2010 Volvo XC60

2010 Volvo XC60 - One of the best-looking Volvos ever created, this new member of the XC family is also the safest and smartest. Sleek lines, its ingenious City Safety automatic braking system, plus an impressive 281 HP Turbocharged T6 Engine all help make the XC60 a triple threat of beauty, ‘smart’ safety, and power.

The Volvo XC60 is one of only four IIHS Top Safety Picks in the Midsize SUV category in 2010.

Volvo XC60

2010 models

2010 Volvo XC60: good performance in front, side, rollover, and rear tests and standard electronic stability control

SIDE IMPACT TEST WITH STANDARD SIDE AIRBAGS

OVERALL EVALUATION:

	Injury measures			Head protection	Structure/safety cage
	Head/neck	Torso	Pelvis/leg
Driver
Rear passenger

Important: Side impact crash test ratings can be compared across vehicle type and weight categories.

Good Acceptable Marginal Poor

Test details:

The Volvo XC60 was introduced in the 2010 model year.
During the test, the lower side seat trim was pushed against a service release button for the safety belt, which then detached from its anchor on the outboard side of the driver's seat. Although there was no unusual movement of the dummy, the dummy was not restrained during part of the crash event. Volvo has addressed the problem on models built after November 2009 and is issuing a recall to fix the belts on cars built earlier.
Cars built before the fix and subsequently not repaired would be rated only Acceptable and would not be eligible for TOP SAFETY PICK status.

Injury measures:

Driver — Measures taken from the dummy indicate a low risk of any significant injuries in a crash of this severity.

Rear passenger — Measures taken from the dummy indicate a low risk of any significant injuries in a crash of this severity.

Head protection:

Driver — The dummy's head was protected from being hit by any hard structures, including the intruding barrier, by a side curtain airbag that deployed from the roof and a side airbag that deployed from the seat.

Rear passenger — The dummy's head was protected from being hit by any hard structures, including the intruding barrier, by a side curtain airbag that deployed from the roof.

Left to right:

• View of the vehicle and barrier just after the crash test.
• View of the vehicle after the crash with doors removed, showing the side airbags and damage to the occupant compartment.
• The driver dummy's head (shown) was protected from being hit by hard structures by the side airbags. The rear passenger dummy's head was protected by the side curtain airbag.
• During the crash, the lap portion of the driver dummy's lap/shoulder belt detached from its anchorage near the door and moved into the passenger's seat. Volvo is conducting a recall to fix the seat belt anchorage.

Additional features:

• Side airbags: front and rear head curtain airbags and front seat-mounted torso airbags
• Rollover sensor: designed to deploy the side curtain airbags in the event of an impending rollover
• Electronic stability control, includes roll stability control
• Antilock brakes
• Daytime running lights
• Lane departure warning system (optional)

Tested vehicle specifications:

• 2010 Volvo XC60 3.2 4wd
• Class: Midsize luxury SUV
• Weight: 4,176 lbs.
• Side airbags: standard front and rear head curtain airbags and standard front seat-mounted torso airbags
• Wheelbase: 109 in.
• Length: 182 in.
• Width: 74 in.
• Engine: 3.2 L 6-cylinder
• EPA ratings: 16 mpg city | 22 mpg highway

See all test results for Volvo XC60

source by volvocars

Big Luxury: GMC Sierra Denali HD 3500 Dually Coming for 2011

Big Luxury: GMC Sierra Denali HD 3500 Dually Coming for 2011

Remember  the high-end GMC Sierra Denali HD 3500 dually that our sources said was coming for 2011? Now it's official, according to a press release from General Motors.

The biggest Denali model in GMC's lineup will join the previously announced 2011 Sierra Denali HD 2500 four-wheel-drive crew-cab single rear wheel model that debuted at the 2010 NTEA Work Truck Show.

But that's not all.

Upscale Denali trim will also be available for the two-wheel-drive Sierra 2500 crew cab as well as for the Sierra 3500 single rear wheel configuration, with two-wheel or four-wheel drive. The Sierra Denali 3500 will also be available in standard (6-foot-6-inch) and dually long box (8-foot) versions.

“Our Denali line sets the premium standard for the industry,” said Lisa Hutchinson, GMC product marketing director. “We received such an overwhelming response to the new Sierra Denali 2500HD that we worked quickly and decided to extend the model into the 3500HD series so those GMC buyers can also benefit from blending capability with premium features and styling.”

Unfortunately, pictures of the one-ton Denali dually won't be available for a few more weeks, but we do have video of the three-quarter-ton Sierra Denali from the Work Truck Show (below).  

