Auto Motor & Sport, by way of Motor Authority, reported yesterday on a joint effort between the energy departments of two august establishments of hybrid research — the United States' Argonne National Laboratory and Sweden's Lindholmen Science Park. The $37 million program will work on developing new plug-in hybrid technology. Also, a better meatball! [Motor Authority]

The car was already blue, so that meant that we just needed to put some yellow bars on the roof. Yes, we have other worries (cooling system problems and a garbooned oil pump during our test driving at a Volvo club meet at Thunderhill last week), but we might as well not even bother showing up if we have no Swedish Rebel Flag!


I'm sure my Swedish immigrant ancestors would shed a few tears if they could just see this. Of course, they left Sweden, so maybe not.


But we're the Dukes of Göteborg! We need stars!


13 stars, to be exact. I'll write more about our all-weekend engine-and-cooling-system thrash session in the days to come, and of course you'll get to see the full paint job soon.

The future of refuse handling is already here

Due to its productive personality, the Volvo FE has been recognized as a cost effective truck for city distribution and refuse handling. In 2009, the Volvo FE will be offered with a hybrid solution adding two main benefits: increased fuel efficiency and decreased emissions.

From a driver's perspective, the hybrid is also more pleasant to operate with excellent drivability characteristics and reduced noise levels.

A perfect fit for "stop and go" applications
Like the Volvo FM Hybrid, the Volvo FE Hybrid is equipped with a diesel engine and an electric motor. The latter powers the truck from startup and up to 20 km/h. At higher speeds, the diesel engine kicks in.

When the vehicles stops, the diesel engine automatically shuts down to avoid unnecessary idling.

Since braking energy is used to charge the lithium-ion batteries powering the electric motor, the greatest fuel saving potential is in applications with a lot of "stop and go" driving:
— up to 20% for refuse handling (up to 30% if the superstructure also rely on the electric motor)
— between 15-20% for city distribution

Low on emissions and close to noiseless
Any savings in fuel means equal savings in CO2 emissions, meaning that the Volvo FE Hybrid will contribute some 15 - 30% less to global warming.

The emissions of NOx and particulates are at zero level when the truck is operated in electric drive - and it is a very silent truck when accelerating and idling. These are both strong benefits when operating in sensitive urban areas.

Field test with customers
During 2008 and 2009, two Volvo FE Hybrids will run in daily refuse collection operations with the help of two Swedish companies.

The field test trucks are both prototype vehicles of the Volvo FE Hybrid that will be the commercial offer in 2009.

Volvo FE Hybrid Concept - Technical data
— Volvo FE with I-SAM (Integrated Starter Alternator Motor)
— Power 120 kW
— 7-litre diesel engine
— Volvo I-Shift gearbox

This weekend it has been a major sport car show in Malmö in south of Sweden. Anyway. This tape was recorded after closing time when a Ferrari F50 was followed by some young twats in Beemers, Ricers and Porsches. SWEDES ARE HEARBY BANNED TO DRIVE ONE OF A KIND FERRARIS."

Porsche's Top Secret Arctic Test Base Infiltrated!

Don't let the token Audis fool you, this is Porsche's top secret test area in northern Sweden!
And under all those covers is an assortment of Boxsters, Caymans and 911s!

Brenda Priddy & Company

This car sold new for nearly 8 grand, only about $1300 less than a BMW 320i and almost $1500 more than a Volvo 244.


Yes, it's a 4-door. I swear I'm still combing the island for a showroom-condition Saab 93, but until I find it you're going to have to take what Saabs you can get.


Anyway, this car is in pretty good shape, and it's obviously someone's everyday driver. That's always good to see with a 30-year-old machine.

