avoided.
If the risk of a collision increases further, the assisted panic braking is activated. The distance between the brake pads and the brake disc is reduced to provide a shorter reaction time.
The hydraulic pressure in the braking system is also increased so that the most effective braking takes place even if the driver does not press hard on the brake pedal.
If the driver still doesn't brake, and the collision is still imminent, the car's brakes are activated automatically.
The automatic braking is designed to reduce the speed as much as possible thereby reducing the risk of injury to a pedestrian if a collision cannot be completely avoided despite braking.
The automatic braking has the capacity to reduce the car's speed by up to approximately 25 km/h (15 mph).
Depending on the situation and the car's speed, this may mean in certain cases that a collision cannot be completely avoided.
"Accident statistics show that the risk of a passenger being killed increases dramatically if the collision takes place at speeds above 30 km/h (19 mph). That is why it is so important for us to reduce the speed as much as possible when a collision is unavoidable," says Jonas Ekmark, Manager for Preventive Safety at Volvo Cars Safety Centre.
To avoid automatic braking in situations when the driver has the situation under control, Volvo Cars has programmed the technology to activate automatic braking only when it becomes impossible to steer away from the collision. This could mean that it can be too late to avoid the collision completely, even if the maximum braking force is used, but it is still important to reduce the impact speed as much as possible. "But in most scenarios, the warning signal will be given in time to help the driver to completely avoid the collision, and this is of course the best outcome," says Jonas Ekmark.

Steering automatically to avoid a head-on collision
Collision Avoidance by Auto Steering is a further development of Lane Departure Warning that is also available in the Volvo V70, Volvo XC70 and Volvo S80 (introduced in North America in the beginning of 2008).
Lane Departure Warning uses a camera to monitor the car's position between lane markers.
If a car wanders across any of the lane markers without using the lane change signal, the driver
is warned by an audible signal.
Collision Avoidance by Auto Steering is significantly more advanced. The feature is designed to help prevent a frontal collision caused by temporary distraction by using both a camera and radar to monitor the position of the car itself and the oncoming traffic.
If the car is about to move into the opposite lane and an oncoming vehicle is on a collision course,
the car is automatically steered back to a safe position in the original lane.
Collision Avoidance by Auto Steering is being developed and the high demands for reliability mean that Volvo Car Corporation's experts are still assessing which degrees of steering wheel intervention are relevant and the exact speed range it can operate within.

Communication between cars results in fewer accidents
Cars that can communicate with other vehicles and the surrounding traffic environment should enhance the potential for safer driving and fewer traffic accidents.
For communication to work, it is necessary to have a standard "language" which makes it possible for all vehicles to talk to each other irrespective of make. There are currently several international projects that endeavour to contribute to this standardisation. Together with other car manufacturers, Ford Motor Company is participating in the American CAMP (Collision Avoidance Metric Partnership) collaboration and the PReVENT project funded by the European Commission. Volvo Car Corporation is in above projects assessing the potential for car-to-car communication which could provide:

Information from a car in front that the road surface is slippery a couple of miles ahead.
A warning that the traffic is at a standstill further on.
Coordination of automatic evasive measures if there is the threat of a collision.
The potential for of driving "in convoy" where coordinated communication would allow the vehicles to be driven exceptionally close to each others on a motorway to provide an effective traffic flow and reduced fuel consumption.

Volvo has a number of test vehicles from the CAMP collaboration that can communicate with each other. The driver in one car can receive information that another car has come across an obstacle and has slammed on the brakes - this makes it possible to brake in good time.
"With communication between vehicles, and between vehicles and the traffic environment, a large number of today's accidents could be avoided. The major challenges are to find a standard "language" and the particular applications that are most urgent and effective," says Jonas Ekmark

Volvo ReCharge Concept: Plug-in hybrid with battery-only range of 60 miles - and a combustion diesel engine for backup power

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 23:00:00 GMT

The Volvo ReCharge Concept is a plug-in hybrid with individual electric wheel motors and batteries that can be recharged via a regular electrical outlet for maximum environmental benefit.
Recharging allows the car to be driven about 60 miles (100 km) on battery power alone before the car's four-cylinder diesel engine is needed to power the car and recharge the battery.