What does checking the Denali option box buy you? Sierra Denali HDs receive a unique four-bar chrome grille with body-colored bumpers, chrome door handles, chrome accents and 18- or 20-inch polished forged aluminum wheels. Inside, you get Denali-specific brushed aluminum trim, power-adjustable pedals, a Bose premium surround audio system and 12-way power seats. Along with an optional heated steering wheel, heated and cooled leather-appointed seating is available. The exterior will be offered in three colors: black, Stealth Gray and white.

Powering Sierra Denali HD pickups will be either a standard 6.0-liter V-8 gas engine or the new 6.6-liter LML Duramax V-8 diesel engine, which is rated a segment-leading 397 horsepower and 765 pounds-feet of torque. All 2011 GMC Sierra HD pickups have redesigned, fully boxed frames and revised suspensions.

The Denali option package has been available in the light-duty GMC Sierra 1500 since 2002.

source by pickuptrucks

Volvo S60

2011 Volvo S60

2011 Volvo S60 - The world’s most highly anticipated Volvo is soon to arrive with celebrity looks and sheer-genius intelligence that makes city driving safer. Heads are sure to turn, but bodies will be safer with the new Pedestrian Detection and Avoidance System that can assist its drivers in avoiding accidents with pedestrians, cyclists and other vehicles.

source by volvocars

Most reliable cars

Most reliable cars

A high price doesn't mean it's reliable

Paying more for a new car doesn't guarantee better reliability. As a group, inexpensive small cars and midsized family sedans are the most reliable. That's one of the findings of our 2009 Annual Auto Survey, based on our subscribers' experiences with 1.4 million vehicles.
Small cars stand out. Twenty of 37 small cars have above-average predicted-reliability scores. Family cars fare nearly as well, with 21 out of 41 scoring above average.
Other interesting findings from the survey include the following:

• A wide gulf separates the best from the worst. The least reliable vehicle, the Volkswagen Touareg, is 27 times more likely to have a problem than the most reliable car, the Honda Insight.
  
• Ford is tops among the domestic automakers. The Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan once again beat the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. The upscale Lincoln MKZ beat its rivals, the Acura TL and Lexus ES.
• Even good brands falter. Among the least reliable in their respective classes are the all-wheel-drive Lexus GS, the Nissan Versa sedan, and the Subaru Impreza WRX.

• Five of the eight most reliable family cars are hybrids.

Ford still leads the domestics 

Ford consolidated its position as the only Detroit automaker with world-class reliability. The Fusion and Milan led the charge; four-cylinder, front-wheel-drive V6, and hybrid versions got top marks. 

Of the 51 Ford, Mercury, and Lincoln products that we surveyed, 46, or about 90 percent, were average or better, including the new Ford Flex SUV. But the Lincoln division had mixed results; some models scored below their Ford equivalents. All-wheel-drive versions of the Lincoln MKS, MKX, and MKZ, essentially high-end versions of the Ford Taurus, Edge, and Fusion, were all below average.

Following its bankruptcy filing and shedding the Hummer, Pontiac, and Saturn brands, GM now consists of Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC. Of the 48 models we surveyed from those brands, 20 had average scores, and only one, the Malibu V6 sedan, was better than average.

Some newer GM products were bright spots. Besides the Malibu, the Buick Lucerne also did well in our road tests, and it scored average in reliability. The Chevrolet Traverse SUV also made the cut, as did its cousin, the Buick Enclave, but only in the all-wheel-drive version. The Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500 pickups, two good performers, earned our recommendation as well. GM has a number of strong contenders either just released or in the pipeline, but we won't have reliability data on them for a while.

We recommend the Pontiac Vibe and the V8 version of the Pontiac G8, as well as the Saturn Aura, which have average or better reliability. Some of those cars can still be found on dealer lots.

In last year's survey we couldn't recommend any Chrysler products, either because of mediocre performance, poor reliability, or both. Now there is one: the four-wheel-drive version of the Dodge Ram 1500 pickup, which was redesigned for 2009. It did well in our road tests and rated average in reliability. Still, more than one-third of Chrysler products were much worse than average, including its new car-based SUV, the Dodge Journey. 

High: Honda Insight
In its first year, the Honda Insight had the 

best new car reliability in our survey, 

but scored too low in our testing to be 

recommended.

Asian brands still dominate   
In its first year, the Honda Insight had the best new car reliability in our survey, but scored too low in our testing to be recommended. The major Japanese brands and South Korea's Hyundai and Kia make plenty of reliable vehicles. Of the 48 models with top reliability scores, 36 were Asian. Toyota accounted for 18; Honda, eight; Nissan, four; and Hyundai/Kia and Subaru, three each.

On the whole, Japanese vehicles are consistently good. All Hondas and Acuras were average or above. Toyota, with its Lexus and Scion brands providing a broader product range, had just one vehicle that was below average in reliability, the Lexus GS AWD.