The V4 Saab '95s are pretty cool, all right; we won't argue with anyone on that point. But try looking at a car powered by a two-stroke three-banger and telling us you don't want one! That's the powerplant you'll get if you buy this 1965 Saab 95 wagon (go here if the ad disappears). Can you believe it? Only $850 for a classic 3-cylinder Swedish station wagon! Now, some folks might try to tell you that a two-stroke engine spews smog like an oil refinery on fire, but pay them no mind- those are the same killjoys who say that lobster-flavored pork rinds are bad for you! This car comes with all sorts of good news: "good motor, good tranny, good outer body, complete minus a gas tank." It's in Tucson, which means that maybe that floor rust in the photo really is the only real corrosion problem. Maybe. Normally we'd suggest swapping in an engine bigger than 900cc, but in this case that would be blasphemy. So all you need to do is fix the rust, fix the unmentioned mechanical problems, find several hundred missing interior and trim components (fortunately, eBay now has a presence in Sweden), and apply a few 55-gallon drums' worth of elbow grease.

Did you know that Volvo made a "Sport" version of the PV544? Yes indeed, the 60s Swedish car that looks like a 40s Detroit car wasn't just stolid Scandinavian business! So knock back the day's 17th cup of black coffee, squint out your ice-encrusted window at the frozen wasteland outside, and make a bid on this 1961 Volvo Sport PV544! This one needs some work, sure, but "The fan will turn so the motor apparently is not locked up" which should inspire a tiny bit of optimism. The rust, however, is another story; the Skåne Steel Silverfish have been hard at work on this car's body. But there's glass, and, uh, the oil on the dipstick "looks clean." Well, fine, this car is a total basket case, but it's a Sport! Drop the drivetrain out of an easy-to-find wrecked 940 Turbo and your sufferings will have been worth it!

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Of course, we believe Volvo 200s really belong on the racetrack (and we're walking the walk when we say that, too). But they're still on the street in huge numbers.


I spent a summer in southern Sweden as a teenager, and the family I was visiting had an '80 DL just like this one. Same color, but without the JC Whitney plastic hubcaps. We even took a road trip all the way up to Göteborg, where I visited Volvo's museum. And yet, even with all this serious exposure to the glories of the Volvo 200 series, I still prefer the Amazon.


You say these cars are strictly about function, with no unnecessary decoration? Check out this stolid whimsical bit of pillar trim! Hmmm... is it just covering up a weld line?


I always figured the "Lamda Sond" emblem on these cars meant "Ja, here is the powerful engine for the hoonage, you betcha!" But no- it means the engine is equipped with an oxygen sensor-based fuel-delivery feedback system. How exciting!

This is the "after" photograph of team mechanic Walter's Saab, which was cannibalized for numerous parts for the race cars during the race. His daily driver car, which he had intended to drive home after the race. Did these guys deserve to win it all or what? All right, enough from me- let's hear the tale of Team Saabs Gone Wild, in the words of LTDScott and teammate Alex:

The Saabs gone wild team fielded three cars, all 80's Saab 900 turbos. Two of the three cars were trailered in, but the third was street legal (passed smog and all!) and drove up from L.A. under its own power. It was loud, hot and windy at 80mph, and power steering fluid was leaking onto the exhaust, but it made no complaints otherwise.
When we arrived on Friday afternoon, we realized we had no tools, as our team mechanics were several hours behind us. So unfortunately we weren't able to get the cars out on the track immediately (silly things like glass and lights had to be removed, and we had no tools). The other cars had no gas in the tank. Man, we were off to a great start. Finally around 5pm the rest of the crew arrived, and work began in earnest.
3 cars meant thrice the amount of work, which turned out to be pretty devastating when it came right down to it. Trying to motivate a dozen people is not easy. Tires needed to be changed, gas runs made, final prep work, tech inspections, stickers applied, etc etc etc. It's like having triplets.
Somehow we managed to get everything done in time to turn some practice laps. The Altamont folks were kind enough to extend practice until 8:30pm, which allowed us to get all three cars up to speed for a few minutes. It was determined that lower air temps and familiarity with the course significantly improved lap times. With an open course we could run low 52 second laps consistently, versus our best 56.5 in July. All of the cars ran well, even the last minute one.
The time flew by and soon enough they were kicking us out. We vowed to return with more gas cans and a few more spare parts in the morning.

