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Showing posts with label safe. Show all posts

Road Test: Volvo V40 XC T4 SE

Posted by Alex Bale Thursday, February 21, 2013

Price as tested: €37,303

+ Chunky styling, lovely cabin, smooth handling, engine, safety
– Too cramped inside to be a practical family car, too expensive compared to standard V40
= Surprisingly likeable, but ultimately standard car makes more sense

Any child of the eighties will remember the Matra Simca Rancho. It was a chunky 4x4-style vehicle, launched by a  company that was teetering on the edge of being shut-down by its US masters at Chrysler (it eventually was and sold off to Peugeot). It had spot lamps, roof bars, a tall ride height and a big, spacious body. It also only came with front-wheel drive, something that puzzled car buyers of the time. Surely, we all said, a car that looks like a 4x4 should be able to tackle dirt, mud and rough ground?

Almost needless to say, the Rancho died a commercial death – yes, even the one fitted with a winch and a spare wheel on the roof to make it look even more butch. New owners Peugeot closed down production in 1984 and Matra went running off to rivals Renault with a new idea it had for something called the Espace... Fewer than half a dozen are apparently left in the wild.

What none of us realised at the time was that the Rancho was years, decades even, ahead of its time. Not only was it the first true 'soft roader' it even came with an optional third row of seats, making it one of the first seven seat MPVs. In the thirty years since the Rancho's demise, pretty much every major car maker has taken to heart the idea of a car that looks like it can tangle with sand dunes but actually is just for parking in Dunnes'. The compact crossover segment (faux-by-four if you like) is one of the precious few segments of the European car market that is on the up.

Which brings us rather neatly to this, the Volvo V40 XC, a car which may just be the pinnacle of shameless cosmetic engineering – but in a good way.

The recipe is as simple as one of Delia's. Take a standard (handsome, well-made, good to drive, safe) Volvo V40 hatchback. Increase the height of the suspension. Superglue on some rugged looking bumpers, foglights, Cross Country badges and roof rails. Sit back and watch the sales come rolling in.

You could, in a certain light, call it deeply cynical, but that would be to underestimate the charm of the V40. No, it won't off-road, at least not more so than any other mainstream, front-wheel-drive hatchback. There is not even the option of a four-wheel-drive model in the range. It is not any more spacious or practical than a standard, more affordable V40.

That should be enraging, but the fact is that the V40 XC is so handsome in its fake off-road get-up that anyone who craved a Swiss Army Knife after watching McGyver will be unable to resist. The better news is that it remains a lovely car to drive, regardless of the extra suspension height.
While most will probably crave diesel power in a car like this, Volvo provided us with a 1.6-litre 180bhp turbocharged petrol model, badged as a T4. Now, that sounds like a recipe for horrendous fuel consumption, but actually the XC averages an easy 7.4-litres per 100km (38mpg – pretty impressive really) and emits 129g/km of Co2, meaning your annual road tax bill will be a manageable €270 a year. Better yet, the engine is a peach to drive, with a rich seam of turbocharged power and a remarkable level of refinement, especially compared to is diesel rivals.

The XC is also good in the corners, eagerly punting along a twisty back road, while its longer travel suspension does mean that it's better at soaking up lumps and bumps, although the big alloys and low profile tyres do mean that it gives in to an occasional dose of the jiggles.

Inside is both the V40's trump card and its biggest failing. Up front, there are wonderfully comfortable seats, a gorgeous instrument and control layout and levels of quality that would put any Audi or BMW to the sword. The digital instruments can be configured in three different setups and the overall effect is one of a Swedish comfort and calmness that's so typical of Volvo. The problem is that there simply isn't enough space, especially for a growing family. The standard V40 suffers from the same problem, but the appellation of the XC badge just makes it worse; you mentally assume that a Cross Country Volvo is going to be big and practical.

That aside, it's hard not to like the V40 XC. Yes, it's silly, a bit pointless and very expensive compared to a standard V40 hatch, but the rugged looks and that gorgeous cabin lift it above its station and make it properly desirable. Time for a Rancho re-boot, perhaps?

