Ford’s Premier Auto Group was profitable in 2007 as Jaguar and Land Rover, which are now on the auction block, ended the year in the black. The small profit offset losses at Volvo, which was badly hurt by the decline in the value of the U.S. dollar.

Don Leclair, Ford’s chief financial officer, disclosed the information about Ford’s three European brands Thursday as the company reported a net loss of $2.7 billion for 2007. Ford’s losses for the past two years now exceed $15.3 billion and the company does not expect to be profitable in 2008, Ford executives said, citing the continuing pressure from slow economic growth in the U.S.

Leclair and Ford president and CEO Alan Mulally reiterated while Ford will proceed with the sale of Land Rover and Jaguar, it is planning hang on to Volvo despite the new operating loss and a one-time write-off of $2.4 billion linked to the sliding dollar. Ford didn’t disclose the size of the operating loss. The red ink is certain to increase pressure on Volvo’s management to reduce costs or find a way to build vehicles in the U.S.

Mulally, however, also emphasized Ford was making steady progress towards returning Ford to profitability in 2009 despite the economic difficulties in the United States, which has already forced the company to trim first quarter production.

Mulally said Ford’s market share in the U.S. dropped to 12.8 percent in 2007 when it wound up trailing Toyota Motor Corp. in total sales in the U.S. for the first time ever.The company also is finalizing a new “global product plan” that will feature more crossovers and passenger cars, he said.

Leclair said the blue-collar buyout offers will be very similar to the early retirement package Ford offered in 2006 when it was starting its restructuring. Some 12,000 Ford employees or about 22 percent of the company’s hourly workforce was now “retirement eligible,” meaning they had worked for Ford for 30 years or more, Leclair said.

© Source: thecarconnection
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Tags: volvo, volvo vehicles, autos, car

Popularity: 89% [?]

(from Volvo Press Release) Southern California’s lifeguards have been glamorized by Hollywood for decades. While they share the spirit of adventure and camaraderie, these dedicated men and women are highly trained professionals who take safety very seriously.

Guided by the surfing lifestyle and casual beach culture, the XC70 SR’s brilliant yellow and red paint scheme is authenticated by Catalina Island’s City of Avalon official seal. The Volvo XC70 is capable of back-country emergency duty; all-terrain victim support services and a broad array of rescue missions that are critical to those in need.

The Volvo Catalina Island Rescue unit epitomizes the company’s slogan and offers rescue operations specialists a glimpse of what is possible – a safe, comfortable and capable response support vehicle from a manufacturer committed to the idea that human life is to be celebrated and preserved.

Wrapped with eye-catching Surf Rescue graphics and City of Avalon insignia, the concept model can be easily seen on a crowded beach, in deep canyon terrain or from air support equipment. It sports a custom-crafted front fascia that wears a one-off milled aluminum billet grille. Front and rear skid plates and wider wheel lip cladding has been added for extra body protection from flying sand. The new fascias also reduce front and rear overhang, thereby improving approach and departure angles.

The XC70’s 3.2-liter in-line 6-cylinder normally aspirated engine produces 235 horsepower and 236 lb.-ft. of torque. It’s mated to a six-speed “Geartronic” automatic transmission that enables the driver to shift manually when desired. All-wheel-drive with Instant TractionTM is standard. Electronic Hill Descent Control (HDC) uses the vehicle’s brakes and engine torque to crawl in bottom gear on steep downhill slopes.

© Source: seriouswheels
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Tags: automotive, auto, vehicles, volvo vehicles

Popularity: 84% [?]

So we’re reading the blokes at autoblog who wrote: Sinking Swede? Ford devalues Volvo. First of all, way to hurt Volvo’s feelings. Leave it to an airplane dude to be so cold and callous (but, nice hair). Second, eh, we’d devalue them, too.

So, what we’re getting at is — a new Friday game! That’s right. This new game is What Vehicle is (manufacturer) Going To Kill Off Next?

