At the end of the 2007 model year, the R-badged performance lineup from Volvo will go out from production.Volvo has confirmed this latest news, a little surprise considering previous reports confirmed Volvo wasn’t going to replace the V70R model with the release of the new V70 wagon.

Launched during the mid-1990s with the first T5R model and continuing with the latest S60 and V70 range, the R performance line has failed to turn around Volvo’s conservative and safe image as its designers had hoped.

 

The cars won’t be carrying the R label but there will still be performance oriented models. So a V8 powered S80 flagship as well as a sports version of the C30 hatch are the first models without the R badge.

Both the S60R and V70R featured 300hp turbocharged engines mated to Haldex AWD systems and an electronically controlled chassis with Ohlins shock absorbers. SO the problem was with the image of Volvo as a performance brand, and not with the cars themselves.

Sports enthusiasts aren’t usually inclined to test-drive a Volvo when buying a car, while Volvo’s customers are not interested in performance cars.