From an automotive point of view, Volvo is where Audi was a few decades ago. Only a few people look beyond the non-German badge to see the premium car on offer. The Swedes have a lot of catching up to do, but from one point of view, they're way ahead of the pack.
Safety has always been what Volvo does best, from the strong roof on cars of old to the pedestrian airbag on the V40. Now, Volvo has announced the next generation XC90, due out in 2014, will be an amazing tour of force from as safety tech point.
Even before the car is ready to be revealed, the new technologies for the upcoming Volvo XC90 will be tested by a number of international media representatives this summer. The technologies are:
• Pedestrian Detection in darkness. A world first that makes the detection and auto brake technology work effectively also when driving in darkness. The technology includes detection and auto brake for other vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists.
• Road edge and barrier detection with steer assist. A feature that detects if the car is about to drive off the road and autonomously applies steering torque to bring the vehicle back on track. Being able to monitor where the physical road ends is a world first. This means that the technology also works on roads without side markings.
• Adaptive Cruise Control with steer assist. A technology that helps the driver stay in the lane and follow the rhythm of the traffic. The new system automatically follows the vehicle ahead.
Thomas Broberg, who is Senior Safety Advisor for Volvo says: “When the first XC90 was introduced in 2002, it featured a number of groundbreaking safety features, including a world-first solution that helps prevent rollovers. By revealing a number of systems for the next generation XC90 we once again confirm our leadership in automotive safety."
Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida. Full profile
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