Daily Auto News Volvo Changes Model Lineup
Daily Auto News
For those of us who spent much of our childhood stuffed into the back of a Volvo station wagon, this is a sad day indeed.
Jalopnik says, “According to this leaked Volvo dealer product update, the V70 wagon’s getting the axe after 11 years of production. The V8-option in the S80′s also going bye-bye and the V50 wagon’s not long for this world.”
Left Lane News says the change is an effort to “to better reflect product demand. Despite middling sales, the V70 has been a Volvo icon for a decade, but the Swedish automaker says it will instead offer a front-wheel-drive XC70 wagon in a bid to increase sales.” The changes go into effect for the 2011 model year — so if you want a V70, this year is your last chance to buy one. The last U.S.-spec V70 will be built May 14th, 2010, Left lane News says. The V70 will continue to be sold outside the U.S., where sales are stronger.
The changes aren’t confined to the wagon lineup. Jalopnik reports, “The product update document tells us the S80 will be getting an upgraded T6 engine packing 300 HP and 325 lb-ft of torque and get as much as 6% better fuel economy, all points making the V8 delivering 311 HP and 325 lb-ft of torque redundant. It’ll be dropped from the S80 options list, though remain available in the XC90.”
Autoblog reports on the final change: “Finally, for 2011, Volvo is moving its smaller S40 and V50 models to a single-engine lineup, dumping the entry-level 2.4i (168 hp/170 lb. ft.) in favor of the turbocharged T5, which offers nearly identical fuel economy with significantly more power (227 hp/236 lb. ft.). While that’s likely no big loss for would-be buyers (assuming pricing doesn’t get out of hand), the range is also going front-drive and automatic-only, with T5 all-wheel drive and 2.4i models also going out of production on May 14.”
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