"A certain proportion of electrical vehicles will be necessary to meet the CO2 emission demands of the future. Since the Volvo ReCharge Concept combines an excellent battery range with a backup combustion engine, it is a very interesting concept," says Magnus Jonsson, Senior Vice President Research and Development at Volvo Cars. He adds:
"The ReCharge Concept that we presented in Frankfurt a few months ago had a Bioethanol engine. The concept offers unprecedented flexibility to meet future challenges. By showing the car with a diesel engine, we demonstrate that the combustion engine for the generator can be matched to the preferences of each market. The diesel engine is one of the most energy efficient alternative available today ".
The ReCharge Concept has been developed at the Volvo Monitoring and Concept Center (VMCC), the Volvo Car Corporation's think-tank in Camarillo, California.
"This is a ground-breaking innovation for sustainable transportation. A person driving less than 60 miles a day will rarely need to visit a filling station. In the USA, this may apply to almost 80 percent of drivers," says Magnus Jonsson.
Thanks to the excellent electrical range from a fuel consumption angle, the Volvo ReCharge Concept is exceptionally kind to the car owner's wallet.
When driving on electric power only, operating costs are expected to be about 80 percent lower than that of a comparable petrol-powered car.

"This plug-in hybrid car, when used as intended, should have about 66 percent lower emissions
of carbon dioxide compared with the best hybrid cars available on the market today.
Emissions may be even lower if most of the electricity in intended markets comes from
CO2-friendly sources such as biogas, hydropower and nuclear power," says Magnus Jonsson.

An electric motor at each wheel
The Volvo ReCharge Concept shown in Detroit combines a number of the latest technological innovations into a so-called "series hybrid" where there is no mechanical connection between
the engine and the wheels.

The battery pack integrated into the luggage compartment uses lithium-polymer battery technology. The batteries are intended to have a useful life beyond that of the car itself.
Four electric motors, one at each wheel, provide independent traction power.
Four-cylinder 1.6-litre turbo diesel engine (109 hp) drives an advanced generator that efficiently powers the wheel motors when the battery is depleted.

Electric car with a combustion engine as backup
In principle, the Volvo ReCharge Concept is a battery electric car with an efficient generator,
an Auxiliary Power Unit (APU), that steps in when battery charge becomes insufficient for adequate driving performance.
The APU is designed to distribute electrical power to the individual motors at each wheel.
Since the combustion engine only powers the APU, it can operate in an optimal fashion, both for regulated emissions and CO2.
The APU is sufficiently powerful to supply an entire villa with electricity. For example it could with minor modifications in principle give the car owner an electricity generator right at his front door in
the event of a power failure.

The driver can choose the power source
The combustion engine starts up automatically when 70 percent of the battery power has been used up. However, the driver also has the option of controlling the four-cylinder diesel engine manually via a button in the instrument panel.
This allows the driver to start the engine earlier in order to maximize battery charge, for instance when out on the highway in order to save battery capacity for driving through the next town.
"There is a considerable difference between our plug-in hybrid and today's hybrids. Today's hybrids use the battery only for short periods to assist the combustion engine. Our solution is designed for most people to run on electric power all the time, while providing the extra security that comes with having a combustion engine as a secondary source of electrical power," says Ichiro Sugioka, project manager for the Volvo ReCharge Concept. He adds: "What is more,
our C30 with plug-in hybrid technology retains its lively and sporty driving properties.
Acceleration from 0-60 mph takes 9 seconds and top speed is 100 mph."