The Nissan and its Infiniti luxury division have been mostly very good despite lapses such as the subpar Nissan Quest minivan. The once problematic Infiniti QX56 and Nissan Armada SUVs are now average, and the same goes for the 4WD Nissan Titan pickup, although its RWD version is still troublesome. Over the last two surveys, the Nissan Versa hatchback has been average while the sedan has been far below average-an oddity.

Subaru has been a very reliable brand, but this year the turbocharged Impreza WRX turned up with a worse-than-average reliability score even though other versions of the Impreza have been average or better, as were all other Subarus.

Hyundai and Kia continue to make reliable cars. The Hyundai Elantra and Tucson, and the Kia Sportage got top marks. The new Genesis sedan was better than average with the V6, average with the V8. The only models that scored below average were the Kia Sedona minivan and Sorento SUV. 

Good news from Europe

Low: Volkswagen Touareg
The Volkswagen Touareg had the worst new car prediction score in the survey. It is 27 times more likely to have problems than the best model, the Honda Insight. 

European brands continue to improve. Mercedes-Benz has made great strides, with most models average, and the GLK did exceptionally well in its first year. Scores from rival BMW were more mixed. The 535i sedan and X3 SUV declined in reliability, and the 135i, debuting in this survey, scored below-average. Some BMW models had average or better reliability, but the 328i versions are the only ones that we've tested and can recommend.

Volkswagen and Audi are staging a nice recovery. The Volkswagen Rabbit (Golf for 2010), and its new CC got top scores. The VW Jetta's recommendation now extends to the diesel version, making it the only diesel we currently recommend. Both the Passat and Audi A3 have improved to average. The new VW Tiguan SUV was average. The Audi Q7 SUV continues to be much worse than average, while the VW Touareg, which had the worst new car prediction score in the survey, is 27 times more likely to have a problem than the best, the Honda Insight.

All of Volvo's sedans were average or better, but Volvo's XC90 SUV was below average. Porsche, which has been doing quite well in our survey of late, had one serious hiccup this year: The Boxster dropped to below average, which strikes it from our recommended list. But the Cayenne SUV improved to average. 

A consumer-driven rating
Our reliability data are based on an annual survey of Consumer Reports and ConsumerReports.org subscribers and are not derived from our vehicle testing.
From the survey, we create a reliability history for each model over the course of 10 model years, 2000 to 2009. We use the data, in part, to help readers determine which used cars to buy or avoid. We also use them to forecast how 2010 models will hold up. This predicted-reliability score is based on a model's overall reliability for the latest three model years, provided that the 2010 version hasn't changed significantly. If a model was new or redesigned in that period, we might use one or two years of data. In rare instances, we make a prediction for a newly redesigned model if previous versions had outstanding reliability.
Detailed Reliability data pinpoints problems
ConsumerReports.org Cars Best Deals Plus subscribers have access to a new feature that gives more details about specific trouble areas on thousands of cars one to 10 years old. Now both owners and prospective purchasers can delve deeper.
Each of the 17 problem areas we survey covers a host of possible faults. For instance, "Power Equipment" includes keyless entry, dashboard warning lights, tire-pressure monitor, and other things. "Body integrity" includes squeaks and rattles, seals and weather stripping, and air or water leaks, among other things. "Major Engine" problems include cylinder head and timing belt besides replacing the engine itself, while "Minor Engine" includes oil leaks, accessory belts and engine mounts.
To access the finer level of detail, choose any car, new or used, and go to its model-overview page. Click on the tab labeled "Reliability" and that will call up the reliability history, a grid of our familiar red and black scoring icons covering 17 trouble areas and however many model years we have data for.
Some of those individual colored "blobs" are flagged with a gold corner triangle with a "+" sign that indicate when more specific details are available. Click on that triangular corner tab to see more information on the problems owners have experienced.
As an example, looking at the Ford F-150 pickup, we can see multiple years of brake problems. However, in some years the problems were mainly attributed to pulsation or vibration, while in other years it was premature wear. Further, we note that the 2008 model had climate system problems. Now subscribers can see that the major gripe was the automatic climate system control rather than, say, a problem with the air conditioner itself.
Not all trouble spots are flagged. That's because either no or very few specific problems were reported, or because nothing stood out enough in the sub-categories to warrant special mention. 

source by consumerreports..

Indigen Armor Introduces the NSTT Battle Ready Pickup Truck

Indigen Armor Introduces the NSTT Battle Ready Pickup Truck

Looking like a militarized TORC off-road racer, Indigen Armor's Non-Standard Tactical Truck is the crew cab pickup truck you've been looking for if you're a member of a special ops team hunting bad guys halfway around the world or fighting zombies in L.A. after the apocalypse.

