Jalopnik: volvo xc90

Volvo XC90 Wins Russian "SUV of The Year," We Offer Alternatives

Ben Wojdyla — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 11:20:00 EDT

Nobody will argue that the Volvo XC90 is a pretty decent SUV. It's stylish, comfortable, and even comes with a V8 now. But all that doesn't explain why it won "Russian SUV of The Year"...for the third time. Considering the soft nature of the big Volvo, we would have thought the hardened fist of Russian nationalism would have pushed for a more domestic entry. But if they won't, we will: Thus, Jalopnik's "No Bolshevik" nominations for Russian SUV of the Year.

Kombat T-98
What would you ever want with a stinky old Volvo XC90 when something like the Kombat T-98 exists? It's an armored luxury SUV available with either an 8.1-liter GM V8 or the Duramax 6.6-liter turbodiesel. The hardware is somewhat awesome, but the interior wins our hearts, featuring steel booze glasses in a chilled glovebox — perfect for keeping your vodka close at hand. [AllCarNews]

Vityaz Transporter
Russia is big, covering a sixth of the Earth and encompassing virtually every type of ecosystem. What better way to get absolutely anywhere under any circumstances than in the totally wicked Vityaz Transporter? Land, sea, arctic permafrost and bog, the Vityaz will get you there and back — the ultimate SUV. [Vityaz]

Porsche Touregenne

When great taste meets fabrication prowess and oil-baron money, the result is a thing like this VW/Porsche Touareg/Cayenne, whatever it is. We all marveled at its breathtaking coachwork and inspired styling updates. For the truly exclusive sets of Russian playboys, this baby is hot to trot. [Porsche Toureg]

GAZ Tiger-2
The GAZ Tiger-2 seems like the Russian version of a Chinese knock-off of the Humvee, but it's complete with space-age plastic hubcaps, multiple shift knobs and luxurious pleather seating surfaces. The Tiger built for the public is a definite choice for all but the most discerning customers. [Tiger 2]

GAZ 59037A
For so many Russians, the Vityaz is just too big to fit in the garage, so a compact, go-anywhere vehicle is definitely in order. The GAZ 59037 will go virtually anywhere the big Vit will, but also offers the convenience of tires and fits nicely into a standard heavy-lift military cargo plane. With convenience like that, its hard to believe the Volvo actually took home the prize. [GAZ 59037A]

Oh, and, if you are interested in the Volvo press release on the actual winner, check it out in all its glory below.

The Volvo XC90 - SUV of the Year in Russia for the third time
Volvo Cars received several prestigious awards in Russia in 2007 and to date in 2008. The most recent is for the Volvo XC90, which was crowned best crossover - "2008 SUV of the Year".

"There was immensely tough competition and we are very proud over this prestigious award," says Volvo Car Russia's PR director, Alexei Kozhukhov, who received the award at a ceremony in Moscow.

Russian car owners voted the Volvo XC90 the best choice on the market.

Motoring organisation Club 4x4 runs the competition, in which eight categories are featured.
Of 101 models in the competition, 16 went on to the finals. Car owners voted via a website or sent in SMS text messages with their votes and Volvo XC90 emerged the winner in the category "Full-size SUV".
That the Volvo XC90 came out on top is by now something of a tradition. The Volvo XC90 received awards in this contest in 2005 and 2006 too.

"Russia has been the European market N1 in the Volvo SUV sales in 2007, so the contest "SUV of the Year" is an important event in this country", says Volvo Car Russia's President, David Thomas. "Russians traditionally like big cars - this is the reason why Russia takes the second place right after the USA in the global sales chart of Volvo XC90. So, we are looking forward to the launch of our new crossover, the Volvo XC60", concludes David Thomas.

MIT-Developed "Aware Car" Rats Out Older Drivers

Travis Hudson — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 14:20:00 EDT

The ~~problem~~ topic of older drivers remains a hot-button issue, and with the Baby Boomers plowing toward retirement, the number of older drivers on the road is expected to double over the next few decades. To address the politically sensitive implications of this progression, the MIT AgeLab has converted a Volvo XC90 into an Aware Mobile. The crossover is outfitted with a collection of sensors and doodads, not help the elderly drive, but rather to properly determine when a senior should hand in his or her keys.

Everything from eyelid sensors, to vitals sensors, to cameras, to speed and trajectory sensors are integrated in the Volvo, and the resulting data is stored in a hard drive in the trunk, allowing easy transmittal to the friendly neighborhood DMV. The DMV can, in theory, recognize if an older person is unfit for the road, and subsequently pull their license. In reality, the DMV will do approximately squat. [Boston Globe via Autopia] (Image via Getty)

The Volvo XC70chero Brings The Dream To Sweden

Matt Hardigree — Tue, 13 May 2008 00:05:00 EDT

There's a stanza in a Stephen Malkmus song that goes "And the trashed young Scandi mistook me for a Swede. her slurred medieval accent was like a puddle at my feet. You could see chopped tobacco in her teeth." This made us wonder if Swedish people actually were into chewing tobacco and, by extension, if there were Swedish rednecks... because where there are rednecks there are El Caminos. Did this mean that there were Swedish El Caminos? Indeed. Here's a prime example of an XC70chero (owned by Ford) looking awesome outside the Volvo Museum. To make it better, it's being pulled by a six-wheel XC90chero. Pinch us.

As the web's finest accountants of all things-amino, we'd have to say this is the first XC70 truck that we've seen but we like it. Given its AWD setup and ultrawide B-pillar, we're seeing a lot of Subaru BRAT in this design. And that's a very good thing.

[Bilfeber via Carscoop]

Volvo To Cancel Second Gen XC90, No XOXO XC?

Matt Hardigree — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 13:45:00 EST

The Swedes (who are now more dangerous than ze Germans) over at Auto Motor Sport Sweden have it on some authority that Volvo's XC90 is going to get the axe, despite a planned facelift in 2009. They claim the decision is due to the increased cost needed to keep weight down, absence of new engines/transmissions and the lack of hybrid technology.

The XC90 should run its course by 2012 as it gets usurped by the XC60, a possible XC50 and maybe even an XC30. Of course, this all could get switched around if Ford finds an appropriate platform to build a newer XC90 on. [Auto Motor Sport Sweden via World Car Fans]