Race Day #1
Since we got most of the prep work done the day before, there wasn't a whole lot to do in the morning but finish decorating the cars and install radios and cameras.
Our team cars had a Viking theme. The centerpiece was none other than Valkyrie, riding into battle on her trusty steed— the black #3 car, which was a veteran of the July race (we came in 13th). We also ran a Viking ship with shields (black #4) and a silver Viking horned helmet (#2). We got a few appreciative smiles, although nothing quite like the Maximus guys. They did end up with the People's Choice award for their car and togas.
The field was packed at the start. In a perfect world, 80 cars on a 1 mile track means approximately 50 feet between you and the next car. In reality, it meant was trying to stay out of trouble with the dozen cars swarmed around you. Some of the larger cars took advantage of the traffic to go barreling into turns like a shark diving into a school of minnows. Team Do Or Die (the hearse) was one of them.
They basically didn't care who was around and just went for the shortest possible line through the turns. They took out several cars this way. We were one of them. The driver in our silver #2 car said he could see the guy's hands in the rear view mirror and he didn't even try to make the turn. The hearse hit him so hard he was spun completely around. The impact trashed the rear axle. This was less than one hour after the start. This car went into the pits and received a donor axle, placing it out of the top running.
Thus began the cannibalization of the mechanic's car. One of our team sponsors - Walter Wong - is a top notch Saab mechanic in L.A. He and two of his techs drove up to the race in a Saab 900 that he had recently purchased and intented to resell for profit. When the axle on #2 got bent, most of the team figured the car was done. But not Walter. He had a never say die attitude, so he and his guys swapped the rear axle from his own car to get #2 back in the race.
All of us who ran in July quickly realized that the level of competition had been taken up a few notches. Drivers were taking chances in complete disregard for their own or others' safety. I believe Jay did his best to penalize the biggest offenders, but there's only one of him and 80 of us. We later found out that Jay gave the Do or Die Team quite the tongue lashing and made them park in their pits for a while to cool down.
We did not escape punishment either. The second yellow of the race came without warning and caught one of our guys unaware. He continued at race speed and passed 6 cars before slowing down. He was black flagged and had open mustard bottles attached to the hood. We made sure to obey yellows after that.
Our next casualty was the Valkyrie (black #3). We were running great until a blow from one of the many BMW's in the field broke the passenger side half shaft. We were in 6th place. The mechanics grabbed a half shaft from their street car and got it back to running condition, but it effectively ended that car's bid at a top finish. Not 30 minutes later, one of the drivers spun in the gravel on one of the infield turns and narrowly missed being in a head on collision. When he restarted the car he was blinded by the sun and couldn't see the giant mud pit just off the course, and drove right into it, getting himself thoroughly stuck.
After being pulled out of the muck, it was finally my turn behind the wheel at around sundown. Once I hopped in the car, I immediately experieced a horrible vibration from the front end while going around the banked part of the course. It felt like one of the CV joints was going to let go, but I decided to just ride it out. That is, until I hit the brakes to make the sharp left hander before the starter's podium and found I had none. Luckily I found this out before starting into the fast banked part of the oval and entering the chicane - that would have sucked. So I limped it into the pits and discovered that the mud caked up inside the passenger front wheel had split one the brake line and leaked out all of the fluid, in addition to causing the vibration. A 20 minute pit stop fixed the brake problem (again stealing parts from the mechanic's car) and netted me a new set of tires - I forgot what it was like to not just constantly understeer around the fastest parts of the track!
A short while later, I spun out and stalled the car... that's when I broke the ignition switch trying to restart it, and had to sit and watch cars fly past me while sitting in a precarious position in the chicane until I got a push from one the service trucks and was able to bump start the car.
While all this was going on, the silver car (#2) had been steadily turning laps. The only concern was wisps of white smoke during shifts. It was still making good power under boost and the car felt tight. This, however, was a warning that the head gasket was ready to let go. We didn't have any stop leak and the car was running on straight water, so the mechanics decided to let it die. We had a spare engine after all.
An hour later the gasket gave up. There was only steam left in the coolant reservoir by the time it made it back to the pits. It was 6pm, just 3 1/2 hours after the start. We sent two teams out to auto parts stores to find a cherry picker and an assortment of necessesities. By 11pm the non-turbo engine from the mechanic's car was a running engine in #2, thanks to an amazing host of mechanics and pit crew.
Somewhere in all of this, the #4 car had been running great until an unknown electrical issue killed the engine after a hard hit on the left front corner (where the ignition box resides). After several hours, one of the mechanics correctly diagnosed the issue, but in the process fried the starter. Oops. We would have to wait for a parts store to open in the morning to fix it.
The end of the first day left the #3 car in 47th position. #4 and #2 were 67th and 73rd, respectively. It was a disheartening midpoint given our expectations, but at least we hadn't gone home yet. There was still life in this team.

