2018 Volvo XC60 (2nd Generation)

Sweden's Volvo wins monumental Japanese Car of the Year

In a monumental battle for Japan's Car of the Year title, the Swedish-built Volvo XC60 has grabbed the coveted trophy.

In a nail-biting voting session, that saw the lead change three times between the XC60, BMW 5 Series and Toyota Camry, the Swedish crossover pulled away in the closing moments, to grab 294 votes and clinch the 2018 Japan Car of the Year.

The XC60 finished 52 votes clear of the 5 Series and 62 ahead of the closest Japanese competitor, the Camry.

The new XC60 SUV is set to arrive in South Africa during the second quarter of 2018.

First for Volvo in Japan

Volvo Japan CEO Takayuki Kimura said: "This is the first time in Japan COTY’s 38-year history that Volvo has won an award. To be honest, I would have been happy with the Import Car of the Year*. But to come away with the overall Japan Car of the Year is totally unexpected and sincerely humbling. I dedicate this award to the 100 dealers and 1400 staff across the nation."

Japanese Car of the Year finalists:

1 Volvo XC60
2 BMW 5 Series
3 Toyota Camry
4 Suzuki Swift
5 Honda N-Box
5 Lexus LC
6 Alfa Romeo Giulia
7 Mazda CX-5
8 Citroen C3
9 VW Tiguan

In the special award categories, Toyota picked up a hat-trick of trophies; one for Best Innovation for its Prius PHEV while the Lexus LC captured the Emotional Award.

Toyota picked up the COTY steering committee’s ‘Special Achievement Award’ for the brand’s 10 millionth hybrid sale.

The Honda N-Box won the Small Mobility Award for being judged the best vehicle in Japan’s unique 660cc class category.

A second Special Achievement Award was presented to racer Takuma Sato for his unforgettable victory in this year’s Indy 500, making him the first Japanese to win the legendary race.

http://www.wheels24.co.za/NewModels/swedens-volvo-wins-monumental-japanese-car-of-the-year-20171211

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Here’s how much the new Volvo XC60 will cost in SA

The new Volvo XC60 is scheduled to launch in South Africa in the third quarter of 2018, but the local arm of the Swedish automaker has already released pricing for the range (after earlier revealing XC40 pricing).

The second-generation version of the premium crossover – which will do battle against the likes of the Audi Q5, BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz GLC and Jaguar F-Pace – was revealed in March 2017. We drove it in Spain a few months thereafter.

At launch, the local range will comprise four familiar powertrain options offered across three trim levels, with basic pricing starting at R660 000 and running through to R780 850, before options. All derivatives feature all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission as standard.

Diesel buyers will be able to choose between the D4 (140 kW and 400 N.m) and D5 (173 kW and 480 N.m), while those who prefer petrol will have the choice of the T5 (187 kW and 350 N.m) and T6 (235 kW and 400 N.m). It’s not yet clear whether the flagship T8 Twin Engine petrol plug-in hybrid is destined for SA.

Standard features on Momentum models include two-zone climate control, cruise control, lane-keeping assist, a 12,3-inch digital instrument cluster, navigation, leather seats (with power adjustment up front), 18-inch alloys and a temporary spare wheel.

The Inscription trim level adds items such as a leather-clad key, Nappa leather, ventilated front seats, different interior trim, a model-specific front grille (and tail-pipes) and 19-inch alloys. R-Design furthermore adds a mix of perforated leather and Nubuck upholstery, sportier front seats, model-specific steering wheel and pedals, charcoal headlining and a sportier body kit.

Pricing:

Volvo XC60 D4 Geartronic AWD Momentum: R660 000
Volvo XC60 T5 Geartronic AWD Momentum: R680 000
Volvo XC60 D5 Geartronic AWD Momentum: R729 000
Volvo XC60 T6 Geartronic AWD Momentum: R731 000
Volvo XC60 D4 Geartronic AWD Inscription: R707 650
Volvo XC60 T5 Geartronic AWD Inscription: R727 650
Volvo XC60 D5 Geartronic AWD Inscription: R776 650
Volvo XC60 T6 Geartronic AWD Inscription: R778 650
Volvo XC60 D4 Geartronic AWD R-Design: R709 850
Volvo XC60 T5 Geartronic AWD R-Design: R729 850
Volvo XC60 D5 Geartronic AWD R-Design: R778 850
Volvo XC60 T6 Geartronic AWD R-Design: R780 850

http://www.carmag.co.za/news_post/heres-how-much-the-new-volvo-xc60-will-cost-in-sa/
 
Gtx Gaming said:
Pity they want 4k for AA and CP, should be standard with these cars.

