Straightline

You can always count on TMZ to be where it probably shouldn't be, but these clips show a side of the Volvo C70 you may not have seen before. This C70 isn't cruising around with its retractable hard top folded down. It's being pushed around a bit and Tom Cruise is at the wheel, apparently doing his own tire squealing and handbrake turns.

Categories: Celebrities,Convertibles,Volvo

You've seen the computerized pics Infiniti released at the official "virtual" debut of the redesigned 2011 Infiniti M last month at Pebble Beach. But today we spent some time on public roads with an actual rear-drive 2011 Infiniti M56 and an all-wheel-drive 2011 Infiniti M37x.

We can't tell you how these midsize luxury sedans drive or give you detail specs on them today. But browse through the photos and you'll get a feel for how they look on the road and some of the features they have.

For example, the M56, which gets a 5.6-liter V8 making over 400 hp, is available with a sport package, and our particular M56 Sport wore 20-inch wheels and Bridgestone Potenza RE050A tires. Navigation system graphics appear to be sharper as well, and the interiors look a little less hard-edge than the current generation.

Although we drove the AWD M37x, there will be certainly be a rear-drive version that slots below that. Look for about 325 hp from its 3.7-liter V6. And expect a 7-speed automatic transmission to be standard on all flavors of the 2011 Infiniti M.

More photos after the jump. Note that the badges are covered on these pre-production cars. The M56 Sport is black with a light interior. The M37x is dark gray with a dark interior.

2011 Infiniti M Sedan: First Look in Monterey

Continue reading On the Street With the 2011 Infiniti M56 and M37x.

Categories: Future Vehicles,Infiniti,Luxury Cars,Sedans,Volvo

Nothing new under the hood, but Volvo designers have put a new face on the 2011 Volvo C30, and it's not at all unlike the nose on the 2010 S60 sedan. You can also get a body kit -- shown in these photos, skid plates (?!) and all -- on this perennially underrated hatchback.

The paint, Orange Flame Metallic, is also new, and the 2010 C30 in Volvo's booth at the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show should be painted accordingly.

The 2011 Volvo C30 goes on sale in the U.S. in the first quarter of 2010, and unless it gets some kind of radical surgery (say a Mazdaspeed 3 drivetrain transplant) between now and then, we doubt many of you will care that much. It's a damn shame. There will never be a better looking hatchback.

More photos after the jump.

Continue reading Frankfurt Preview: 2011 Volvo C30.

Categories: Frankfurt Auto Show,Hatchbacks,Volvo

Chinese automaker Geely did indeed place a bid to buy Volvo in August, the company's CEO, Gui Shengyue, confirmed yesterday in an interview with the Financial Times. Geely is still thought to be the only serious bidder for Volvo.

Two sources close to the company estimate the size of the bid at just under $2 billion, which falls into the line with the $1.5 to 2 billion Ford is reportedly seeking. FT reports that Geely also wants to buy all of Volvo, which would seem to work well, since Ford wants to sell its Swedish subsidiary in one piece.

Financial Times (sub.req)

Categories: Auto Industry,Ford,Geely,Manufacturers,Volvo

The redesigned 2011 Volvo S60 sedan has been spotted on U.S. roads, and it bears a striking resemblance to the sleek S60 coupe concept that debuted at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. Although the side of the sedan is rather featureless (well, save for the dramatic character line above the door handles), the front end looks pretty tasty. Its jaw line is much less squarish than its V70/XC70 station wagon relatives.

We'd say the same about the rear fascia, which you can see after the jump. This shot also provides a better look at the character line down the side of the car.

At the S60 concept's Detroit debut, Volvo officials told us the production version wouldn't be out until mid-2010, and rumors last week suggest this date is still on-target. Ford is still shopping for a buyer for Volvo, remember.

Volvo S60 Concept gallery

Continue reading Spy Photos: 2011 Volvo S60.

Categories: Luxury Cars,Sedans,Volvo

Although there has been more news coverage about the pending sale of Saab to Dutch supercar maker Koenigsegg, the other Swedish automaker, Volvo, is still up for sale, too. And Automotive News cites a report from Dagens Industri, a Swedish business newspaper, that Chinese automaker Geely is the only company to submit a serious bid for Volvo thus far.

More details on the sale are expected next month, according to the report, and parent company Ford still plans to have everything wrapped up before New Year's.

Automotive News (sub.req)

Categories: Auto Industry,Ford,Geely,Manufacturers,Volvo

If you're an Inside Line regular, you already know that we look at cars from the enthusiast's perspective. How does it feel when you're going fast? What are its ultimate capabilities at the track? That sort of thing.

Over on the Edmunds.com side, they look at things a little differently. They assume you're days or weeks away from pulling the trigger on a new car, so they concentrate on all those little things that might push you towards one vehicle or another in addition to the usual specifications and features.

Their latest feature looks at the most recent crop of luxury crossover SUVs. It's a category that has exploded in popularity over the last few years and the competition is fierce. See which one came out on top in the latest comparison over on Edmunds Daily.

Edmunds.com Comparison Test: Luxury Crossover SUVs

Categories: Audi,Cadillac,Crossovers,Luxury Cars,Mercedes-Benz,SUVs,Volvo

OK, so it's unimaginatively titled, "Volvo the Game," and it makes no secret of the fact that it's advertising for the Volvo S60 concept unveiled in January, and it's merely a free download for your PC from Volvo's website.