Up this week (in alphabetical order): Volvo

Volvo’s Lineup (with sales for 2007):

S40: 18,215 -26.3%
S60: 18,521 -28.2%
S80: 12,354 125.%
V50: 2,856 -31.2%
V70: 3,769 -32.7%
XC70: 12,630 -3.9%
XC90: 31,358 -5.7%
C30: 2,103 100%
C70: 4,548 15.4%

So, who is in the running? Well, maybe the S40, S60, V50 and V70. Let’s boot out the V70 because it’s going to be all new for 2008 (the current V70 was very long in the tooth… but the new V70 gets frakkin’ horrible gas mileage… holy cow must Volvo engineers be feeling mighty low at this point). So, we have the S40, S60 and V50. Let’s also boot the S60 because Volvo is rumored to be making the XC60, so maybe that means an upgrade for the regular S60 as well.

So now we’re down to the wee S40/V50. We recall reading Volvo is interested in a 5-door version of the C30 (which is a horrible mistake), we think the next Volvo to get the axe will be: V50.

Long live the Volvo V50.

Screw the V50. It’s cool, but for $36k? Frak that.

Tags: volvo car, automotive, autos, volvo

Popularity: 86% [?]

(from Volvo Press Release) The lights of Las Vegas reflect flawlessly in the gleaming aluminum paint of the Heico Sportiv S80 T6 High Performance Concept (HPC). Being shown for the first time in North America at the 2007 Specialty Equipment Market Association tradeshow in Las Vegas, NV, the S80 T6 HPC is a literal reflection of power, sophistication and athleticism as can be seen in its unique 7-layer “aluminum effect” body paint. But the S80 T6 HPC is more than just a pretty face. It’s a true example that a powerful luxury sedan can also be sensitive to the environment.

Performance
The first order of business was to make a significant increase in horsepower. The standard Volvo T6 engine produces 281 horsepower, which is enough to move the S80 with spirited ease. But this is a SEMA concept and a significant bump in horsepower and torque were a necessity. Once the engine was modified to run on E85 ethenol, Heico turned its attention to maximizing power with high-performance engine software, a new intercooler and a stainless steel racing exhaust system. The end results were impressive: 350 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 405 lb.-ft. of torque between 1,500 and 4,000 rpm. The Heico S80 T6 HPC is estimated to reach 62 mph in just 5.8 seconds.

But getting that power to the ground required extensive work. As the standard S80 3.2 is a front-wheel-drive car it was determined that to truly explore the vehicle’s potential all-wheel drive was needed. Enter Volvo’s renowned Haldex All-Wheel-Drive system with Instant Traction. The system continuously routes power to whichever wheel has the most traction and Heico modified it with heartier gears to handle the enormous amount of torque.

Stopping power is provided via a 6-piston braking system with custom blue-painted calipers and high performance brake pads. Volvo’s ABS and electronic brake distribution systems are fully functioning. Large 13.9-inch disc brakes reside in custom forged alloy wheels measuring 9-inches wide and 20 inches in diameter. The specially developed Volution X wheels are wrapped in aggressive 255/30R-20 Continental tires.

© Source: seriouswheels
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Tags: volvo, car, volvo vehicles, auto

Popularity: 83% [?]

(from Volvo Press Release) Above all else, it’s a Volvo. Since Volvo Cars began showing concepts at the annual Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) tradeshow five years ago only one rule has been set: all standard safety systems must remain intact and functioning no matter how extensive the modifications made to the vehicle. The Heico Sportiv C30 is no different. Despite its eye-popping orange interior and boldly designed surf pattern exterior, the Heico Sportiv C30 is still a Volvo at heart.

Volvo’s Intelligent Vehicle Architecture (VIVA), first introduced in the XC90 SUV, is a key component of Volvo’s smallest car. It is a unique approach to building a car that integrates everything from its crashworthiness to its dynamic styling and exciting driving characteristics. This is possible due to several interacting units, including a very stiff chassis, front and rear structures with unique energy-absorbing properties and, as always, a focus on crash protection for the occupants.