Race Day #2
We started early by getting both the #2 and #4 cars up and running. They rejoined the field at the start of racing for day 2, determined to claw their way back through the diminished field. Just 50 cars returned to kick off the second leg of this endurance race.
The drivers of the #2 car realized quickly that they would not be turning fast laps. The engine the mechanics had put in was a non-turbo, making a good 50 HP less than its turbo'ed brethren. To make matters more interesting, the throttle cable would stick occasionally, sending the engine to bounce off the rev limiter. Admitting that the car would not be competitive, we decided to just keep it out there for laps. Our enterprising mechanics grabbed the bent rear axle and welded it on as a front bumper for the rest of the race. They took turns hassling the hearse.
I took another turn behind the wheel of the #3 car, and my stint was uneventful with the exception of making a Miata the meat in an Integra/Saab sandwich during an unavoidable multi-car pileup in the chicane. There was only minor damage to my car, but I later learned the incident killed the radiator on the Miata. D'oh.
Meanwhile, the #4 car was looking good. All of the drivers were able to turn decent laps and they were quickly making up time. Then, around 3 hours from the end of the race, the transmission quit.
#2 obligingly pushed the #4 car back to the pits, where it was determined that the transmission was completely shot. Having used up the spare engine and tranny from the mechanics' car, this was the nail in the coffin for #4. It would not finish the race and ended in 57th place. #2 finished in a dismal 72nd place. #3 bravely pushed on to finish 25th.
Fittingly, our team won the "Most Heroic Fix" award - a broken connecting rod trophy. We gave the trophy to Walter the mechanic, because he and his guys deserved it. He stripped his street car of all usable parts and left it for the recyclers to take.
Well, a disappointing finish for us, but good fun was had by all.

Before you check out our gallery, be sure to check out the 100+ excellent LeMons photos provided by Team Saabs Gone Wild here, then take a look at LTDScott's personal collection here.

When a car's styling was created by a couple of guys named Sergio Coggiola and Gunnar Sjögren, you know it's serious. Yes, there's nothing quite like a Saab Sonett III, with its lever-operated pop-up headlights, V4 engine, and fiberglass body, and you'd be rollin' like Odin himself behind the wheel of this '74 Sonett. Well, Odin could probably afford a Sonett that actually ran, but you get the idea. We'll take the most relevant statement about this car right from the seller's own randomly capslocked keyboard: "CAR IS COMPETE, DAS NOT RUN." But hey, at least with a fiberglass body, you don't need to worry about body rot. Floor rot, sure, but whaddya want for $1200? Since any V4 engine scores pretty high on the Engine Rad-O-Meter™, we wouldn't recommend swapping in something else, but there's no rule says a man can't force geological-scale boost pressure into a V4, is there?

You're in the mood for some sporty Swedish steel, all right, but what if you need a car that can haul your black metal band's amps to the gig? The Sonett just doesn't have the load capacity, but this '73 Volvo 1800ES Sport Wagon sure does! Faster than you can rasp out "Þat mundi mitt ráð vera, at vit flýðim undan á skóg," you'll be wailing through the haunted birch forest in your spiffy new wagon. Well, maybe not that fast, because this car needs some work. First of all, it's been sitting since the Berlin Wall was still standing (with a full tank of gas), so you'll need to completely replace do some work on the fuel system. When you're done with that you can replace all the seals in the automatic, then get started on, well, every single component that ever touched fluid or moved electrons. Then some bodywork and... you'll just be getting warmed up! Come on, though, it's a 2-door Swedish station wagon!