But this promotional video game could actually be worth checking out. Volvo contracted with the Swedish game developer, SimBin, which has a reputation for making hard-core PC racing simulations (GTR Evolution, for example), though the company released its first console-exclusive title (published by Atari), Race Pro, for the Xbox 360, in February.

You don't have to pay for Volvo the Game, of course, so it's a slim affair -- just six cars and two tracks. The S60 concept is one of the cars, obviously, while the others are race-prepped Volvos of the recent past -- a 240 Turbo Group A, BTCC (British Touring Car Championship) versions of the 850 wagon and first-generation S40 sedan, the STCC (Swedish Touring Car Championship) S60 sedan, and the C30 competing in the 2009 STCC.

The tracks are a little obscure -- Gothenburg Eco Drive Arena in Sweden and Chayka near Kiev, Ukraine -- probably a cost-trimming measure rather than a reflection of the cars or the game itself. After all, the Nurburgring Nordschleife is one of the tracks in SimBin's normal racing sims.

We're downloading the game for a quick spin, but if you don't want to commit to that, there's a preview video after the jump.

Continue reading Volvo Creates Racing Sim for PC to Promote Volvo S60 Concept.

Categories: Concept Vehicles,Volvo

What we have here is a compressed air-powered water cannon sticking out of the side of a Volvo station wagon.

Now, Ford claims it uses this unit to simulate a car getting smacked in the rear-side by another car with the aim of  improving future stability control systems. Okay. But somehow we're guessing the guys that developed it have built their share of potato cannons in the old days.

Anyway, the car is rigged up with an air cannon that Ford says is commonly used in mining operations and your better pumpkin-toss events. It carries nine gallons of water that at the push of a button comes blasting through a sheath of Glad Press'n Seal wrap at 130 psi.

We have no idea what we would use water-cannon-equipped Volvo wagon for, but we kind of want one now.

Categories: Ford,Volvo

By now you know that Volvo has teamed up with award winning Swedish game studio SimBin Development Team to creat Volvo The Game. Yeah, we're not sure why either, but the game will feature the Volvo S60 Concept (among other vehicles) and we remember liking that car very much when it debuted at the Detroit Auto Show earlier this year.

Volvo The Game is set for release on May 26th. Until then, enjoy this first bit of footage which was apparently released two weeks ago, although nobody noticed.

Categories: Concept Vehicles,Sedans,Volvo

The 2010 Volvo XC60 may not generate much interest from the enthusiast crowd, but maybe it should. No, it's not particularly fast, but as Senior Road Test Editor Josh Jacquot found out, the XC60 is far more nimble than he expected, a trait that made it surprisingly entertaining to drive given its family vehicle status. Doesn't look half bad either.

Full Test: 2010 Volvo XC60

Categories: SUVs,Volvo

Ford has named Moray Callum (above right) as its new executive director for Ford Americas design. He replaces Peter Horbury (above left) who will head back to Volvo.

In case you're not familiar with Ford's bizarre job titles, Mr. Callum will be in charge of all of Ford's design activities in the western hemishpere. Prior to his promotion, the Scotsman presided over the styling of the latest Super Duty trucks. According to Ford, Callum will also guide the design of Mercury and Lincoln. Horbury, who was born in Britain, will oversee all of Volvo's design efforts.

Inside Line News: Major Design Shakeup at Ford

Categories: Auto Industry,Ford,Trends,Volvo

According to a report in the Swedish paper Dagens Industri, there are three companies in the running to buy Volvo.  Two of them are Chinese while the third is a "European constellation." Bids are expected to be in by mid-April.

In the meantime, Volvo has asked the European Investment Bank for a $568M loan to keep the lights on.  

Automotive News

Saab Files for Bankruptcy

Categories: Saab,Volvo

Volvo has announced pricing for the small XC60 crossover sport-ute that will go on sale in March as a 2010 model.

The little ute, powered by a 281-hp 3.0-liter turbocharged six, starts at $38,025 (including $825 destination charge). That is not inexpensive. However, all XC60s come with leather seats, power driver's seat and Bluetooth connectivity and, oh yeah, all-wheel drive. It also comes with Volvo's recently announced three-year/36,000-mile complimentry factory-scheduled maintenance. Still, that's closer in price to a BMW X3 than to an Infiniti EX35.

A few choice options include the Collision Avoidance Package, which includes adaptive cruise control, collision warning with automatic braking, driver alert control and lane-departure warning for $1,695. The Technology package which includes an upgrade Dynaudio surround-sound audio system, navigation system and rear park assist goes for $2,700. This being a Volvo, it's also offered with built-in child booster seats for $495. Nordic Light Oak inlays will set you back $295. And the not-entirely-attractive-sounding Lime Grass Green Pearl paint is an extra $525.

Read Inside Line's First Drive story on the 2010 Volvo XC60.

Categories: SUVs,Volvo

Another of the more striking cars revealed at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show was the Volvo S60 concept, which is destined for production as the second-generation Volvo S60 sedan midway through the 2010 calendar year. We've put together a gallery of all the best images Volvo has released.

Categories: Concept Vehicles,Detroit Auto Show,Luxury Cars,Volvo