Volvo V40 XC T4 SE

Price as tested: €37,303

Price range: €29,095 to €37,695

Capacity: 1,596cc

Power: 180bhp

Torque: 240Nm

Top speed: 215kmh

0-100kmh: 7.7sec

Economy: 5.5l-100km (51mpg)

CO2 emissions: 129g/km

Road Tax Band: B2. €270

Euro NCAP rating: 5-star; 95% adult, 87% child, 74% pedestrian, 86% safety assist.












News: Renault ditches Scenic, launches XMOD

Posted by Alex Bale Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Renault has decided to stop making the Scenic. That might sound like a bit of a shock, but hang on, the devil is in the detail. The seven-seat Grand Scenic will continue on as one of Europe's best-selling medium-sized MPVs, but the five-seat Scenic is now going to be dropped, and replaced by a new model called the Scenic XMOD. 


What's an XMOD? Well, it's essentially Renault trying to glam the Scenic up as a bit of a rough and tumble SUV. The XMOD is based on the current Scenic body and chassis but gets sleeker, sportier styling, a higher ride height and stick on plastic off-roader-y bits. 

It's not all tinsel and lights though, Renault is introducing a new traction control system called Grip Xtend, which can be adjusted by the driver to give the best possible traction and grip on difference surfaces, with Road, Loose Surface and Expert modes. 

The Scenic XMOD and a facelifted version of the Grand Scenic will make their debuts at the Geneva Motor Show.

News: Mercedes' E-Class nose-job continues

Posted by Alex Bale Sunday, January 6, 2013



Just before Christmas, Mercedes revealed a striking new look for the E-Class saloon and estate, doing away with almost two-decades of upright, four-headlamp tradition. Now, it's moved on to the E-Class coupe and cabriolet, with equally arresting results.

Gone, once again, are the four separate headlamp units, replaced by strikingly curvy single lamp setups (albeit with a hint of the old four-lamp shape in the LED daytime running light highlights) while the slatted grille has been replaced by a gaping SLS-style maw.

Oddly, and unlike the saloon and estate, the awkward-looking retro coachline above the rear wheel, meant to evoke memories of the classic fifties 'Pontoon' Mercs, has been retained. 

Inside, there are only minor changes, and the cabin retains its obvious C-Class links (in spite of the name, the E-Class coupe and cabriolet are more closely related to the smaller C-Class). There's a new steering wheel, some updated displays, an analogue clock and some updated trims and materials.

Mechanically, there are no changes of significance, bar some minor engine and transmission details that bring the Co2 figures down a small bit, and safety equipment also remains the same as the saloon's, including the newly updated DISTRONIC PLUS system which watches for possible accidents ahead, PRE-SAFE PLUS which preps all the safety systems for an incoming collision and lane keeping assist to wake you up if you drift out of your lane.

“Three words sum up both the E-Class Coupe and the four-seat Cabriolet model: captivating, athletic, passionate”, said Mercedes-Benz head of sales and marketing Dr. Joachim Schmidt. “It is especially pleasing that the two vehicles also incorporate the most intelligent technology ever. This makes them true dream cars.”








News: Volvo celebrates 25 years of airbags

Posted by Alex Bale Tuesday, October 23, 2012

The first Volvo car equipped with an airbag left the assembly line in 1987 – and since then the company has extended the technology with several world-firsts.


Volvo was first with both the seat-mounted side airbag and the Inflatable Curtain (IC) - and in 2012 the technology's 25th anniversary was celebrated with the introduction of the groundbreaking pedestrian airbag in the all-new Volvo V40.

"It is the first time airbag technology has been used to help protect vulnerable road users, in this case pedestrians, outside the car," says Lennart Johansson, Senior Manager for Interior safety at Volvo Car Corporation.

Lennart Johansson, who was part of the pioneering work in the 1980s, adds: "The benefit of modern airbag technology is that it takes very little space and still helps provide a good level of protection that can be optimized for the occupant and the crash situation. However, when we see a need for enhanced protection we always search for a total safety solution. The airbag is one solution and it can be combined with other measures."