According to a press release, the four-door NSTT is "designed to afford soldiers greater mobility in urban, desert, woodland, jungle, mountainous, and arctic terrain. The chassis, suspension, power train and armored occupant safety cell were engineered specifically to carry large payloads across rough landscapes in denied areas."

The NSTT's sheetmetal appears to combine bits from Nissan's Titan and Frontier pickups and an old Toyota Hilux but its skin and windows are tough enough to defeat bullets fired from an AK-47 assault rifle (and, we're assuming, the teeth and nails of the undead). Along with an optional heated steering wheel, heated and cooled leather-appointed seating is available. The exterior will be offered in three colors: black, Stealth Gray and white.

Powering Sierra Denali HD pickups will be either a standard 6.0-liter V-8 gas engine or the new 6.6-liter LML Duramax V-8 diesel engine, which is rated a segment-leading 397 horsepower and 765 pounds-feet of torque. All 2011 GMC Sierra HD pickups have redesigned, fully boxed frames and revised suspensions.

The Denali option package has been available in the light-duty GMC Sierra 1500 since 2002.

A Navistar V-8 diesel engine sits under the NSTT's hood that's rated at 325 horsepower and 570 pounds-feet of torque (specs that are identical to the old 6.0-liter Power Stroke V-8) and paired with a 6-speed Allison automatic transmission. The eight cylinder oil burner will run on No. 2 diesel or military-grade JP-8 fuel.
The NSTT features an independent front and rear suspension, which is in line with the latest military thinking to keep the passengers and driver as comfortable as possible crossing the battlefield. The front running gear uses double-wishbones on both sides while the back uses rear trailing arms, instead of the conventional leaf springs or coil springs and a live axle that you'd find in today's civilian pickups.

The fully independent setup helps the NSTT reach a maximum speed of up to 103 mph on meaty 33X12.5-inch R16.5 BF Goodrich tires and 8-lug wheels. It can crawl over grades up to 60 percent or tackle side slopes up to 40 percent.
There are a wide range of equipment options available for the NSTT, depending on application, including run-flat tires, infrared lighting, signal jammers, sirens, a 2,000 watt inverter, winch, onboard air compressor and blast mitigating seats -- just in case.

 source by pickuptrucks

Volvo C30

2011 Volvo C30

2011 Volvo C30 - With a bold new look, the C30 turns heads as quickly as it turns corners. Aggressively redesigned from its grille to its fenders, this coupe is as exhilarating to look at as it is to drive. Refresh your approach to the road with the dynamic new look of the C30.

top Safety pick

Volvo S80

2007-10 models

2010 Volvo S80: good performance in front, side, rollover, and rear tests and standard electronic stability control

SIDE IMPACT TEST WITH STANDARD SIDE AIRBAGS

OVERALL EVALUATION:

	Injury measures			Head protection	Structure/safety cage
	Head/neck	Torso	Pelvis/leg
Driver
Rear passenger

Important: Side impact crash test ratings can be compared across vehicle type and weight categories.

Good Acceptable Marginal Poor

Test details:

The Volvo S80 was redesigned for the 2007 model year.

Injury measures:

Driver — Measures taken from the dummy indicate a low risk of any significant injuries in a crash of this severity.

Rear passenger — Measures taken from the dummy indicate a low risk of any significant injuries in a crash of this severity.

Head protection:

Driver — The dummy's head was protected from being hit by any hard structures, including the intruding barrier, by a side curtain airbag that deployed from the roof.

Rear passenger — The dummy's head was protected from being hit by any hard structures, including the intruding barrier, by a side curtain airbag that deployed from the roof.

Left to right:

• View of the vehicle and barrier just after the crash test.
• View of the vehicle after the crash with doors removed, showing the side airbags and damage to the occupant compartment.
• Smeared greasepaint shows where the driver dummy's head was protected from being hit by hard structures by the side curtain airbag.
• Smeared greasepaint shows where the rear passenger dummy’s head was protected by the side airbag.

Additional features:

• Side airbags: front and rear head curtain airbags and front seat-mounted torso airbags
• Electronic stability control
• Built-in child restraints (optional)
• Antilock brakes
• Daytime running lights
• Lane departure warning system (optional)

Tested vehicle specifications:

• 2007 Volvo S80 3.2 4-door
• Class: Large luxury car
• Weight: 3,792 lbs.
• Side airbags: standard front and rear head curtain airbags and standard front seat-mounted torso airbags
• Wheelbase: 112 in.
• Length: 191 in.
• Width: 73 in.
• Engine: 3.2 L 6-cylinder
• EPA ratings: 18 mpg city | 27 mpg highway