Volvo cars

2013 Volvo V40 "Pirelli" by Heico Sportiv

Heico Sportiv and Pirelli started a close cooperation back in 2009 and this year, as a celebration of Pirelli’s centenary, the tuner created a special-edition Volvo V40 Pirelli. The car not only received updates to the exterior and interior, but also an extra 50 horsepower under the hood.

The V40 is a car that gets little attention, but somehow Heico Sportiv managed to completely change its look, making it more appealing and sportier. This doesn’t mean the tuner made tons of updates; instead, it opted to keep the exterior and interior updates to a minimum and updated only the essential parts of the V40.

The package seen here has been built on the V40 with a 1.6-liter engine, but according to the tuner, it can be applied to any model in the lineup.

Click past the jump to read more about the Volvo V40 "Pirelli" by Heico Sportiv.

2014 Volvo S60 Polestar

After first unveiling the concept version at the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show, the Volvo S60 Polestar has finally made it to production. However, before you get too excited, you have to know that the new S60 Polestar will initially only be offered in the Australian market. Depending on the Australian reaction to the new model, Volvo will decide if other market will also get it or not.

When it comes to the exterior look, the production version remains pretty faithful to the concept, but unfortunately the concept’s amazing output didn’t make it to production. So, if you were hopping to see the same turbocharged, in-line six-cylinder engine that delivers a total of 508 horsepower we have to tell you that you are going to be a little bit disappointed.

Even more bad news comes with the announcement that the S60 Polestar will be limited to only 100 units, so not even the Aussie market will get much of an opportunity to really enjoy it.

Updated 04/17/2013: The production version Volvo S60 Polestar has finally been unveiled, after a teaser video released the other days.

UPDATE 05/02/13: Polestar Racing has released a new video featuring racing and development driver Robert Dahlgren in a 4000 kilometer journey from Barcelona, Spain, to Jokkmokk, Sweden, in the final stages of the development of its first production Polestar model: the Volvo S60 Polestar.

Hit the jump to read more on the new Volvo S60 Polestar.

2013 Volvo V60 R-Design

Volvo’s trio of R-Design models that we saw at the New York Auto Show are all interesting in their own right. No, you won’t see any radical changes nor will you see an interior cabin glittering in gold.

What you will see are subtle modifications and upgrades that makes the V60 look cleaner and more sophisticated while also improving the car’s handling capabilities and, for a little premium, performance credentials.

All that can be had with the V60 R-Design and the best part is, we don’t expect any significant financial repercussions that you’ll have to be responsible for should you decide to put money down on a Volvo.

Overall, the V60 R-Design fits right into what Volvo has become within the industry. It’s a reflection of a company that shuns the bombastic razzle dazzle in favor of something a little more functional with sprinkles of edginess mixed in between.

Find out more about the Volvo V60 R-Design after the jump

2014 Volvo XC60 R-Design

Until Volvo finally unveils the revised XC60 we’ll just have to deal with minor updates. The 2013 New York Auto Show brought just that to the current lineup in the form of a new XC60 R-Design that adds a renewed and sporty appearance, a dynamic driving-focused chassis and a powerful engine.

For the exterior, the new R-Design package adds a frameless Tech Matte Black grille with high-gloss black stripes, a silk metal diagonal and a refined R-Designed emblem. For the interior, the new XC60 R-Design gets new sports seats wrapped in a combination of black nubuck textile and perforated leather, and features an embroidered "R" logo.

The new R-Design models have been specially designed for "performance-minded individuals with a passion for exquisite details." Volvo also hopes that with its latest addition to the lineup will steal attention from customers currently driving other car makes today.

Hit the jump to read more about the 2013 Volvo XC60 R-Design.

2014 Volvo S60 R-Design

Swedish automaker, Volvo, has introduced a new lineup of R-Design-badged models at the New York Auto Show.

One of them, the S60 R-Design, is a pleasant surprise.

Volvos don’t usually have the kind of presence that its European counterparts command in an auto show as big as New York. But it’s doing its part to ensure that people still remember that they have something to offer that can impress a lot of people.

The S60 R-Design carries its share of improved dynamics over the standard S60 model. Some you’ll notice right off the bat, others you’ll notice only after you take it out for a spin.

In any case, the entire program is certainly worth looking into, at least if you’re in the market for an affordable luxury car with some added components that can drive up its appeal.

In the end, the S60 R-Design is a step up from the standard S60, and at this point, that’s as good as anything when it comes to Volvo.