Specially developed electric motors
The central electrical components in the Volvo ReCharge Concept demonstrator - the generator for the APU and the wheel motors - were developed together with British electromagnetic specialists PML Flightlink.
With an individual electric motor at each wheel, weight distribution as well as mechanical efficiency and traction are maximized. The friction in mechanical gears is eliminated. Since the car does not have the transmission found in ordinary cars, there is no need for a gear lever.
To help maximize the environmental benefits, the Volvo ReCharge Concept has high-efficiency tyres developed by Michelin. They are specially designed to accommodate the wheel motors.
Further more, the car has All Wheel Drive in the truest sense of the term. Power to each wheel is controlled individually.
The energy that is generated during braking is transmitted to the battery pack. When the system is ultimately developed, traditional wheel brakes will be completely replaced by electrical brakes with minimal energy wasted through friction.
To ensure reliable operation of the powertrain and braking system, driver inputs are fed into
a quadruple-redundant electronic control system.

Ecologically sound solution for commuters
The Volvo ReCharge Concept is best suited to car drivers who cover moderate distances every day. For example, a commuter who has less than 60 miles to drive between home and workplace can cover the entire round trip on electric power alone, making the car a Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) for most everyday driving.
Even drivers who cover more than the battery-only range will benefit from the ReCharge Concept. For a 100 mile drive with full batteries, the first 60 miles will be with no fuel consumption and the remaining 40 miles will be at 60 mpg. No more than 0.67 gallons of fuel is needed to go 100 miles, which is equivalent to 150 mpg.
"The only requirement is that the car owner has access to electrical outlets at convenient places,
such as at home or at the workplace. A full recharge takes 3 hours. However, even a one-hour quick charge should provide enough charge to drive about 30 miles," says Magnus Jonsson.

Volvo S80 High Performance version flexes its muscles at SEMA in Las Vegas

Sun, 09 Sep 2007 22:00:00 GMT

German tuning and motor sport experts Heico Sportiv has developed a spectacular high-performance version of the Volvo S80.

With a high-tech aluminium-look exterior and a 350 hp bioethanol engine, the S80 High Performance Concept is destined to be a true attention-grabber at the SEMA show in Las Vegas.

"We wanted to explore how far we could take a special high-performance version of the S80. Heico Sportiv's impressive track record in motor sports and Volvo tuning made them the perfect partner for the job," says Lex Kerssemakers, Senior Vice President Brand, Business and Product Strategy at Volvo Cars. He adds:

"Personally, I think the result is absolutely stunning. Both when it comes to the exterior and interior design as well as the impressive muscle under the bonnet."

The turbocharged T6 engine has been modified to run on E85 (85 percent bioethanol,15 percent petrol) - a biofuel that is becoming increasingly widely available throughout Europe.

The T6 engine in the Heico S80 High Performance Concept boasts around 350 horsepower at 5500 rpm and a massive 550 Nm of torque between 1500 and 4000 rpm. Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h will take around 5.8 seconds.

"The engine development is not yet finalized, so we hope to reach an even higher horsepower figure when the car is ready for SEMA," says Heico Sportiv's president Holger Hedtke.

All Wheel Drive and sports suspension

The Heico S80 High Performance Concept features Volvo's electronically controlled All Wheel Drive system with Instant Traction. The car also has specially developed sport suspension.
New shocks and springs lower the chassis by 40 millimetres.The 6-pot sport brake system has blue callipers featuring the Heico Sportiv logo, sports brake pads and 355x32 mm discs.

The specially developed 20-inch VOLUTION^®X. forged alloy wheels are shod with 255/30R20 tyres from Continental.

"When it comes to the driving experience, we aimed at tuning all the components so we get
a dynamic yet harmonious result. In other words, a true sports car experience without losing

the luxurious and comfortable touch that is the hallmark of the S80," says Holger Hedtke.

Spectacular aluminium-colour effect

The exclusive aluminium metal-effect colour of the Heico S80 High Performance Concept radiates a distinctive technical look.

"To bring out the shiny, "real metal" effect was a major challenge. This type of paint is normally not used to cover a whole car. All told, the bodywork features seven coats of paint. The coat that gives the aluminium effect doesn't allow any touch-ups afterwards, so you have to get it right from the beginning. The whole process takes two weeks," says Holger Hedtke.