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The '69 144S listed at $3090 when it was new. A brand-new Slant Six-powered 4-door Dart sold for just $2413, so the Volvo wasn't exactly cheap.


This 144S is pretty damn rough, like a Stockholm drunk who's eaten a few too many sidewalks after aquavit binges and passed out in a slush-filled gutter. Yet, just like that drunk's berserker ancestors, the ol' Volvo just accepts its pounding and continues to press forward.


I had one of these things for a while, and except for the horrible SU carbs it was actually a pretty decent car; the real problem with mine was that it had spent 13 years in a Central Valley field, with 110-degree summers and freezing winters, livestock and stray bullets, etc, so I had to replace a lot of bad seals and corroded electrical contacts.


Ah, the ol' reliable B20! This is one of my favorite engine emblems of all time.

Press Release

Saab Black Turbo Rebjörn

• Saab unveils the Turbo X
• Celebration of 30 years at the forefront of turbocharging technology
• Saab to replicate classic Black Turbo models, available as a limited edition

Saab will go 'back to the future' at next month's Frankfurt International Motor Show by evoking the iconic appeal of its classic 'Black Turbo' models.

The Swedish premium car maker will celebrate 30 years of leadership in turbocharging by unveiling the Saab Turbo X, a limited edition performance car that inherits the visual appeal of the Saab 99 and 900 black turbos - while also introducing cutting-edge technology. This ultimate expression of the new 9-3 range will deliver standard-setting levels of performance for the brand.

It was at Frankfurt in 1977 that Saab surprised the automotive world when it revealed its first turbocharged model. It set a performance trend that others were to follow. Now the innovative features of the new Saab 'Black Turbo' are also expected to attract widespread imitation.

Further details of the Saab Turbo X will be revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

Paulin Motor Company

Related:
Spy Photos: Ford Focus C-Max 4x4 [internal]

Swedes have long been accustomed to packing their berserker physiques and cases of aquavit into bulky, gas-swilling Volvo wagons and equally thirsty hot-rod Saabs when they hit the Scandinavian road, but that may have to change, according to this article in the Gray Lady. The rest of Yurp is getting all squinchy-faced over Sweden's love of carbon-crazed cars, laying some heavy guilt-trippage on the Swedes, and it may be only a matter of time before Sven och Agnetha are crammed into a new Mitsubishi Minicamino. Hmm... a retro-style Minicamino could be the answer to global warming!

In Sweden, It's Global Warming vs. Big Heavy Cars [New York Times]

Related:
Europe Considers Banning High Performance Cars [internal]

Twenty-five percent of Sweden's energy comes from renewable resources. Forty percent of the top ten vehicles on Swedish roads come from the nation's homegrown, foreign-owned automakers. And as such, the EU points the carbon-dioxide finger at Sverige and the International Herald Tribune gladly plays along, painting the Scandanavian socialists as greedy scumbags. The Swedes' defense? They like their cars. We suppose, as Americans, the rationale doesn't really wash with us. On the other hand, the Swedes may actually be trying to warm the globe, so's to become a vacation destination, thus bringing lingonberry yogurt to the masses. – Davey G. Johnson

Turmoil brewing in Sweden's love affair with big cars [IHT]

Related:
Heavy Metal Amazon Award! [Internal]

Investor AB, a Swedish investment concern which once controlled Saab before the GM acquisition, is allegedly looking into getting back into the automotive market as part of a consortium willing to take Volvo off of Ford's red-ink-stained hands, according to an unsourced article in the UK's Independent. Ford, on the other other hand, keeps jumping up and down yelping that its Scandanavian division isn't for sale. What would happen if the Swedes brought the iconic brand back to Sverige, anyway? Blood sausage, crash safety and lingonberry crumble for all our G's! – Davey G. Johnson

Sweden's AB Considering Bid for Ford's Volvo [MarketWatch]

Related:
Over the Back Fence: BMW Still Angling to Buy Volvo? [Internal]

