1:54 pm, March 3, 2009
VOLVO is embarking on a product-led recovery, as Ford prepares the company for sale over the next few months.
Here at Geneva, the maker has unveiled 7 DRIVe models which all, says president Stephen Odell, produce record low CO2 emissions for their respective sectors.
‘It is evidence that Volvo can respond quickly to the demands of the market, and there is much more to come,’ he said.
The headline car is the C30 1.6D DRIVe, which emits 104g/km of CO2. That’s the same as today’s Toyota Prius – and this will cost much less.
Volvo has also shown eco versions of the S40, V50, S80, V70 and XC60.
‘We are focusing on delivering a sustainable future for Volvo – this will be a product-led recovery.’
Dealer feedback from customers has also played its part here. Odell revealed the facelifted S80 shown here benefits ‘directly’ from customer feedback.
‘Customers demanded improvements in four areas – so we’ve made the exterior more distinctive, the interior more luxurious, introduced new engines and made the chassis more distinctive,’ he explained.
The S80 will now be sold with two separate chassis set-ups – one comfort, one sport.
The brand-new D5 engine also produces ‘record low’ CO2 figures for this size and power of car.
Dealers can also look forward to the future S60, again shown here in concept form. The brand is focused on the future, and getting products in showrooms to draw customers through the door.
‘No rival is even close to the emissions of our DRIVe models,’ he said. And, it seems, there’s plenty more to come… for whoever ends up owning the company!
by RICHARD AUCOCK