Some of the options are actually priced decently.
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I thought exactly the same. That and park assist because that as standard on the V40

My eyes bled at the R40 000 for the Bowers and Wilkins system, R17k for sunroof etc.
 
DRUMROLL, PLEASE: AND THE 2018 WORLD CAR OF THE YEAR IS…

The winners in each of the six categories of the 2018 World Car Awards have been announced at the New York International Auto Show.

So, which model took the overall title as the 2018 World Car of the Year? Well, that honour goes to the Volvo XC60 (set to launch in South Africa in the third quarter of 2018), which held off fellow finalists the Mazda CX-5 and Range Rover Velar for the win, and assumes the mantle from the 2017 winner, the Jaguar F-Pace. The news comes after the XC40 grabbed the European Car of the Year title for 2018, marking a big year for the resurgent Swedish brand.

It’s not all bad news for the Range Rover Velar, though, which takes the World Car Design of the Year gong, edging the Lexus LC500 and Volvo XC60 in this category. The Volkswagen Polo, meanwhile, snaffles the World Urban Car title ahead of the Ford Fiesta and Suzuki Swift.

Holding off Porsche’s Cayenne and Panamera, the Audi A8 is named World Luxury Car of the Year, while the BMW M5 grabs the World Performance Car of the Year title ahead of the Honda Civic Type R and Lexus LC500.

Lastly, the World Green Car of the Year title goes to the Nissan Leaf, which beats fellow finalists the BMW 530e iPerformance and Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid to the award.

http://www.carmag.co.za/news/drumroll-please-and-the-2018-world-car-of-the-year-is/
 
DRIVEN: Volvo XC40 T5 Geartronic Momentum

We head upcountry for the local launch of the smallest model in Volvo’s burgeoning XC-badged crossover range. Meet the new XC40…

Right, so the new Volvo XC40 has been launched in South Africa. I must say, I do like the look of this one…

Both you and the Europeans. In March, it was crowned the 2018 European Car of the Year and I’ve yet to read a bad word about it in the Continental press. We drove a XC40 D4 derivative at the international launch in late November 2017 and also came back suitably impressed.

But yes, it does look pretty, doesn’t it? Unlike the new XC60 (which, by the way, launches here in May), which looks very much like a smaller version of the more conservatively handsome XC90, Volvo’s baby crossover certainly has its own character. From that concave grille to the sharply rising shoulder line mirrored by sharp downward side scallops, and (optional) two-tone roof, this XC not only looks more purposeful but, for Volvo, borders on downright funky.

Hang on. Are those orange carpets I’m seeing inside? That’s a click or three beyond mere funky…

Quite. They do have a whiff of flared trousers and sideburns to them and might not be to everyone’s tastes, but don’t panic, Mr Huntley-Smythe, those Lava Red carpets and door inserts are optional. And, yes, with leather colour options that include Cranberry and Blond, you can specify an interior in which a mirrored disco ball would be right at home. But there’s also the usual black-and-grey Scandi palette to satisfy the likes of me and you.

Not that either of us old codgers is part of the market at which Volvo is aiming here. If the exterior styling doesn’t convince you as such, one look at Volvo’s XC40 advertising and marketing campaigns, filled as they are with fresh-faced Generation-Xers, should tip the scales.

Hey! Speak for yourself…

Lava aside, the interior is actually typically Volvo in its minimalist leanings. Momentum spec gets concave aluminium décor inlays on the dash and door that mirror the grille and, like all models in the range, comes with Volvo’s superb Sensus Connect infotainment system, displayed in the XC40 on a 12,3-inch screen. The seats, while not quite as big and plush as big brother XC90’s, are still comfortable and supportive, and the driver’s is power adjustable as standard.

And what about interior space? Listening to your target market quips, I’m guessing it’s not really a family vehicle…

Look, there’s plenty of interior passenger space. As an average-sized male, I can comfortably sit behind a driver’s seat set to my requirements. And it isn’t just legroom I have more than enough of, but shoulder- and headroom, too.

