Volvo planning major lineup changes
Thread Starter
CL Community Team
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 30,268
Likes: 346
From: Canada
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]
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]
Pole Position
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 378
Likes: 0
From: NY
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.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,208
Likes: 220
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
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.
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.
Guest
Posts: n/a
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.
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.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
phil05
Car Chat
21
Dec 14, 2010 08:31 AM