SEMA
Windswept beaches, twisty island roads and outrageous North Shore waves have just landed in the middle of the Nevada desert. Yet this is not a mirage. It’s the groundswell of excitement generated by the debut of the breathtaking Volvo C30 by Heico Sportiv. One look at this modified special-version C30 is enough to spark island fever among those longing to leave civilization behind and embrace the Aloha spirit of adventure.

The beauty of Volvo’s new C30 is that it begs to be customized. Like a blank canvas or a pristine white sand beach, Heico’s designers dressed the solid white flanks of the C30’s exterior with a radiant, splashy orange surf-pattern kit. The bright orange wave originates at the lower front fenders, artfully climbs up the doors, crests the edges of the tailgate and wraps neatly around the rear fascia.

© Source: seriouswheels
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Tags: volvo, automotive, car, vehicles

Popularity: 83% [?]

An S60 drives safely.

Tags: volvo vehicles, vehicles, volvo, volvo car

Popularity: 83% [?]

(from Volvo Press Release) The Caresto V8 Speedster brings its posh new C70 cousin along to SEMA. The Caresto V8 Speedster makes a comeback at the 2007 SEMA Show in Las Vegas – accompanied by its posh cousin, the stunning Volvo C70 Caresto Edition.

“The Speedster is a dream car that few people can afford, while the new C70 is the affordable distant relative. Two very different cars, but put them next to each other and you see that they dropped from the same family-tree,” says specialist car builder and customizer Leif Tufvesson.

Leif Tufvesson is one of Sweden’s most skilled specialist car builders and customizers. Many of his cars have received widespread international acclaim. He is the man who built the Caresto T6 Roadster and V8 Speedsters, shown by Volvo at the 2005 and 2006 SEMA Shows, respectively, in Las Vegas. And now Leif is back again in Vegas with the V8 Speedster – plus a refined version of the new C70 convertible.

Inspired by the Speedster, Leif has put his own personal touch to Volvo’s hardtop convertible with a new front and rear, a new interior and a beautiful two-tone blue paint job.

Leif used a BSR PPC tuning system to give the five-cylinder turbo engine a hefty vitamin injection. Power is up from 220 hp to 278 hp and torque has increased from 320 Nm to a massive 441 Nm. The inlet pipes are made of polished aluminum and the engine cover is made of carbon fiber. Leif also used an Optiflow sport air filter. It took Leif less than two years to build the V8 Speedster.

Sale Volvo C70

Tags: car, automotive, auto, volvo car

Popularity: 83% [?]

Looks like Volvo’s been generous with its new XC70 as far as making sure all the right reviewers get theirs hands on thing. But, the thing is, it’s total crap.

Sure, the car looks great. Sure, it’s got more power and room. But it gets fif-fucking-teen miles to the gallon in the city. And those are the numbers from Volvo. Can you imagine what you’re likely to see when you put your fat ass in the thing and haul around crap from Costco you don’t need?

As we wrote recently(ish), How can Volvo engineers think this is acceptable?” And we stand by that statement.

And what’s up with the reviewers? Do they not care that the 2008 Volvo XC70 gets 15 mpg in the city? Fif-fucking-teen! In an age where global warming isn’t a theory and is coming true sooner and sooner, reviewers should represent consumers viewpoints and really, really let automakers have it when they produce vehicles that get fif-fucking-teen mpg!*

The reviews:

AutoWeek: writes DRIVERS LOG: Volvo XC70.**

The Detroit News writes The Detroit News writes The Volvo XC70: So cool, so tech, so heavy.

*Even if consumers don’t care about the environment at all, they do care about thier wallets. And 15 mpg will suck up a lot of that moolah right quick. And we’re pretty danged sure the car requires premium fuel, too. Gah!
**Heh, Log.

Tags: auto, car, automotive, volvo car

Popularity: 69% [?]