Looks like if you want serious Swedish muscle, you'll have to contract with powerlifter Magnus Önerud. Volvo released details on its new R Design package and there's not a single performance upgrade in sight. Not that we'd expected anything, considering the company's abandoned its S60 R and V70 R models. It's all cosmetics, like satin matte-finish grille ad side mirrors; color-coordinated bumpers and lower side moldings; rear or roof spoilers, and five-spoke aluminum wheels in 17- or 18-inch outside, and blackish seats with contrasting cream-colored leather, leather-trimmed steering wheel with R-design logo, aluminum pedals, center stack and door inlays, and tufted dark sport floor mats on the inside. It'll be available by year's end on the C30, S40 and V50 models in Europe. – Mike Spinelli

Press Release:

Spice up your Volvo with R-design - the choice for a refined taste

Volvo Cars is now introducing R-design - an exclusive factory-fitted options package for customers who want a car with refined attributes.

R-design will initially be available on the Volvo C30, Volvo S40 and Volvo V50 as of autumn 2007.

"The possibility of tailoring one's car to suit personal tastes is becoming increasingly important to car buyers today. R-design has been developed for buyers who want a refined and sporty look for their cars," says Gerry Keaney, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Sales and Customer Service at Volvo Cars.

Customers can choose between 10 exterior colours, and the R-design badge in the grille is accompanied by a range of specially designed exterior and interior details.

Exterior features include a satin matt-finish grille, colour co-ordinated bumpers and lower side mouldings, rear or roof spoiler, satin matt-finish door mirror caps and five-spoke aluminium wheels (17 inches, 18 inches available as option). There is also a decotrim on the tailgate of the C30 and V50.

Contrasting seats

Inside the car there are seats in off-black Vulcaflex with the seat cushion and backrest in contrasting cream-coloured leather. The R-design logo embossed on the backrest and the contrasting stitching reinforce the seats' sporty appearance.

Other R-design interior details include the leather-trim steering wheel with its R-design logo, the unique combi instrument, aluminium pedals, specially designed aluminium centre stack and door inlays, gear selector with aluminium inlay and tufted dark sport floor mats with contrasting light leather seams.

A selection of R-design features will also be available as accessories.

Emotional and extrovert

"R-design is entirely in line with the accelerated focus on making our cars more extrovert and emotional. It gives the buyers the opportunity to spice up the already distinct personality of these car models," says Steve Mattin, Senior Vice President and Design Director at Volvo Cars..

Related:
Volvo to Call Cosmetic Package R-Design [internal]

So you're gettin' some in your Volvo wagon, which you've parked in some haunted Ingmar Bergmanesque Swedish woods on a side road off a busy highway, and for some reason you've left the car in neutral with the parking brake off. Here comes this psycho bastid and... well, we don't want to spoil it for you. According to the YouTube description, this is adman Fredrik Bond's first spec commercial. – Murilee Martin

Related:
MG ZR: The Car That Exposes Spanish Panties! [internal]

There's just something extra-sweet about watching a mid-12-second Volvo Amazon do its thing, particularly when it's a stock-looking Amazon on skinny tires beating a fast Toyota with a huge wing. – Murilee Martin

Related:
Down On The Street: 1966 Volvo Amazon [internal]

The text is in English, but this is apparently a Swedish-market ad extolling the, uh, special place Volvo hoonage holds in the Swedish heart? We think GM should go with a campaign like this when they bring back the Camaro, only the setting should be a gravel dive-bar parking lot instead of a Swedish loading dock. And it goes without saying that the Dead Milkmen should do the soundtrack. – Murilee Martin

Related:
Volvo Amazon: Top Choice Of Economy-Minded Hoons [internal]