All other parts, such as the tailpipe trim, window mouldings, front grill and rub strips are coated with matte finish black chrome.

All body parts are handcrafted. The car's body kit has redesigned wide skirts all round.

The front features integrated spoiler flaps, three larger air ducts, integrated LED daytime running lights and an integrated sport grille with the Volvo iron mark.

The exhaust system is made of stainless steel throughout and the exhaust tailpipes are integrated into the wide rear spoiler. There is also a rear deck spoiler.

Mystic Blue interior

The bespoke interior has full high-quality leather in Mystic Blue with matching blue stitching and Heico Sportiv logo, both on the sport-contoured front seats and the two individual "bucket" seats
in the rear. The safety belts and floor-mats are also blue.

There is a sports steering wheel trimmed in leather and a leather-trim gear lever with a silver carbon accent.

The extended floating centre stack is covered with silver carbon fibre. The centre stack also features integrated controls for the rear seat entertainment system and a storage space with

a handmade blind. All decorative trim elements are made of silver carbon fibre.

The illuminated entrance trim in stainless steal and glass features the Heico Sportiv logo.

Volvo dealer since 1989

The Hedtke Volvo dealership in Weiterstadt, Germany, opened in 1989.

The company entered the motor sport scene in 1995 and over the years Heico Sportiv has developed one of the world's most exclusive tuning programmes based on Volvo cars.

"We are very pleased that Volvo Cars has given us the opportunity to design a concept car that profiles the sporty emotions of the brand and still remains true to the company's core values.
Just like the C30 "Camo" we designed for SEMA last year, the S80 High Performance Concept represents the very best of our long experience of Volvo tuning and motor sports," says Holger Hedtke.

The SEMA (Speciality Equipment Manufacturers Association) show in Las Vegas is open between 30 October and 2 November 2007. SEMA is the biggest automotive specialty products trade event in the word.

Special-version Volvo C30 surfs to Las Vegas and SEMA

Sun, 09 Sep 2007 22:00:00 GMT

A surf-pattern exterior, a stunning orange dream interior and 0-100 km/h in 5.4 seconds.

The special-version Volvo C30 by Heico Sportiv is ready to go to Las Vegas and the SEMA show.

"We wanted to turn up the "visual volume" of the sporty Volvo C30. And this is not just
a one-off prototype. All the parts used are available in our tuning product range," says Holger Hedtke, president of German tuning and motor sports company Heico Sportiv.

The white Volvo C30 has a special surf-pattern design kit and a body kit with redesigned, widened skirts all round.

The front features integrated spoiler flaps, three larger air ducts, integrated fog and cornering lights, and an integrated sport grille with the Volvo iron mark.

The deeper and wider rear skirt features a quad-pipe exhaust system made of stainless steel.

The bespoke high-quality interior has orange leather with matching orange stitching and Heico Sportiv logos on the sport-contoured front seats. The safety belts and floor-mats are also orange.

The radiant interior also has a sports steering wheel in leather and a leather gear lever with
a silver accent. The entrance trim in stainless steel features the Heico Sportiv logo.

Beefed-up T5 powerplant

An upgraded, turbocharged T5 engine powers the C30. Is produces 300 horsepower at 5500 rpm and 420 Nm of torque at 3500 rpm. Acceleration from 0 to100 km/h takes 5.4 seconds.

Top speed is 250 km/h (governed). The car also has a specially developed sport suspension.
New shocks and springs lower the chassis by 40 millimetres.

The 4-pot sport brake system has blue callipers featuring the Heico Sportiv logo, sport brake pads and 326x30 mm discs. The 19-inch VOLUTION^® V TITAN wheels are shod with 235/35R19 Continental tyres.

"The already sporty and distinctive personality of the C30 model makes it the perfect tuning product. Our car is a spectacular extension of the individualisation philosophy that is a part of the C30," says Holger Hedtke.

The SEMA (Speciality Equipment Manufacturers Association) show in Las Vegas is open between 30 October and 2 November 2007. SEMA is the biggest automotive specialty products trade event in the world.