Find out more about the Volvo S60 R-Design after the jump

Spy Shots: Volvo XC90 Mule Caught Testing for the First Time

The first-generation Volvo XC90 was unveiled back in 2003 and for many years it has been Volvo’s best-sold SUV. However, in the past few years things have changed and XC90 sales have dropped significantly. The reason is quite simple: the XC90 feels aged when compared to many of its competitors. Because of its lagging behind, Volvo has started to test the second-generation XC90 and today we have caught the first mule playing out in the snow in Northern Sweden.

You will likely notice that the mule looks basically identical to the current XC70 and that’s because it is almost identical. You have to remember that this is just a mule that Volvo uses to test technologies that will be used in the next XC90, like the SPA platform and probably one of the new VEA engines. Also, if you take a closer look at the photos, you will notice this mule is a lot wider than the current XC70. Additionally, the fuel cap has an odd placement directly above the right wheel — a clear indication that the wheelbase is significantly longer than in the current model. The rear doors also look to be nearly two inches longer than normal.

The second-gen XC90 will be built on a new, flexible platform that is developed independently by Volvo and bears the name “SPA” (Scalable Product Architecture). This change will make the next XC90 longer than the current generation and, of course, roomier on the inside.

Under the hood, the crossover will get a lineup of turbocharged four-cylinder engines combined with newly developed eight-gear automatic transmission. The current V-6 and V-8 engines will be dropped.

Expect the new XC90 to be launched sometime in 2015, so if you want the new model, you will have to wait for another two years.

2014 Volvo S80

Volvo is one of those automakers that rarely make a splash in the auto scene. Unless they come out with a concept - a feat in itself - they’re usually content with just sitting out of the spotlight and producing cars that are known for their fuel efficiency and safety.

That being said, we still have to give due attention to the automaker, especially when they decide to roll out a bevy of new models for nearly their entire product line.

One of these models is the new S80, the Swedish automaker’s luxury sedan. Previous versions didn’t really inspire a whole lot of interest from the market, but that doesn’t mean that the new S80 doesn’t come with some interesting new features about it that could make it a safe choice for a luxury model.

We certainly see some merits on the new S80. Sure, there are some things we don’t like about it too, but with a brand like Volvo, the case is always the customer taking what he can get.

Find out more about the 2013 Volvo S80 after the jump

2014 Volvo XC60

Yesterday we brought you the first set of spy shots for the upcoming Volvo S60 facelift and now is time to see another updated Volvo playing in the snow: the XC60. As you can see, the refreshed XC60 is donning the same camouflage as the S60, meaning that the SUV will get the same updates as the sedan.

As a result, you should expect the next XC60 to feature the same design elements we have seen in the new V40, which was unveiled at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. We will see a redesigned hood, new front bumper and new headlamps, plus, of course, an updated interior.

We can’t see any camouflage on the SUV’s rear end, so you shouldn’t expect any updates in this area. Under the hood, the new XC60 will carry the same engine lineup, including both gasoline and diesel powertrains.

Expect the new Volvo XC60 to arrive at a major show this year.

We’ll bring you more updates once Volvo releases more info.

2014 Volvo S60

It was expected that once Volvo dropped the new-generation V40 onto the market, all the other models in the lineup would follow suit. The first model sent back to the design board was the S60, but only for a minor facelift. The model made its world debut at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, next to a few other updated Volvo models.

The 2014 S60 received a new front fascia with more focused and determined-looking headlamps, a wider grille, daylight running lights and new tail lamps with LED light. For the interior Volvo is adding new upholstery colours, new wood inlays, a new headliner, and the silk metal frames around the air vents and light controls.

No major updates have been made under the hood, so the S60 can be ordered in the same four chassis types - Touring, Dynamic, Four-C and Lower Sport Chassis. Engine line-up remains unchanged, so customers can choose between a variety of diesel and gas burning power plants with output ranging from 115 horsepower up to 304 horsepower.

Video: Jay Leno Reviews Volvo Polestar S60 Concept

Volvo unveiled the S60 Polestar Concept at the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show and it caught everyone’s attention, thanks to its impressive 508-horsepower output and its announced top speed of more than 186 mph. So it’s no surprise that Jay Leno decided to review the concept.

In the latest episode of Jay Leno’s Garage, he had invited Hans Baathm, Managing Director at PoleStar Performance, who explains the idea and the technology behind the S60 Polestar Concept.

The S60 Polestar is powered by an inline six-cylinder engine that is tuned to deliver an un-Volvo-like 508 horsepower and 424 pound-feet of torque. With the extra 208 horsepower, the S60 Polestar will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.9 seconds and hit a top speed of 186 mph.

Watch the video to see if Jay Leno will take the S60 Polestar over the BMW M3.