The other day, we were driving to Home Depot and a family passed us in their minivan. No big deal. Lots of people pass us, but I guess they failed Math 101. Here’s the question:  Does going over the posted speed limit to get you to a destination faster justify increased accident risk, fuel consumption, an unhappy spouse, friend or whomever?

Let’s do a little math: A 60 mile trip at 60 mph will get you to your destination in 60 minutes. Pump it up to 70 mph and you shave nine minutes off your drive. At 75 mph, you’ll be there 12 minutes sooner than traveling at 60 mph. A shorter trip of 30 miles at 75 mph would get you to your destination six minutes sooner. A speeding ticket in my state starts around $200, not to mention an increased insurance rate. You get the idea.

Life in the right lane isn’t too bad. I used to drive a good 10 mph over posted limits; it was just my way of being rebellious. Now that I’m driving slower (not real slow, but slower) life seems a little less stressful. Oh, I still watch for brake lights ahead, and areas known to hide ticket writers, yet I just feel a little better by using less gas and working out math equations. Do you know that one gallon of gas weights about eight pounds and puts about 10 pounds of carbon in the air? Very interesting…

Just watching my cars’ trip computer, the difference in fuel consumption was about seven miles per gallon (from 75 mph to 65 mph, maybe even better if I slowed to 60, which is unlikely). Even a five mph difference with a 20-gallon gas tank, I get that 100 extra miles or the difference between one extra gas stop on our long commute north every so often.

I don’t know about you, but many times someone passes me, only to meet up at the same exit few minutes later. Something to think about…

On a semi-related note, for those of you who own an XC60, go have a great weekend. For the rest of us, governmental crash data shows that about 75 percent of all accidents occur below 10 mph. Nuisance, pain-in-the-neck, bumper busters; ones that can cause thousands in damages, not to mention whiplash injuries. Just be careful and don’t follow too close to that car in front of you.

Finally, remind one friend to buckle up rear seated passengers.

Take care and have a wonderful July 4th weekend.

Dan

So, there’s this great thing going on between Volvo and Alex’s Lemonade Stand for Life. Now, through July 31, for every cup of virtual lemonade Volvo owners purchase on the site, they will receive a discount for the same amount, up to $100, on their next service visit at any participating authorized United States Volvo retailer. Coupons are redeemable from August 1, 2009 through December 31, 2009.

Ok, I got all of that out of the way.

This is easy. Go here: www.lemonadestandforlife.com. Buy cups of virtual lemonade. Help fight childhood cancer. It’s simple. Volvo started things off by buying the first 200,000 cups last year. You can even have your name posted on the Web site. If you look hard enough, you might even find mine.

Oh, and you don’t have to own a Volvo to buy a cup. Anyone can do it.

Good week to you,

Dan

Safety is difficult to demonstrate. BMW’s motor and exhaust sound great when you turn the key. Mercedes’ doors clunk like a bank vault. But, Volvo safety is well hidden, just waiting for that one miserable day in our life. XC60 has been different in that you can test drive our City Safety system at any Volvo retailer. But other than that, our safety is buried deep into sheet metal and electronics.

However, this photo shows an interesting safety feature you would never notice. I found it while talking with Thomas Broberg, Senior Safety Engineer, Volvo Car Corporation - Sweden at our XC60 launch this past February.

This bracket is inside the passenger doorframe, facing forward.  It is used in: XC60, XC70, V70, S80, C30, V50, S40 and a slightly different version on C70. What is its function?

Of course, like any good contest, there is a prize, and here is the story behind it: we (wife/dog/I) moved into another house some years ago. When we were packing up umpteen years of Volvo jackets, t-shirts, sweaters, even some earmuffs, I found this T-shirt. We did this in PR when we launched S40 and V40 in 1999. We created our own logo “Sweden Rules”, thanks to our resident creative genius Soren Johansson. This is the last and only shirt that exists that is brand new. Amazingly, I never wore this shirt, meaning there is no food, paint, wine, grease, or dirt on it. I just washed it today to get 10 years of dust off it. Only one size: XL.

