2012 Volvo S60 and XC60 R-Design Official Photos and Info – Auto Shows

These sportier Volvos each have 325 reasons to go rather than stop.
For Swedish performance aficionados who remember the Volvo R sedans and wagons from the ’90s and early 2000s, Volvo’s recent R-Design packages left much to be desired. Rather than increase power, those add-ons were being limited to stiffer suspension bits, flashy wheels, and sportier interior and exterior trim. Somewhere a pale yellow 850R wagon may be cracking a smile, though, as Volvo’s upcoming 2012 S60 R-Design and XC60 R-Design mark the return of power upgrades to the Volvo fold.

2012 Volvo XC70, S80: Ch-Ch-Changes

For the 2012 model year, the Volvo XC70 and S80 gain new safety and convenience features and some appearance upgrades.
Both vehicles now have a Pedestrian Detection system as an available option. This system first debuted on the S60. It uses radar and a camera to detect people in the car's path and trigger alerts or, if necessary, applies full braking. Volvo’s City Safety system is now standard on both vehicles: The system can lessen or avoid low-speed rear-end collisions automatically, up to 19 mph. We found both systems to be disappointing when we tested them in the Volvo S60; hopefully, Volvo has made some changes.

Along with those safety updates, adaptive cruise control is another new option. The system is now capable of bringing the vehicle to a complete stop and all the way back up to the preselected speed, depending on traffic situations.
The XC70 and S80 now come with a standard 7-inch color screen and a multimedia system, called Sensus. This system first showed up on the redesigned 2011 Volvo S60; we also thought this system was a bit bewildering.
The standard Bluetooth system is now capable of wireless music streaming. Every Volvo now has this feature.
In terms of aesthetic upgrades, the S80 now has side mirrors with integrated LED turn indicators. New wheel designs, interior color designs, wood trims and ambient lighting (S80 only) are also available.
Continue below to see additional photos:

By Colin Bird

The Latest Technology For The Reason

The automakers are cautious whether to jump onto the latest technology for the reason that one blunder might hinder their emergent goodwill. Moreover, they are looking forward for the adoption and mainstreaming of the most viable technological innovation in the present time. New car technologies include the Bluetooth, iPod integration, hybrids, hard top, powerful and fuel-efficient engines and more. Further, ergonomics and safety are improved by air bags and more.

Volvo and BMW auto parts were given powerful and highly beneficial systems. Volvo, for one, has integrated the BLIS system, short for Blindspot Information System. The latter utilizes camera in the outer mirrors for the driver to discover other vehicles entering the blind spots. The small blinking light further alerts the driver when it is not safe to change lanes. BMW, on the other hand, uses a night vision system with a thermal imaging camera to detect individuals, animals and inanimate objects. The heat readings of said system show bright hues. It also uses advanced infrared technology hence the system can read the road to as far as about 1,000 feet in front of the car without barriers on the headlights.

In regard to diesel developments, Mercedes-Benz has developed a system called BLUETEC. It processes exhaust transmission to burn cleaner and produce lesser emissions. The vehicles with BLUETEC system will be available in 45 states.

Parenthetically, Toyota parts made a climactic triumph when high-end hybrid engines were made part of the Toyota clan. These engines were incorporated in RX SUV, Prius and GS sports sedan. Lexus will also sell LS 600h L. Said vehicle is said to be the 'most technologically advanced' from the automaker.

Other groundbreaking technologies include MyGIG multimedia system from Dodgem Jeep and Chrysler. The system has a built-in 20-gigabyte hard drive which can store both photos and music. High-speed USB port, voice-guided navigation and real time traffic information were also incorporated to create most functional vehicles.