Another recent example is the new knee airbag in the all-new Volvo V40. It is designed to distribute the load on the driver's lower body in a frontal collision.

The airbag has been a standard feature in all cars for several years, but in the early days both the technology and its reliability created intense debate. At that time, many of these anxieties were justified.

"Getting an airbag to deploy is not a challenge, but making it deploy at exactly the right moment is," explains Lennart Johansson, adding: "In recent years, the timing and the performance level of inflation have been in focus. And in modern airbag technology, the inflation level can be adapted to match crash severity."

The use of sophisticated radar and cameras in recent cars paves the way for the possibility of activating protective safety systems even before the impact if necessary.

A look in the rear-view mirror shows that the first airbag solutions emerged back in the early 1950s. However, the technology was far from mature. One 1955 patent describes a system similar to today's, but with the significant exception that the driver himself had to deploy the bag by pressing a button. Another early debate focused on the use of a pyrotechnic charge to inflate the airbag with gas.
A controversial bill in the United States in 1984 speeded up the airbag development process. Focusing on the dangers of not using the safety belt, the bill stipulated that within three years new cars must be equipped with protective safety devices that did not have to be activated by the occupants.


The airbag was quickly recognised by many observers as the best solution and some even believed that it even would replace the three-point safety belt that was invented by Volvo Car Corporation back in 1959.

However, Volvo successfully argued that the best safety result would be achieved by co-operation between the safety belt system and airbag technology.

"More airbags will not necessarily improve the overall safety level. It is important to regard the airbag as part of a systematic approach where the car's structure, the safety belts, the airbags and other details such as the steering column interact to ensure optimum absorption of the collision forces in an accident," comments Lennart Johansson.


In the late 1990s, the airbag became standard equipment in the Volvo 850.
In 1994, Volvo Car Corporation took the technology further by introducing a side airbag that is integrated in the seat backrest, ready to help protect the chest in a side impact.
"We took a huge step forward by making the side airbag part of our patented Side Impact Protection System that is integrated in the body structure," says Lennart Johansson.

By then, it was already time for the next world-first from Volvo Car Corporation - the Inflatable Curtain (IC).

The IC is designed to enhance head protection for both front and outer rear seat occupants in a side impact. In some car models, it is also helps protect the occupants in a rollover situation.
The roof-mounted version was introduced when the new Volvo S80 was launched in 1998 and is a standard feature in all Volvo models except the C70.

Instead, the convertible Volvo C70 is equipped with door-mounted inflatable curtains that are deployed upwards in a side collision and remain inflated to help provide protection if the car rolls over. 
Volvo has taken this technology another step further by extending the curtain to also provide enhanced protection in offset collisions and for children in the rear seat.


Airbag technology has changed a great deal since it was introduced 25 years ago - and Volvo has been one of the key players in the refinement process.

"Airbag performance has been improved significantly. Today's technology is much more adapted to the collision sequence and the way occupants are moved by the crash forces. After 25 years, refining the airbag technology is a vital part of our aim to build the safest cars in the world," explains Lennart Johansson.

Meanwhile, Volvo Car Ireland has announced that Bluetooth phone connection will now be standard on four of its most popular models, the V40, S60 and V60 ranges. This feature is part of the High Performance Audio system which includes USB connectivity, AUX-input, 8 speakers and Steering wheel audio controls.

The High Performance Audio system provides USB audio connection for iPod, iPhone and USB 2.0 memory sticks. The audio streaming and USB capability enables the driver to play music through the High performance Audio system. The driver can control the music selection through the use of the steering wheel controls. Information such as the artist name, album and track is displayed on the multi information display.

Bluetooth® technology allows safe hands-free phone calls whilst driving. This is becoming an increasingly important feature for drivers particularly in light of recent moves by the government to double penalty points for motorists caught using a mobile phone when they are driving.

The High Performance Audio system normally retails at €500. The addition of this option as a standard feature will further enhance the already generous specification levels of these models which have City Safety and a world first pedestrian airbag as standard (on V40).


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