We were listening to Sweden's own Hellacopters earlier, who aren't really a heavy metal act per se, but their founder, Nicke, was the drummer for death-metal act Entombed, whose second record is really the only example of the genre that we ever got particularly into. However, this Swedish metalhead's dedication to non-false metal has gone much, much farther beyond a common rock 'n' roll addiction. In fact, he has been given government disability insurance, allowed a flexible schedule to get his metal on, and now this: Roger Tullgren of Hässelholm, Sweden, you win Jalopnik's Heavy Metal (Volvo) Amazon award. We hope the Swedish government sees fit to honor our request to outfit you with a gloss-black, choptop vintage Volvo with the Venom logo airbrushed carefully onto the hood and license plate frame reading "Vaya Con Satan." – Davey G. Johnson

Man gets sick benefits for heavy metal addiction [The Local]

Related:
Pete Coors Nabbed For DUI [Internal]

Don't these people know whether in Russia or Sweden, crazy-ass long tunnels are for hoonage and not for flying RC planes through? But most importantly, does the ability to fly a model plane in a semi-straight line over less than 4 km really warrant a double shot of Harold Faltermeyer and Queen? – Ray Wert

Related:
In Russia, Alaska Tunnels You! Bering Strait Access Plan Pondered [internal]

We were a little puzzled by the sight of these left-hand-drive Amazons driving on the left side of the road in a home-market Volvo Amazon ad, but a bit of research indicates that Sweden was a left-hand-drive country until 1967. In any case, they do a good job here of selling the plodding Amazon as a classy machine packing berserker-style power under the hood. We totally dig the wailin' hepcats on the jazz soundtrack, and the breathy woman's carefully enunciated words just send us, baby! – Murilee Martin

Related:
Down On The Street: 1966 Volvo Amazon [internal]

We stumbled across this photo the other day and felt it was worth sharing. Sure, we think of freezing winters and stolid safety when we think of Volvos, but what about the 8 weeks each year when Sweden has pleasant weather? Why, the locals pack up the aquavit, hop in their Amazons, and head to the beach! Click the link below for a vast collection of photos of Amazons in their homeland. – Murilee Martin

Bilder [amazonclubben.se]

Related:
1966 Volvo Amazon [internal]

The General's favorite Swedes are approaching go time for their de-topped version of the new 9-3. But some joker with a digicam has apparently uncovered a proto-production model in country. The most noticeable difference is of course that new face, lifted wholesale from the company's Aero X concept, first shown at the 2006 Geneva auto show. And judging from the, er, aero kit, it's likely the Aero trim level. Natch. [Thanks to Dennis for the tip.] – Mike Spinelli

Nya 9-3.... Facelift??? [Saab Turbo Club via GM Inside News]

Related:
More on the Saab 9-3 Facelift — Official Reveal; Spy Photos: Saab 9-3 Convertible [internal]

The days are short and the aqvavit is strong in Sweden, and the hoons there sometimes need a little pick-me-up to retain the will to live during the wintertime. So, they fire up the hot-rodded Escort and make with the jumping. And no wimpy railroad grades or hills that require a velocity-sapping uphill chug to reach the jump; these here Scandihoonians have a nice ramp setup with a long flat approach that lets them get very impressive hang time. 10 bonus points for beating the piss out of a non-beater car and another 5 for the Hayseed Dixie soundtrack. Add another 5 for the good camera work and editing and we get a Hoon-O-Meter reading of 38. – Murilee Martin

Related:
Hoon of the Day: Lada Versus Volvo Norwegian Jumpstravaganza [internal]

For the fans of all things Ikea and meatballs, we've got some more of the all-new S40 and V50 driving around the block. Although there's no background music in the videos, feel free to raise a cooking utensil high in the air, and sing with us:

"Yorn desh born, der ritt de gitt der gue, Orn desh, dee born desh, de umn b rk! b rk! b rk!"

Related:
Swedish Meatball Morning: 2008 Volvo S40 And V50 [internal]

When you're a tank company of the Swedish armed forces, we'd imagine there's not much else to do but hoon around a frozen lake and practice two-track drifting techniques. Or, even possibly invent some two-track drifting techniques in your Leopard 2A4. You just know this'll spark some kind of annual event up there, which we'll see on BBC World next year. [Thanks to Jealousy for the tip.] – Mike Spinelli

[Webpark: ! ! ) (5.70Mb)]

Related:
More hoons of the day [internal]