Volvo Cars launches new Alcoguard to help reduce the number of alcohol-related road accidents

Sun, 02 Sep 2007 22:00:00 GMT

Fuel-cell technology - accurate and reliable
Integrated solution for increased user-friendliness
Sales start in early 2008

Volvo Cars is the first car manufacturer to launch an innovative feature aimed at helping to reduce the number of road accidents caused by drink-driving. Alcoguard is a fully integrated in-car alcolock that utilises advanced fuel-cell technology, a solution that is both user-friendly and reliable.

Tool for sober decisions

"Alcoguard is a tool whose purpose is to help the driver make sober decisions. At present, one in every three traffic fatalities in Europe is alcohol-related. Our three biggest challenges for creating a safer traffic environment are speeding, insufficient safety belt use and drink-driving. The aim of our product is to help reduce the number of accidents caused by vehicles with a drunk driver at the wheel," says Ingrid Skogsmo, director of the Volvo Cars Safety Centre.

Alcoguard will be available as an option on the Volvo S80, V70 and XC70 from the start of 2008, and by next summer it will also be available on the company's smaller car models. Sales of about two thousand units are expected a year, and this figure is expected to increase as time goes by. Sweden is today the biggest market for alcolocks but Volvo Cars will also offer the system in the rest of Europe and in the USA. The company-car sector, taxi operators, state authorities and municipalities will probably be the foremost customer groups, although the enhanced user-friendliness means that private car owners will also be potential customers.

Fuel-cells for securer results

Alcoguard utilises fuel-cell technology - the very same technology that is used by most police forces in Europe. Before the car can be started, the driver has to blow into the wireless hand-held unit. This unit is the size of a small remote control and it is stored and charged in a compartment behind the centre console. The driver's breath is analysed in the hand-held unit which then transmits the results via radio signal to the car's electronic control system. If the blood-alcohol limit of 0.2 g/l is exceeded, the engine will not start. Thanks to advanced sensors, it is not possible to use external air sources such as a pump to cheat the system.

"Fuel-cell technology is more expensive but it also produces far better results. Unlike semi-conductors, for instance, fuel-cells only react to ethanol and nothing else. In the fuel-cell, the ethanol molecules pass through a sensitive membrane and an electrical current is generated. This current is then measured. Higher current means more alcohol in the driver's breath," says David Nilsson, Technical Project Manager for Alcoguard at Volvo Cars.

The results of the breathalyser test are shown via three LEDs in the hand-held unit.

Green: 0.0 - 0.1 g/l alcohol, the car's engine starts

Yellow: 0.1 - 0.2 g/l alcohol, the car will start, but the driver should not drive

Red: more than 0.2 g/l alcohol, the car's engine will not start

Easy to use

The car's information display shows messages to help the driver in the system's usage, for instance to indicate if the test was approved or if the driver needs to exhale longer into the hand-held unit. The breathalyser results are stored for 30 minutes after the engine has been turned off, so the driver does not need to repeat the procedure every time he stops for a short while. The preset limit of 0.2 g/l has been chosen to meet Swedish legislation. On markets with other limits, the Volvo workshop can alter the setting. Calibration and battery replacement in the hand-held unit are carried out together with the car's regular servicing. If the next purchaser of the car does not wish to use the system, it is easy for
a dealer to remove it.

The hand-held unit is wireless, which makes it possible for the driver to remove it from the car. Although it will always give an accurate measurement of blood-alcohol level no matter where it is used, it is only if it is within ten metres of the car itself that the hand-held unit can communicate with the vehicle. At room temperature, the system warms up within five seconds and in order to reduce waiting time, heating is activated as soon as the car is unlocked. In order to ensure that Alcoguard also works in extremely cold and hot climates, the accompanying power cable should be used.

"We have aimed to make as convenient and user-friendly a solution as possible. The technology should require as little extra work as possible from the driver. The easier the system is to use, the greater the number of people who will use it," says David Nilsson.