At the launch, Volvo surprised us with a chauffeured shuttle from Lanseria to Sandton in the new XC60 and, to be honest, the XC40 just about matched its bigger sibling for rear passenger space. Unlike some of its rivals, the XC40 has shunned a coupé-like roofline for a boxier silhouette and that means the smaller Swede’s interior packaging is rather good and definitely less snug than that of the Jaguar E-Pace and, to a lesser degree, the BMW X2. Looking at everyone’s claimed figures, however, boot space may be one area where the Volvo appears to fall short of more family-focused rivals such as the Volkswagen Tiguan and BMW X1 (the Tiguan’s luggage compartment comes in at 615 litres, X1 at 505 litres, E-Pace at 577 litres, X2 at 470 litres and XC40 at 460 litres).

So, to get back to your family car question: yes, luggage space is a little tight, but I otherwise don’t see why it couldn’t function as a family vehicle. The boot may be a bit of a squeeze for all the kit that accompanies a baby (prams, camper cots, etc.) but once the kid’s outgrown that sort of stuff, it’ll be fine. It does have Isofix attachments on the rear seats, plus you get all the latest active and passive safety tech Volvo has to offer, including front, knee and curtain airbags; rear collision warning; run-off mitigation and protection; and driver alert. IntelliSafe assist with adaptive cruise control, pilot assist and lane keeping aid, plus blind spot monitoring, are also optional.

One thing there is no doubt about, though, is the level of fit and finish. The XC40 feels just as carefully tailored and expertly assembled as the XC90.

So, what’s it like to drive then?

This T5 has Volvo’s familiar 2,0-litre turbopetrol and here it’s tuned to put out 185 kW and 350 N.m – healthy numbers by any standards, but particularly perky in a little SUV. Volvo claims a brisk 0-100 km/h time of 6,4 seconds and having floored it with the drive select set to dynamic, that doesn’t surprise me. With peak torque available between 1 800 and 4 800 r/min, in-gear acceleration through the smooth-as-you-like eight-speed torque converter inspires confidence when overtaking at any legal speed.

What impressed me the most, though, was the XC40’s ride quality. As the first vehicle to use Volvo’s compact modular architecture, it certainly bodes well for models that follow. With a superbly damped multi-link rear suspension and MacPherson struts at the front, the XC40 has a controlled and supple ride quality that’s quite distinctive in this segment. Perhaps not as dynamically adept as the X2 and certainly more comfortable than the X1, it is a lot more nimble than the heavier E-Pace (with a mass of around 1 700 kg, the Swede is nearly 200 kg lighter than the Jag).

What’s this going to cost me?

The full pricing is here, but you are looking at between R490 000 and R650 000.

R490k? That’s pretty good.

It is, but to clarify, that’s for the 115 kW three-cylinder 1,5-litre T3 manual that will arrive here only in early September. There will be an auto version, too (for around R20k more) scheduled to touch down a few months after that.

At the moment, it’s only the 140 kW/400 N.m D4 turbodiesel and this T5 that are on showroom floors and while that R600k-R650k bracket is significantly higher, it’s still very aggressively positioned in the segment, especially given the high spec levels that Volvo offers.

Encouragingly, Greg Maruszewski, Volvo Cars SA managing director, revealed that the local arm has been given full authority to decide its own pricing and strategy in our market, which has allowed the firm to bring in the baby XC at a price point aimed more at getting people behind the wheel than at pure profit margins.

And that’s a win for the consumer in what – based on these first impressions, at least – may well be the segment’s best vehicle…

Model:Volvo XC40 T5 Geartronic Momentum
Price:R610 900
Engine:2,0-litre, 4-cylinder, turbopetrol
Power:185 kW
Torque:400 N.m
0-100 km/h:6,4 seconds
Top Speed:230 km/h
Fuel Consumption:7,2 L/100 km
CO2:154 g/km
Transmission:8-speed automatic
Maintenance Plan:5-year/100 000 km

http://www.carmag.co.za/car-reviews/driven-volvo-xc40-t5-geartronic-momentum/
 
Just saw the new XC60, media launch vehicles, D5 R Design. Guys that thing is beautiful, no pic does it justice!
 
FiestaST said:
Top of it's class Ito looks?

Most likely quality, safety, engineering. If not top then 2nd best.
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I think it sits right at the top, looks and everything! Even my pics don't do it justice!

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