Send your answer to: djohn116@volvocars.com

Another disclaimer: This has absolutely no value. If more than one correct answer is submitted, I’ll write your name on some sort of scrap paper, throw it into an old Viking helmet and have someone unlucky enough to stumble by my office in seven days draw out the winning name. No Volvo employees, that in includes you, Ragnar Crona (who helped me with this - thanks), and Thomas Broberg who knows everything.

Internally we called this 5-5-5-5 project.

Today we announced the following program. I guess, if you have any questions, please email me/us and we’ll do our best to answer before June 30th. Just kidding, we’ll answer right away.

Good week to you all.

Dan
—
VOLVO ANNOUNCES AN UNPRECEDENTED, BEST-IN-CLASS COVERAGE PROGRAM
THE VOLVO SAFE + SOUND COVERAGE PLAN

June 2, 2009 (Rockleigh, N.J.) - Volvo Cars of North America, LLC (VCNA) today announced it will offer a unique Safe + Sound Coverage Plan on all 2009 models. This complementary coverage program offers tremendous value to buyers by wrapping a comprehensive list of benefits into one package. Volvo has combined additional time and mileage limits on: Warranty repairs and road side assistance coverage along with enhancing wear item coverage and extending factory scheduled maintenance coverage. “This is best in class coverage,” states Tassos Panas, Executive Vice President, Sales Operations VCNA. “Today, consumers are looking for value and Volvo has built an overall coverage program that adds value and peace of mind to their ownership experience.

The Volvo Safe and Sound Coverage Plan gives owners’ peace of mind for 5 years or 60,000 miles, which ever comes first, and is transferable to the next owner. It includes:
• 5 years/60,000 miles of New Car Warranty
• 5years/60,000 miles of Complimentary Factory Scheduled Maintenance
• 5 years/60,000 miles of Wear and Tear Coverage
• 5 years/Unlimited miles of Volvo On Call Roadside Assistance.

This complementary program is designed to offer a premium ownership experience by expanding and enhancing services to Volvo owners. Volvo’s Safe and Sound Coverage Plan is for all 2009 cars sold by VCNA retailers starting June 2 through June 30, 2009.

Late last year, VCNA surveyed luxury buyers to ascertain how the economy was impacting their lives. It is not surprising that 53 percent were concerned about how the declining economy was going to affect them. VCNA found that two major points were likely to influence future purchase decisions: 1.The need for durable, high quality products. 2. Concern about maintenance expenditures. This study also drew out their concern for strong warranty support and their belief that scheduled maintenance coverage would be an important part of their decision criteria.

“Buyers are looking for security – peace of mind, stability, honesty and straight talk about how a purchase would effect their financial environment,” says Panas. “They are looking for practical solutions that give them better value for the money they are spending.”

Volvo retailers were part of this development process. They are confident that the Safe + Sound Coverage Plan will bring new customers to their retail facilities as well as exceeding the needs of repeat Volvo buyers during this difficult economic time. “Combining Volvo quality and reliability with real customer economic needs, we have a program that no other luxury manufacturer is offering” according to Panas.

“Volvo has always been about personal safety and security. Our Safe and Sound Coverage Plan offers exceptional value and financial security that goes beyond crumple zones and airbags,” said Panas. “This is a security of ownership program that is very Volvo.”

Highlights:

The Safe and Sound Coverage Program includes:
• 5 years/60,000 miles Scheduled Maintenance
• 5/60,000 Coverage on Wear Items
• 5/60,000 Manufacturers Warranty
• 5/Unlimited Roadside Assistance (On Call program)

Safe and Sound Elements:
5 Years of Warranty Coverage/60,000 Miles under the Volvo Safe and Sound Coverage Plan
The Volvo Safe and Sound Coverage Plan provides an additional year and 10,000 miles of Volvo New Car Limited Warranty coverage for a total of five years or 60,000 miles, whichever occurs first. Additional warranties cover corrosion, seat belts, the supplemental restraint system, emission systems, genuine Volvo replacement parts and genuine Volvo accessories.

5 Years/60,000 Miles of Maintenance Coverage under the Volvo Safe and Sound Coverage Plan
The Maintenance program covers the first eight scheduled services at no charge. This includes: oil and filter changes, cabin filter replacement, complete fluid level top-offs, and a check of the vehicle’s on-board diagnostic system. Volvo service technicians will cover all items outlined in the Volvo maintenance schedule, including inspection of the tires, brakes, coolant and battery.