Helps the driver make the right decisions

Alcoguard should be seen as a supporting system. It is always up to the driver to make decisions based on up-to-date information from Alcoguard. For emergency situations or if the hand-held unit is lost, there is a bypass function that can be activated. There are two alternatives for activating this function:

1. bypass is possible an unlimited number of times, or

2. bypass is only possible once.

Changes to these settings must be carried out by a Volvo workshop. There the system can also be reset if the bypass function has been activated. Every time this is done, the information is logged in the car and only the owner has access to this information.

Cutting-edge development

This is the first time Volvo Cars is launching its own integrated alcolock. For two years now Volvo Cars has been offering retro-fitting of alcolocks manufactured by external suppliers. Development of the new Alcoguard benefits from the fact that the technology has become cheaper, more accurate and more compact. Its development was also carried out in close consultation with various public authorities, insurance companies and other relevant parties to ensure a truly good solution. The project has been partly financed by the Swedish Road Administration's "Skyltfonden" * (personalised number plate fund) programme.

"In the future, we will hopefully avoid alcohol-related traffic accidents. However, that requires not just good technology but also a change in the general attitude to alcohol and driving. In order to promote the use of alcolocks, we feel that an initiative such as a lower purchase price or a reduction in insurance premiums for cars equipped with the system - which might help prevent drivers from getting behind the wheel while intoxicated - is a good idea," concludes Ingrid Skogsmo.

* Skyltfonden provides financial support for developments in the area of traffic safety. Funds for Skyltfonden come from the fees that car owners pay for personalised registration plates.

For more information, please contact Maria Bohlin, mbohlin1@volvocars.com,

phone 46 (0)31-59 65 25.

New Collision Warning with Auto Brake helps prevent rear-end collisions

Mon, 27 Aug 2007 22:00:00 GMT

Collision Warning with Auto Brake - including automatic braking when a rear-end collision is imminent
Adaptive Cruise Control and Distance Alert - to help the driver keep a proper distance to the vehicle in front

Volvo Cars continues to address the problem of rear-end collisions by introducing Collision Warning with Auto Brake - a refined warning system that makes the car brake by itself if the driver doesn't act when a rear-end collision with a moving or stationary vehicle is imminent.

"This can mean the difference between a serious injury and minor consequences for the occupants of both vehicles," says Ingrid Skogsmo, Director of the Volvo Cars Safety Centre.

The new system will be available in the Volvo S80, V70 and XC70 at the end of 2007.

Rear impacts represent a third of all reported accidents - and in more than 50 percent of these accidents, the driver doesn't brake at all.

The new Collision Warning with Auto Brake (CWAB) initially warns the driver and pre-charges the brakes. The brakes are automatically activated if the driver doesn't act when a rear-end collision with a moving or stationary vehicle is imminent.

Collision Warning with Auto Brake has an elevated technology level compared to the Collision Warning with Brake Support that was introduced in 2006.

Combining radar and camera

While the original system, introduced in the Volvo S80, is radar-based, Collision Warning with Auto Brake uses both radar and a camera to detect vehicles in front of the car. The long-range radar reaches 150 metres in front of the car while the camera range is 55 metres.

By using Data Fusion to combine information from the radar and the camera, the system becomes more efficient.

"Since the system combines information both from the radar sensor and the camera, it gives such a high confidence level that automatic braking is possible if a collision is imminent. The system is programmed to activate autonomous braking only if both sensors agree that the situation is critical," says Jonas Tisell, technical project manager for Collision Warning with Auto Brake at Volvo Cars.

One of the main advantages of the camera is the possibility of detecting stationary vehicles and warning the driver while maintaining a low false-alarm level.

"Statistics show that 50 percent of all rear-end collisions involve a stationary object, which means that Collision Warning with Auto Brake covers twice as many situations as with the present system," says Jonas Tisell.

To adapt the warning system to different conditions and individual driving styles, its sensitivity can be regulated in the car settings menu. There are three alternative sensitivity positions.

