Car Chat General discussion about Lexus, other auto manufacturers and automotive news.

Volvo planning major lineup changes

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 09-04-07, 10:15 AM
  #1  
Gojirra99
Super Moderator
Thread Starter
 
Gojirra99's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Canada
Posts: 30,082
Received 212 Likes on 142 Posts
Default Volvo planning major lineup changes

Volvo planning major lineup changes

Posted Sep 4th 2007

Automotive News is dishing on Volvo's product lineup plans between now and 2010. The newly released second-generation S80 won't see any major changes, nor will the new 70-series wagons, the C70, or the C30. The S40's going to bid us adieu, as there's price overlap with the S60, and the S60's not much larger than the S40. The C30's going to serve as the entry-level Volvo, while also angling at MINI's territory of cutieified premium small cars. The S60, while handsomely drawn, is becoming long in the tooth. A redesigned S60 will bow in 2010, and it will be smaller than the current model in an effort to differentiate it from the S80, as well as still serve those customers who would have gone for the S40.

While Gothenburg's losing a sedan offering, it'll be adding a CUV in early 2009 when the XC60 hits the streets. With the CUV market currently on fire, a smaller Volvo 'ute to go after X3 shoppers is a shrewd move. The basic hardware's already been piled together as the Land Rover LR2, which we suspect offers a decent preview of the XC60 experience. Basically, what we see happening is the phasing out of the P2 platform that Volvo developed in the '90s for the original S80, and a migration of all vehicles to some flavor of the EUCD platform.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub Req'd]
via autoblog
Gojirra99 is offline  
Old 09-04-07, 10:39 AM
  #2  
rotaryrock
Pole Position
 
rotaryrock's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: NY
Posts: 378
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

I hope they do something about the C30. That car had so much potential and a decent amount of buzz, but now after people have driven it, it's been exposed as not that great of a car afterall. Too bad, I liked its quirky styling.
rotaryrock is offline  
Old 09-04-07, 05:21 PM
  #3  
mmarshall
Lexus Fanatic
 
mmarshall's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
Posts: 90,796
Received 85 Likes on 84 Posts
Default

Dropping the S40, IMO, would be mistake, even if upper-trim levels DO overlap a little with the S60. The S40 sells quite well in this area, primarily to those who want safety and crashworthiness but don't have the money for the higher-priced Volvos....and don't want to put up with the notorious unreliability of the also safety-conscious Mercedes C-Class. Volvo brought the S40 into the American market specifically FOR these people (the second-generation S40 shared some enginering and a basic platform with the Mazda3 and Ford Focus; the first-generation S40 was a joint Volvo-Mitsubishi design) and now they are going to ax it?

If they decide keep the C30, then IMO they need to consider an S30 sedan version of it to give not-so-well-heeled Volvo buyers another choice in the entry-level sedan market.
mmarshall is offline  
Old 09-04-07, 06:22 PM
  #4  
LexFather
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Originally Posted by mmarshall
Dropping the S40, IMO, would be mistake, even if upper-trim levels DO overlap a little with the S60. The S40 sells quite well in this area, primarily to those who want safety and crashworthiness but don't have the money for the higher-priced Volvos....and don't want to put up with the notorious unreliability of the also safety-conscious Mercedes C-Class. Volvo brought the S40 into the American market specifically FOR these people (the second-generation S40 shared some enginering and a basic platform with the Mazda3 and Ford Focus; the first-generation S40 was a joint Volvo-Mitsubishi design) and now they are going to ax it?

If they decide keep the C30, then IMO they need to consider an S30 sedan version of it to give not-so-well-heeled Volvo buyers another choice in the entry-level sedan market.
Damn I was about to post this! I like the S40, its a great lil car. I think the S40 does better than the S60, which is lost against the IS/3/C/G35 etc.
 
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
GFerg
Car Chat
8
05-24-08 03:52 AM
Gojirra99
Car Chat
13
03-13-08 08:30 PM
Gojirra99
Car Chat
10
04-24-07 07:12 PM



Quick Reply: Volvo planning major lineup changes



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 07:38 AM.