5 Years/60,000 Miles of Wear & Tear Item Coverage under the Volvo Safe and Sound Coverage Plan
Wear items include:
Brake pads (front/rear)
Brake rotors (front/rear – only in conjunction with a covered brake pad replacement)
Windshield wiper inserts

5 Years of Road Side Assistance under the Volvo Safe and Sound Coverage Plan
Among the many useful standard features that come with your Volvo, the handiest may be Volvo On Call. Volvo developed the industry first coast to coast 24/7 road side assistance program in 1985. As was then the goal, On Call was developed because Volvo cares and believes Volvo owners deserve the highest form of motoring protection available today.

Key Features
Volvo On Call includes such services as:
24/7 roadside assistance
Towing to your nearest Volvo retailer
Computerized trip routing/map service
Lockout assistance
Trip interruption expense benefits
Car rental discounts
Jump-starting, winching, battery failure, changing a flat or emergency gasoline delivery
Volvo retailer locator

VCNA, part of Volvo Car Corporation of Gothenburg, Sweden, provides marketing, sales, parts, service, technology and training support to Volvo automobile retailers in the United States, and oversees Volvo operations in Canada. Volvo has been building cars with safety in mind for more than 80 years.

The 2009 Volvo Cars model lineup includes the award-winning S40 and its wagon counterpart the V50; the award-winning XC90; the sporty S60 sedan; the flagship S80 luxury sedan; versatile V70 wagon and rugged XC70 (Cross Country); the stunning C70 retractable hardtop convertible and the dynamic C30.

VCNA reserves the right to make changes to “Safe and Sound” program at any time, without notice.

It’s always nice to meet folks who are as passionate about the Volvo brand as we are. A couple weeks ago, I had the opportunity to attend my first Volvo Club of America (VCOA) owners meeting at our super-secret test facility located outside Phoenix, Arizona. Actually, I’ll let the secret out of the bag. Internally we call it APG, for Arizona Proving Grounds, and it’s located in Wittmann, just off Happy Valley Road, about 40 miles outside of Phoenix.

Fences topped with razor wire surround it and security is as tight as a Swedish bank. There are cameras and patrolmen monitor the fence line 24/7. The property is located directly under a military no-fly zone, so even spy photographers with access to a Cessna can’t get within several miles of the facility.

But for one great day (with months of pleading ahead of time), APG was opened to the VCOA. Sure, it wasn’t carte blanche accessibility, but it wasn’t bad. The engineers hid all the really cool stuff under tarps and inside locked garages, but visitors still got to wander around and even take a tour of the several test tracks. Local retailers brought all the new iron and the VCOA members brought the old stuff. I took a few shots while I was there and some highlights were a few excellent examples of P1800s, a hot-to-trot 850 T5-R and a couple of sweet C30s. A real crowd pleaser was the 2007 ipd SEMA C30 with unique gull-wing doors, nitrous injection and wild Swedish-flag-inspired paint. When I let it be known the car was set for crushing in the next couple months (we have to do this because it’s a Euro spec car that can’t be sold here) there were actual tears from a few of the onlookers.

The cars weren’t the only part of the day that was impressive: the local Peoria fire department brought their newest cutting tools and went about cutting a V50 to shreds in a matter of moments. Despite this, our cars are tough. A firefighter explained to me that a year ago they broke a Jaws of Life tool while trying to hack through the B-pillar of an S80. Another big hit was the live XC60 City Safety demonstration. At one point there were more than 50 folks lined up to get a crack at running into a giant inflatable car or some pylons. Regular readers of this blog know this is impossible. Still, it’s always fun to watch the expressions on the unwitting driver’s face when the XC60 hits the brakes hard.

I would encourage any Volvo owner to join the VCOA. It’s a nationwide organization that’s full of Volvo freaks who are true enthusiasts.