Begins with a warning - and pre-charging of the brakes

If the car approaches another vehicle from behind and the driver does not react, a red warning light flashes in the head-up display on the windscreen. At the same time, an audible signal can be heard. This helps the driver react and an accident can be avoided in most cases.

"The head-up display gives a clear and very efficient warning. The red light appearing on the windscreen in front of the driver produces the same gut-reaction effect as when you see a brake light in front of you", says Jonas Tisell.

If the risk of a collision increases despite the warning, the brake support is activated. To shorten the reaction time the brakes are prepared by the brake pads being placed against the discs. The brake pressure is also reinforced hydraulically, ensuring effective braking even if the driver does not press the brake pedal particularly hard.

Auto Brake lowers impact speed

If the driver doesn't brake and the sensor system determines that a collision is imminent, the brakes are activated.

Auto Brake is designed to lower the impact speed as much as possible and thereby reduce the risk of injury to the occupants of both vehicles.

"A reduction in collision speed from 60 km/h to 50 km/h, for example, gives approximately 30 percent less impact energy. This can mean the difference between a serious injury and minor consequences for the occupants. Depending on the circumstances, it is also possible that the Auto Brake can help avoid the impact entirely," says Jonas Tisell.

Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)

To make driving more comfortable, Volvo Cars has developed Adaptive Cruise Control, ACC. It helps the driver by maintaining the distance to the car in front and the system contributes to relaxed driving control when the traffic flow is uneven.

Adaptive Cruise Control uses a radar sensor to continuously measure the distance to the vehicles in front and the system automatically adapts the speed of the car to ensure that the distance is maintained.

The driver activates the cruise control, sets the desired maximum speed between 30 and 200 km/h and chooses a time interval to the car in front. There is a choice of five different time intervals between 1 and 2.6 seconds.

When the radar sensor detects a slower vehicle in front of the car, the speed is automatically adapted to that vehicle even when it changes speed.

"Since Adaptive Cruise Control handles part of the routine driving operations the driver can focus further ahead and drive with greater safety margins," says Jonas Tisell.

Distance Alert (DA)

Distance Alert is another new comfort feature that helps the driver keep a proper distance to the vehicle in front even when the Adaptive Cruise Control is disengaged.

Distance Alert is activated via a button in the centre console. As with ACC, the driver can choose between five settings. If the time gap to the car in front becomes shorter than the selected value, the driver gets visual information in the head-up display on the lower part of the windscreen.

If Distance Alert is engaged and ACC is activated, the DA system becomes temporarily disengaged.

Both ACC and Distance Alert are tailored to help the driver comfortably follow certain national regulations defining the required distance to the vehicle in front.

System limitations

Some of the described systems' availability depends on the number and quality of visible road markings. The lane markings must be clearly visible for the camera Poor light, fog, snow and extreme weather conditions can make the system unavailable.

Descriptions and facts in this press material relate to Volvo Cars' international car range. Described features might be optional. Vehicle specifications may vary from one country to another and may be altered without prior notification.

Volvo Cars introduces new systems for alerting tired and unconcentrated drivers

Mon, 27 Aug 2007 22:00:00 GMT

Driver Alert Control - unique technology that alerts tired and unconcentrated drivers
Lane Departure Warning - alerts the driver if the car crosses one of the road markings without an obvious reason

Studies show that up to 90 percent of all traffic accidents are caused by driver distraction.

Now Volvo Cars introduces Driver Alert Control - with a technology solution that is a world-first in passenger cars. The system aims to alert the driver when his or her concentration level is affected, for instance during long journeys.

Another new system, Lane Departure Warning, alerts the driver if the car crosses one of the road markings without an obvious reason.

Lane Departure Warning and Driver Alert Control will be part of the same option package, called Driver Alert System. It will be available in the Volvo S80, V70 and XC70 at the end of 2007.