– James Hope, Product Communications Manager, VCNA

ipd C30 Video

Nice P1800

City Safety Demo

Fire department getting ready to rip into a V50

Fire department extraction demonstration

The new VW Beetle was shown in 1994 as Concept 1 at the North American International Auto show in Detroit, Mich. It had all the charm of the old Beetle and had the same basic shape and design, very nice looking actually. Years later, we took media to Sweden to show them our XC90 rollover test. While sitting next to Peter Horbury at dinner, I asked what he would think of a 544 retro, how he would do it. Being your typical designer, he started looking for something to draw on. Being unprepared as I normally am, I shoved him our dinner menu. He had a pen.

Just a few years ago, after Peter went to head up Ford design in Dearborn, Mich., Steve Mattin got the same question. Of course both are different designs, but interesting that both are philosophically different than the New Beetle, GT40 or T-Bird. Peter felt a retro vehicle should be a modern interpretation with out the baggage of an older shape, yet keeping something hauntingly familiar. Today we hold onto the strong V line in our hoods (from the PV444 design), strong shoulders from 122 series and other small, ‘gosh that is a Volvo’ hints at our past. I think the new Camaro and Charger are excellent examples of modern retro.

Oh, and so I don’t get in trouble, no, we are not showing you this as a sneak peek of our future. No, this is not in any design program. No, this will never progress beyond the paper they were penned upon. No you cannot order one in red and I don’t know the engine, as James often says. He doesn’t know anything.

Good week to you all.
Drive safely this holiday weekend and thank a Veteran for what we have today.

Dan

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Enjoy this video preview of Volvo The Game.

Dan

So here’s this Brit – nice suit, kind of like what one would expect from someone being head of design for a car company – but he talks with an British accent. Ok, what the heck does he know about Swedish car design? I think in those days, the head of any department in Sweden was Swedish, but this guy isn’t. He started talking about how a designer can express what people think is design, but can not translate it into metal. The best person to design a car is someone who understands a design language, ‘”forest from the trees,” how it doesn’t cost any more to make a nice fender than an ugly one, how to trick the eye, and all that mumbo jumbo.

Until Peter came along, we were stuck in box mode. 240’s, 740/760, 850’s…all boxes. Were they good Scandinavian designs? Sure. They held to language that was all about form and function. If you have four tires planted on pavement, what you have above them is yours. You own that real estate, what better way to use it than with a box. Hauls lots of stuff, and if you tweak the fenders, heck it looks ok.

When we launched our first “modern” convertible in 1957, it lasted for 58 cars. At least, we had the guts to pull the plug before we got in real deep. Not many exist today. I found one years ago over in Belgium, didn’t tell my boss that we bought it, shipped it back here and then spent a fortune rebuilding it. But it’s as beautiful as the day it was finished in 1958 and rides just as bad as it did in 1958. Anyway, I’m heading in the wrong direction. Our watershed was 1997 with the launch of the C70 Coupe. The car was stunning, especially in Saffron color. Darn that car was awesome, but how to get media to write about Volvo and use styling in the same article?

So, we brought Peter over to Rockleigh, sectioned off part of our parts warehouse and invited media to meet with Peter and his new toy. We had two journalists in the morning and two in the afternoon. A couple of journalists needed their own photography, so we rented space at an old IBM campus in Wyckoff, NJ where no one could see what we were doing. Oh, I almost forgot, Volvo Car Corporation, Sweden, insisted on bringing over a security guard to ensure no one tampered with or stole the car. This guard was going to sleep in the car trailer with the C70 between photo sessions. She just didn’t understand that here in America, we really don’t expect spy photographers trying to get into this car, so locking it up at night in a secure campus was all the security she needed. Oh, and she carried a nice 9mm side arm – honestly. In the end, she agreed that a hotel room was much nicer than the trailer.

In the end, the media actually called the C70 a ‘Sexy Swede’. Ok, so to capture what Peter presented to the media, and since I felt this was a turning point for Volvo, I rented a monster VHS TV camera and taped his presentation. Sound quality is not the best, but hopefully you will enjoy this bit of Volvo history.

Good week to you all.
Dan

Here now is the final round of VCNA employee videos.

Enjoy!

Dan

Teresa

Anders

Happy Monday!

Here are more of the videos from my “So what was your involvement with the XC60?” Flip video ambush.

Good week to all!

Dan

Greg

Eve

Eve again