"Real life safety is the key to our safety philosophy. When it comes to preventive safety, we have the same approach as when we develop protective systems. In other words that our research and technical development focus on areas where new technology can create significant results in real-life-traffic," says Ingrid Skogsmo, Director of the Volvo Cars Safety Centre.

Based on the accident statistics above, Volvo Cars is focusing on developing efficient technology to help drivers avoid or reduce the severity of accidents caused by distraction and driver fatigue.

Driver Alert Control (DAC) - a unique innovation

As a result of extensive studies on how drivers operate behind the wheel, Volvo has developed Driver Alert Control - a world-first innovation that registers the car's progress on the road and alerts unconcentrated drivers.

Driver fatigue is a major traffic-safety problem the world over. According to the U.S. NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), drivers who fall asleep at the wheel cause about 100,000 accidents annually in the United States alone, resulting in 1,500 fatalities and more than 70,000 injured drivers and passengers.

The situation is similar in Europe. The German Insurance Association GDV estimates that about 25 percent of all fatal accidents on the German Autobahn are caused by driver fatigue.

Volvo's Driver Alert Control is an important innovation. It is primarily intended for situations where the risk of losing concentration is the greatest and where an accident would have severe consequences. For example a straight, smooth road that lulls the driver into a sense of relaxation and where the risk of distracting activities or falling asleep is higher. The system steps in at 65 km/h and stays active as long as the speed exceeds 60 km/h.

Registers what's happening on the road

Driver Alert Control monitors the car's movements and assesses whether the vehicle is being driven in a controlled or uncontrolled way. This method is unique among vehicle manufacturers and is very reliable.

"We do not monitor human behaviour - which varies from one person to another - but instead the effect that fatigue or decreased concentration has on driving behaviour. Our system is based on the car's progress on the road. It gives a reliable indication if something is likely to go wrong and alerts the driver before it is too late," explains Daniel Levin, project manager for Driver Alert Control at Volvo Cars. He adds:

"We often get questions about why we have chosen this concept instead of monitoring the driver's eyes. The answer is that we don't think that the technology of monitoring the driver's eyes is mature enough yet."

Driver Alert Control can also cover situations where the driver is focusing too much on his/her cell phone or children in the car, thereby not having full control of the vehicle.

"This is a positive side-effect of our concept, and this is possible since the system evaluates driving behaviour rather than human behaviour," says Daniel Levin.

Text messages and audible signals

From a technical viewpoint, Driver Alert Control consists of a camera, a number of sensors and a control unit.

The camera, which is installed between the windscreen and the interior rear-view mirror, continuously measures the distance between the car and the road lane markings. The sensors register the car's movements. The control unit stores the information and calculates whether the driver risks losing control of the vehicle.

If the risk is assessed as high, the driver is alerted via an audible signal. In addition, a text message appears in the car's information display, alerting him or her with a coffee cup symbol to take a break.

What is more, the driver can continuously retrieve driving information from the car's trip computer. The starting-point is five bars. The less consistent the driving, the fewer bars remain.

"It is, of course, always the driver's responsibility to take a break when necessary, but sometimes you might not realise that you're not alert enough to drive. In such situations, Driver Alert Control can help the driver make the right decision, like taking a refreshing break or a nap, before the concentration level becomes too low," Daniel Levin concludes.

Lane Departure Warning (LDW)

On US Highways, single-vehicle road departures account for approximately one fourth of all accidents and one third of all fatalities, statistics that emphasize the risk of losing concentration in smooth driving conditions.

Volvo Cars addresses this by introducing Lane Departure Warning. The system helps prevent single-vehicle road departure accidents as well as head-on collisions due to temporary distraction.

Volvo Cars' researchers estimate that the LDW system can help prevent 30-40 percent of these types of accidents at speeds between 70 and 100 km/h.

LDW is activated via a button on the centre stack and it alerts the driver with a gentle warning sound if the car crosses one of the road markings without an obvious reason such as use of the turn indicator.

The system also uses a camera to monitor the car's position between the road markings. LDW steps in at 65 km/h and stays active as long as the speed exceeds 60 km/h.

System limitations